Mapping how colon and pancreatic cancer cells signal to nearby healthy cells
Structure-informed dissection of cancer-specific intracellular and paracrine networks
Researchers are mapping how colon and pancreatic cancer cells send and receive signals that recruit or reprogram nearby healthy cells to help tumors grow.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11181164 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project combines advanced computer models that learn protein structures with lab experiments that track how cancer cells respond to drugs over time. The team will map both the molecules that bind between cells and the internal signaling pathways inside tumor cells to build a detailed network of cell-to-cell communication. Work focuses on colon adenocarcinoma and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, using existing data, lab models, and likely patient tumor samples to validate findings. The goal is to pinpoint signals that bring healthy cells into the tumor environment so researchers can target those interactions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with colon adenocarcinoma or pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who can provide tumor samples or participate in related research at Columbia University would be the best candidates to contribute.
Not a fit: Patients without colon or pancreatic cancer, or those seeking immediate clinical treatment benefits, are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this mainly laboratory-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets to block tumor signals that recruit or reprogram healthy cells, leading to therapies that slow or stop tumor progression.
How similar studies have performed: Related studies using protein interaction mapping and computational models have produced useful biological insights, but combining structure-based deep learning with paracrine network experiments in these cancers is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Honig, Barry H — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Honig, Barry H
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 below.