Targeting mutant KRAS in metastatic colon cancer with RNA-loaded exosomes and CRISPR components
Official title: Mechanism and approach to inactivate mutant KRAS of lung metastatic colon cancer by RNA-ligand-displaying exosome to co-deliver dCas9--gRNA ribonucleoprotein complex and KRAS siRNA
Funded at Ohio State University · NIH-11369670 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-focused grant exploring a new way to silence mutant KRAS in metastatic colon cancer using RNA-loaded exosomes to deliver CRISPR components and KRAS-targeting siRNA.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 2, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,426,336 |
| NIH project number | 4R01CA293945-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11369670 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with KRAS-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer or related metastatic disease who are candidates for experimental gene-silencing strategies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without KRAS-mutant tumors or those unable to receive experimental exosome-based therapies may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to develop a targeted nanotechnology approach to reach metastatic colon cancer that has limited responses to standard therapies. Researchers plan to load exosomes with a dCas9-HDAC1-gRNA complex and KRAS siRNA to silence the mutant KRAS gene, potentially slowing or stopping tumor growth. The work combines RNA nanotechnology with CRISPR-based gene silencing to improve the delivery of therapeutic payloads to cancer cells. If successful, the approach could offer a new way to treat patients with KRAS-mutant tumors, including cases with lung metastasis. The study will investigate delivery efficiency, safety, and mechanisms governing how the exosome platform reaches and affects cancer cells.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with KRAS-mutant metastatic colon cancer could have a new therapeutic option that targets the cancer at the genetic level.
How similar studies have gone: Previous RNA-nanoparticle and CRISPR-based delivery efforts have shown promise in preclinical cancer models, with ongoing research translating to clinical studies.
Where this research is happening
-
Ohio State University
Columbus, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Guo, Peixuan — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Guo, Peixuan
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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.