miR-15a microRNA therapy for advanced metastatic colorectal cancer
Official title: Development of novel miRNA based novel therapeutics for metastatic colorectal cancer
Funded at Northport VA Medical Center · NIH-11130922 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new treatment using a small RNA called miR-15a is being developed to help people, including Veterans, with advanced metastatic colorectal cancer that is resistant to standard chemotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northport VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Northport, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2022 |
| Project end | September 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX005260-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11130922 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people with advanced metastatic colorectal cancer whose tumors no longer respond to 5-FU–based chemotherapy, including Veterans treated at VA centers.
✕Less likely to help
People with early-stage, easily resectable colorectal cancer or tumors that remain sensitive to standard chemotherapy are unlikely to benefit from this early-stage therapeutic development.
What this research studies
Researchers are creating a synthetic mimic of miR-15a, a small regulatory RNA, to target mechanisms that make colorectal tumors resistant to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The team will use laboratory cancer models and molecular techniques to see if restoring miR-15a can kill cancer stem cells and lower levels of resistance proteins like thymidylate synthase. Experiments will test delivery methods, safety, and effects on tumor growth and recurrence in preclinical settings as a step toward therapies for Veterans with advanced disease. If preclinical results are promising, this work could move toward clinical testing in patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could overcome chemotherapy resistance and reduce recurrence, offering a new treatment option for people with advanced metastatic colorectal cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Laboratory studies and a few early clinical attempts with miRNA mimics have shown biological promise, but clinical success has been limited so far due to delivery and safety challenges.
Where this research is happening
-
Northport VA Medical Center
Northport, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ju, Jingfang — Northport VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Ju, Jingfang
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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.