Targeting lactic acid sensing to treat clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Official title: Lactic acid sensing is a targetable vulnerability in clear cell Renal Cell Carcinoma
Funded at University of Miami School of Medicine · NIH-11306321 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new NIH grant explores how lactic acid in the tumor environment helps this kidney cancer grow, and tests whether blocking a lactate-sensing receptor can slow or stop the disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Miami School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Coral Gables, United States) |
| Project start | June 22, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $529,260 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA301255-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11306321 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma or those with tumors expressing GPR132 may be most relevant for personalized follow-up studies and future trials.
✕Less likely to help
Some patients whose tumors do not rely on lactate signaling or do not express GPR132 may not benefit from these approaches.
What this research studies
This project looks at how the cancer cells in clear cell renal cell carcinoma respond to lactate in their surroundings. By focusing on the lactate sensor GPR132, researchers will examine how blocking this signal affects tumor growth and survival in laboratory models and animal studies. The work also investigates the downstream effects on mitochondrial health and the Akt/mTOR pathway, aiming to reveal a potential new therapeutic target. If successful, the findings could guide the development of treatments that disrupt the tumor’s self-stimulation loop driven by lactate.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could gain new treatment options that limit tumor growth by interrupting lactate-driven tumor signaling.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier studies show lactate influences immune and tumor biology; this project extends those ideas to direct tumor cell signaling and growth.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Miami School of Medicine
Coral Gables, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Welford, Scott Michael — University of Miami School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Welford, Scott Michael
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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.