L-2HG and RNA Methylation: A New Path to Kidney Cancer Treatments
Official title: Interaction between the Epitranscriptome and Metabolism in L-2HG Driven Kidney Cancer
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11369103 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how a cancer-causing molecule called L-2HG changes RNA in kidney cancer cells and whether this can lead to new treatments for people with advanced renal cell carcinoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2016 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $371,251 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA200653-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11369103 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with renal cell carcinoma, especially those with advanced disease, could be eligible for future trials or related studies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers not driven by L-2HG-related pathways may not benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
Kidney cancer patients with tumors that have spread or are hard to treat may benefit if new strategies emerge from understanding L-2HG’s effects. This project looks at how L-2HG drives cancer growth by altering RNA chemistry (m6A) and by changing how cancer cells process metabolism. The team will combine laboratory studies with analyses that connect these molecular changes to tumor behavior. The goal is to identify vulnerabilities that could be targeted by new therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could uncover new targets for drugs to slow or halt kidney cancer growth.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data suggest a link between L-2HG, m6A RNA methylation, and tumor metabolism, but further confirmation is needed.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sudarshan, Sunil — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Sudarshan, Sunil
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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.