Stopping colon cancer from spreading to the liver with a new drug approach
Official title: A new therapeutic strategy to target liver metastasis in colon cancer
Funded at Ohio State University · NIH-11289460 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are trying drugs that activate the dopamine D4 receptor, alone or with standard chemotherapy, to stop colon cancer from spreading to the liver in people at risk of liver metastases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | March 1, 2025 |
| Project end | February 28, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $474,560 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA292598-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11289460 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
The eventual trials based on this work would likely target people with colon cancer who are at high risk of developing liver metastases or who have early liver lesions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not depend on the VEGF-C/FLT4 pathway or who cannot tolerate drugs that target dopamine receptors may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
If I had colon cancer, this research looks at whether activating the dopamine D4 receptor can reduce signals that help tumors seed the liver. The team will test selective DRD4 agonists by themselves and combined with common chemotherapy in animal models that mimic human colon cancer. They will also examine how DRD4 changes tumor and liver tissue at the molecular level, focusing on the VEGF-C/FLT4 pathway. These preclinical steps are meant to guide future treatments and possible human trials.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new therapies that lower the risk of liver metastases and improve survival for people with colon cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Early laboratory and animal data support a role for the VEGF-C/FLT4 pathway and suggest DRD4 effects are promising, but using DRD4 agonists to prevent liver metastasis is a new approach that has not yet been proven in humans.
Where this research is happening
-
Ohio State University
Columbus, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Basu, Sujit — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Basu, Sujit
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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.