Targeting excess glycogen in Ewing’s sarcoma to improve diagnosis and treatment
Targeting Glycogen Metabolism in Ewing's Sarcoma: Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Applications
This project tests whether focusing on abnormal glycogen in Ewing’s sarcoma tumors can lead to better ways to detect and treat children and young adults with this cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11300956 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use a high-resolution imaging method (MICC) to map where glycogen and other complex sugars sit inside hundreds of patient tumor samples. In the lab they will reduce or block glycogen in tumor cells using gene editing and drugs, and study effects on tumor growth in mouse models. They will also test a glycogen synthase inhibitor combined with metformin to see if this combination limits tumor formation. The goal is to turn those findings into better diagnostic markers and therapies for people with Ewing’s sarcoma.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be children or young adults diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, particularly those with recurrent or metastatic disease or tumors showing high glycogen accumulation.
Not a fit: People without Ewing’s sarcoma or whose tumors do not show high glycogen levels are unlikely to benefit from these specific approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could yield new diagnostic markers and treatment strategies that slow or stop Ewing’s sarcoma growth, especially for relapsed or metastatic cases.
How similar studies have performed: Early laboratory and mouse-model studies, including the investigators' prior work, showed promising results, but clinical benefits in human patients have not yet been established.
Where this research is happening
Gainesville, United States
- University of Florida — Gainesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sun, Ramon C. — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Sun, Ramon C.
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.