Microbial therapies to block cancer cell nutrient scavenging in bladder and other Kras-driven cancers
Official title: Development of Microbial-Based Therapies to Suppress Macropinocytosis in Kras-Driven Cancers
Funded at Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope · NIH-11411240 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A cancer-focused research project tests how microbes could help shut down a key nutrient-pumping process in bladder cancer and other Kras-driven tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Duarte, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $402,600 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA272732-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11411240 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with bladder cancer or other Kras-driven cancers could benefit if these microbial-based approaches prove safe and effective.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers not driven by Kras or those who do not exhibit high macropinocytosis may see no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to understand and slow down how certain cancers use macropinocytosis to grab nutrients from their surroundings, which helps tumors grow and resist treatment. By focusing on Syndecan-1 and related pathways, the researchers hope to develop microbial-based strategies to suppress this nutrient scavenging. The goal is to create new approaches that could make existing therapies more effective for patients with Kras-driven cancers, including bladder cancer. The work involves laboratory studies and experiments that could eventually lead to clinical opportunities for people with these cancers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new microbial-based therapies that help limit tumor growth and improve responses to treatment for patients with Kras-driven bladder and other cancers.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show that targeting tumor metabolism and nutrient uptake can slow cancer growth, but microbial-based approaches in this specific context are still exploratory.
Where this research is happening
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Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
Duarte, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Manuel, Edwin Ramos — Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
- Study coordinator: Manuel, Edwin Ramos
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.