NIH-funded research R01 grant

Investigating how copper affects kidney cancer progression

Official title: Metabolic effects of cooper in renal cancer

Funded at University of Cincinnati · NIH-10932291 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at how copper buildup in kidney cancer cells affects their growth and survival after surgery, with the hope of finding new ways to treat clear cell renal cell carcinoma and prevent it from coming back.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Cincinnati
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Cincinnati, United States)
Project startSeptember 20, 2023
Project endAugust 31, 2028
Funding year2024
Award (this year)$512,622
NIH project number5R01CA287260-02
Project IDNIH-10932291 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with clear cell renal cell carcinoma who are undergoing or have undergone surgical treatment.

Less likely to help

Patients with other types of kidney cancer or those who have not been diagnosed with ccRCC may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research focuses on clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), a common and aggressive type of kidney cancer. It aims to understand how copper accumulation in cancer cells influences their growth and survival, particularly after surgical treatment. By examining tissue samples from patients and using cell line models, the study will explore the metabolic changes driven by copper and how these changes may lead to cancer relapse. The findings could provide insights into new therapeutic strategies targeting copper metabolism in ccRCC.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that prevent relapse in kidney cancer patients by targeting copper metabolism.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that targeting metabolic pathways in cancer can lead to significant advancements in treatment, suggesting potential success for this approach.

Where this research is happening

  • University of Cincinnati
    Cincinnati, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Czyzyk-Krzeska, Maria F — University of Cincinnati
  • Study coordinator: Czyzyk-Krzeska, Maria F

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

  • Profilin as a Target to Normalize Tumor Vessels in Kidney Cancer

    A new approach aims to curb blood vessel growth in a common kidney cancer by targeting a protein called Profilin 1 to improve how blood vessels form in tumors.

    NIH research University of Texas Dallas · Richardson, United States · NIH-11640331

  • Overcoming obesity-related resistance to immunotherapy in kidney cancer

    A study aims to understand why obesity affects how well immunotherapy works for people with advanced kidney cancer and how to improve treatments for those patients.

    NIH research University of Kentucky · Lexington, United States · NIH-11528804

  • Copper-driven metabolism in clear cell kidney cancer relapse

    This grant studies how copper metabolism affects the growth and relapse of clear cell renal cell carcinoma to identify new ways to help patients after surgery.

    NIH research University of Cincinnati · Cincinnati, United States · NIH-11395519

  • New VHL tumor-suppressor signaling in kidney cancer

    This project looks at why a common kidney cancer (ccRCC) resists treatment and how changes in a gene called VHL and a chemical tag on RNA might open new ways to fight it.

    NIH research Ut Southwestern Medical Center · Dallas, United States · NIH-11380777

  • Targeting epigenetic drivers in clear cell kidney cancer

    A doctor-scientist at Johns Hopkins is exploring how epigenetic changes shape kidney cancer and whether new therapies can target these changes.

    NIH research Johns Hopkins University · Baltimore, United States · NIH-11282705

  • Targeting profilin to normalize blood vessels in kidney cancer

    This work tests whether blocking a protein called profilin can normalize tumor blood vessels and help people with clear cell kidney cancer.

    NIH research University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · Pittsburgh, United States · NIH-11178700

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.