Investigating how circle RNA affects the spread of lung cancer
Official title: Circle RNA Regulation of Lung Cancer Metastasis
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11057514 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a special kind of RNA might help lung squamous carcinoma, a tough type of lung cancer, spread in the body, using mouse models to find new ways to treat it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | April 4, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $398,845 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA279532-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11057514 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with lung squamous carcinoma who may benefit from novel therapeutic approaches targeting circRNA.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of lung cancer or those whose cancer has not metastasized may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the role of a specific type of RNA, called circle RNA (circRNA), in the metastasis of lung squamous carcinoma (LUSC), a type of lung cancer that has seen little progress in treatment. By using advanced mouse models that mimic human disease, the researchers aim to uncover how circRNA influences the spread of cancer cells. They will analyze data from clinical studies and their models to identify key mechanisms involved in LUSC metastasis, potentially leading to new therapeutic targets.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing or treating lung cancer metastasis, improving survival rates for patients.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific focus on circRNA in LUSC is relatively novel, similar approaches investigating RNA's role in cancer metastasis have shown promise in other studies.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pecot, Chad V — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Pecot, Chad V
Related research
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Circular RNA's role in lung cancer spread
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This research aims to understand how groups of lung cancer cells communicate and move together, which causes cancer to spread throughout the body.
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Understanding how small cell lung cancer spreads
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.