Targeting enteric glia to overcome chemotherapy resistance in colon cancer
Official title: Enteric Glia is New Biological Target to Block Drug Resistance in Colon Cancer
Funded at North Carolina State University Raleigh · NIH-11311353 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers aim to block signals from gut support cells called enteric glia so chemotherapy can kill colon cancer cells more effectively.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | North Carolina State University Raleigh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Raleigh, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $329,600 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA270462-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11311353 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people with colon adenocarcinoma—particularly those with advanced or chemo-resistant tumors—or patients able to donate tumor tissue for research.
✕Less likely to help
People with cancers not involving the colon or those not receiving chemotherapy would likely not see direct benefit from this work.
What this research studies
The team will study how enteric glial cells (EGC) in and around colon tumors help cancer stem cells survive chemotherapy. They will use human tumor samples, 3-D laboratory tumor models, and animal studies to examine EGC-derived factors such as FSTL3 and the MRN–ATM DNA-repair pathway in protection from drugs like 5‑FU. Mass spectrometry and molecular tests will be used to identify the protective signals and then those signals will be blocked in preclinical models to see if chemotherapy becomes more effective. Positive preclinical results could point to new treatments that target the tumor microenvironment alongside standard chemotherapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, blocking enteric glia signals could make standard chemotherapy more effective and reduce treatment failure for people with colon cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research shows the tumor microenvironment can drive chemo resistance, but directly targeting enteric glia and FSTL3 is a relatively new, mainly preclinical approach.
Where this research is happening
-
North Carolina State University Raleigh
Raleigh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Van Landeghem, Laurianne Chantal — North Carolina State University Raleigh
- Study coordinator: Van Landeghem, Laurianne Chantal
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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.