Stopping Melanoma from Spreading by Targeting Fat Metabolism
Preventing Melanoma Metastasis by Targeting Lipid Vulnerabilities in Lymph
This project looks at how melanoma cells use fats to protect themselves in the body's lymphatic system, aiming to find new ways to stop cancer from spreading.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11106028 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Melanoma can become very dangerous when it spreads to other parts of the body, but we don't fully understand how this happens. Cancer cells face stress as they travel through the body, and they must adapt their metabolism to survive. This project focuses on how melanoma cells in the lymph system protect themselves from a type of cell death called ferroptosis, which is linked to fat damage. Researchers found that a specific fat, oleic acid, helps shield these cells. By understanding these protective strategies, we hope to find new ways to target these fat-related weaknesses and prevent melanoma from spreading early on.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is not directly recruiting patients, but future clinical applications would likely target individuals with early-stage melanoma at risk of metastasis.
Not a fit: Patients with advanced, widespread melanoma may not directly benefit from this early-stage prevention strategy, as it focuses on stopping initial spread.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that prevent melanoma from spreading from lymph nodes to other parts of the body, improving patient outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work by Dr. Ubellacker has identified that melanoma cells in lymph are protected against ferroptosis by specific fatty acids, providing a strong foundation for this project.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ubellacker, Jessalyn — Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health
- Study coordinator: Ubellacker, Jessalyn
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.