Targeting the proline pathway to stop cancer growth
Investigating the Proline Cycle as a Potential Cancer Therapy Target
Researchers are developing drugs that block a metabolic pathway called the proline cycle to try to slow tumor growth in people with cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Missouri-Columbia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11190813 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I have cancer, this project focuses on enzymes (PRODH and PYCR1) that help tumor cells rewire their metabolism to grow and spread. Scientists are designing small molecules that can bind those enzymes and testing them first in cancer cells and then in animal cancer models. They plan to make both reversible inhibitors and compounds that permanently inactivate the target enzyme to see which approach works best. The goal is to use these chemical tools to understand how proline metabolism drives cancer and to guide future drug development for patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with cancers that show high activity of PRODH or PYCR1—for example some metastatic breast cancers—would be the most likely candidates for future trials based on this work.
Not a fit: Because the work is preclinical (cell and animal studies), patients should not expect direct or immediate treatment benefits from this project now.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new cancer drugs that slow tumor growth or reduce metastasis by blocking proline metabolism.
How similar studies have performed: Early laboratory and animal studies, including initial chemical probes from this project, have shown promising activity but no proven treatments in humans yet.
Where this research is happening
Columbia, United States
- University of Missouri-Columbia — Columbia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tanner, John J — University of Missouri-Columbia
- Study coordinator: Tanner, John J
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.