TGFβ2 and macrophages in cancer-related muscle wasting
The Role of TGFβ2 and Macrophages in Cancer Cachexia
This project looks at whether a protein called TGFβ2 and a type of immune cell (M2 macrophages) cause muscle and weight loss in people with cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of South Carolina at Columbia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11371200 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you are dealing with cancer-related weight or muscle loss, this work uses mouse models that mimic that condition to learn what starts the muscle scarring and wasting. The team will track when TGFβ2 levels rise and when M2 macrophages arrive in muscle, and then test what happens if they reduce M2 macrophages or block TGFβ2. They will measure muscle mass, strength, and tissue scarring to see whether these changes slow or stop the move toward severe cachexia. The goal is to find biological steps that could be targeted to protect muscle in people with cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for future trials based on this work would be people with cancer who are experiencing ongoing unintentional weight loss and muscle wasting (cachexia).
Not a fit: People without cancer-related weight or muscle loss, or whose weight loss is due to non-cancer causes, are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new ways to prevent or treat cancer-related muscle loss and improve quality of life and survival for patients with cachexia.
How similar studies have performed: Early preclinical data, including the team's own mouse experiments, show that targeting M2 macrophages or related signals can preserve muscle, but translating these findings to human treatments is still novel.
Where this research is happening
Columbia, United States
- University of South Carolina at Columbia — Columbia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Velazquez, Kandy T — University of South Carolina at Columbia
- Study coordinator: Velazquez, Kandy T
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.