Targeting how metastatic osteosarcoma cells take hold in the lungs
Official title: Targeting cooperative mechanisms of metastatic colonization in osteosarcoma
Funded at Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp · NIH-11335718 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores why certain osteosarcoma cells survive in the lungs and how this “anchor” group helps cancer spread, with the goal of preventing metastasis in children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, United States) |
| Project start | July 6, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $372,261 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA260178-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11335718 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are children with osteosarcoma at risk of or with lung metastases or those from whom tumor samples could be analyzed.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without metastatic disease or those without access to the study samples may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers are studying how osteosarcoma spreads to the lungs by focusing on a small group of tumor cells that survive initial lung exposure. They hypothesize these anchor cells stop dividing and release inflammatory signals that change the lung environment to favor growth cells. The plan includes testing how these signals create a wound-like but unrepaired lung environment and whether standard chemotherapy might leave anchor cells behind to cause relapse. The project is organized into three aims to rigorously test these ideas and identify potential points to interrupt early metastatic progression.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could inform new strategies to prevent osteosarcoma metastasis to the lungs in children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies in cancer metastasis have shown that early tumor cell interactions with the lung can influence spread, but this approach is exploring a novel mechanism with potential for new interventions.
Where this research is happening
-
Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp
Columbus, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Roberts, Ryan D. — Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp
- Study coordinator: Roberts, Ryan D.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how bone cancer cells rely on certain pathways to grow in childhood osteosarcoma
This grant studies how specific cancer-related pathways in bone-forming cells drive osteosarcoma in children, with the aim of finding better treatments.
-
Histotripsy + immune boost to fight osteosarcoma
A new treatment idea combines a precise non-surgical ultrasound method with an immune-boosting compound to help fight bone cancer in people and dogs.
-
Genomically guided drug testing for osteosarcoma in patient-derived models
A precision approach tests new drugs on osteosarcoma models created from patients to find promising treatments for kids and teens.
-
New ways to stop osteosarcoma from spreading
Researchers are testing new approaches to block how osteosarcoma spreads, with the aim of improving survival for children and adults with metastatic disease.
-
Targeting OST Redundancy to Treat Osteosarcoma
A study in people with advanced bone cancer to see if new OST-targeting drugs can slow or stop tumor growth.
-
Focal Adhesion Kinase inhibitor to block osteosarcoma spread to the lungs
A cancer treatment plan tests whether blocking a specific cell signal can stop osteosarcoma from growing and spreading to the lungs in kids and young people.
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.