Staphylococcus aureus and CTCL: How skin bacteria may drive a blood cancer
Official title: Role of S.aureus in Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma Pathogenesis
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11326309 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A doctor-scientist team is studying how certain strains of Staphylococcus aureus on the skin might influence the development and progression of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) in patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | May 10, 2022 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $544,847 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA271245-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11326309 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma who have skin infections or skin bacteria sampling could be eligible, depending on the study’s criteria.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without CTCL or those not meeting sampling criteria may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project will collect skin samples from CTCL patients, including tumor and nearby skin, to identify which S. aureus strains are present and what harmful toxins they produce. The scientists will sequence the bacteria and study how their toxins and superantigens might affect skin T cells and the tumor environment. The goal is to connect specific bacterial traits with changes in the immune signals that could help or worsen CTCL. Findings could point to new ways to prevent bacterial-triggered progression and improve patient care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work may lead to new strategies to reduce bacterial triggers and potentially slow CTCL progression.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research suggests bacteria can influence immune responses in skin diseases, but direct links to CTCL progression are being explored here.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Koralov, Sergei Borisovich — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Koralov, Sergei Borisovich
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Investigating how Staphylococcus aureus affects skin cancer development
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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.