Stopping Osteosarcoma from Spreading
Official title: Targeting DKK-1 To Prevent Osteosarcoma Metastasis
Funded at Albert Einstein College of Medicine · NIH-11127707 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks for new ways to stop osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer common in young people, from spreading to other parts of the body.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Albert Einstein College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bronx, United States) |
| Project start | July 9, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $653,190 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA262802-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11127707 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is focused on understanding and treating osteosarcoma, particularly in adolescents and young adults.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without osteosarcoma or those whose cancer has already spread extensively may not directly benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
Osteosarcoma is a bone cancer that often affects teenagers and young adults. While surgery and chemotherapy can help many with localized disease, it's much harder to treat when the cancer has spread. This project explores a new approach by focusing on a protein called DKK-1, which seems to help osteosarcoma cells spread. Researchers believe that by blocking DKK-1, they can encourage cancer cells to mature and stop them from moving to other areas. This could lead to better outcomes for patients with this aggressive cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that prevent osteosarcoma from spreading, significantly improving survival rates for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous laboratory work has shown promising results in animal models where blocking DKK-1 prevented metastasis.
Where this research is happening
-
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Bronx, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Loeb, David M. — Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Loeb, David M.
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This study is looking at how bone cancer, called osteosarcoma, spreads to the lungs, and it aims to find new ways to stop this from happening, which could help patients get better treatments for their cancer.
-
Targeting a protein to stop the spread of bone cancer in young people
This study is exploring how a protein called DKK-1 affects the spread of osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer that often affects teens and young adults, and aims to find a new treatment that could help stop the cancer from spreading, inviting patients to join in by sharing their blood or tumor samples.
-
Lymph node metastasis and immune tolerance in head and neck cancer
A study in people with head and neck cancer looks at how cancer spread to lymph nodes may shape the immune system and help tumors grow.
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.