Investigating how dormant melanoma cells can reactivate and promote cancer growth.
Official title: The role of MER/PROS1 in promoting stromal induced emergence from metastatic melanoma dormancy
Funded at Research Inst of Fox Chase Can Ctr · NIH-11074120 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how sleeping melanoma cells can affect nearby cells to help the cancer grow and resist treatment, and it's designed for researchers like Dr. Fane to learn new ways to find better treatments for melanoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Research Inst of Fox Chase Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R00CA263017-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11074120 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with metastatic melanoma, particularly those who have experienced dormancy of their cancer.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-melanoma skin cancers or those without a history of metastatic melanoma may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how dormant melanoma cells in metastatic tissues can influence surrounding stromal cells to promote cancer growth and resistance to treatment. The project aims to train Dr. Fane in advanced techniques related to tumor dormancy, cancer immunology, and bioinformatics. By studying the mechanisms that allow dormant cells to reactivate, the research seeks to uncover potential targets for new therapies. The team at Johns Hopkins, which includes experts in melanoma and immunology, will support this investigation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing the reactivation of dormant melanoma cells, potentially improving treatment outcomes for patients.
How similar studies have gone: While research on melanoma dormancy is limited, the approach of targeting dormant cancer cells has shown promise in other cancer types, indicating potential for success in this area.
Where this research is happening
-
Research Inst of Fox Chase Can Ctr
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fane, Mitchell Edward — Research Inst of Fox Chase Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Fane, Mitchell Edward
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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.