Understanding Cell Recycling and Cancer Spread
Autophagy and Pro-metastatic Differentiation
This research explores how a cell recycling process called autophagy, and specific proteins, influence cancer growth and its ability to spread throughout the body.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11017077 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Cancer cells rely on a natural cell recycling process called autophagy to survive and adapt to stress. Researchers are interested in blocking autophagy to treat cancer, and some existing drugs are already being tested for this purpose. However, blocking autophagy can also cause other proteins, called ACRs, to build up, which might actually help cancer grow and resist treatment. This project aims to understand how these ACR proteins contribute to cancer spreading, especially when autophagy is inhibited, using advanced laboratory models.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research does not directly involve patient participation, but future clinical trials based on these findings would likely target patients with various types of cancer, particularly those prone to metastasis.
Not a fit: Patients not affected by cancer or those whose cancer does not involve the autophagy pathway may not directly benefit from this specific line of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to target cancer by better understanding how cell recycling and specific proteins influence its spread, potentially improving future treatments.
How similar studies have performed: While anti-malarials are being repurposed as autophagy inhibitors in clinical trials, the specific role of ACR accumulation in promoting metastasis when autophagy is inhibited is a newer area of focus for this research team.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Debnath, Jayanta — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Debnath, Jayanta
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.