Investigating how TGF Beta1 affects tissue changes in metastatic oral cancer
Official title: Assessing TGF Beta1-Mediated ECM Remodeling in Metastatic Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-10983354 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a protein called TGFβ affects the spread of oral cancer and how it interacts with the surrounding tissue and immune cells, with the hope of finding new ways to treat patients better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | December 1, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $45,294 |
| NIH project number | 5F31DE032592-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10983354 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with metastatic oral squamous cell carcinoma.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-metastatic oral squamous cell carcinoma or other unrelated cancers may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the role of Transforming Growth Factor Beta1 (TGFβ) in the progression of metastatic oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). It examines how TGFβ influences the extracellular matrix (ECM) composition and immune cell behavior, which are critical in cancer spread. By using advanced techniques like RNA sequencing and flow cytometry, the study aims to identify how different ECM stiffness levels affect cancer cell invasion and stem cell characteristics. The findings could lead to new therapeutic strategies targeting TGFβ to improve patient outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that inhibit cancer metastasis and improve survival rates for patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that targeting TGFβ can reduce cancer cell migration and invasion, indicating potential success for similar approaches in this study.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Aleman, John — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Aleman, John
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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.