Understanding how bladder cancer changes and grows
Investigating mechanisms of tumor plasticity in human bladder cancer
This project looks at how bladder cancer cells change their type, which can make the cancer more aggressive and harder to treat.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11235090 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We are learning why bladder cancer sometimes changes from a less aggressive form to a more invasive one. Our team is studying how tumor cells can switch their characteristics, which we call 'lineage plasticity.' We use special models grown from patient tumors to see how these changes happen and if we can reverse them. Understanding this process could help us find new ways to make treatments like enfortumab vedotin more effective for patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is for patients with bladder cancer who are interested in understanding the biological mechanisms behind their disease progression and treatment response.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate new treatments or direct clinical trial participation will not find that benefit from this basic science project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to predict bladder cancer progression and improve how well current treatments work for patients.
How similar studies have performed: Evidence from our team and others suggests that lineage plasticity plays a role in cancer progression, making this a promising area of focus.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shen, Michael M. — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Shen, Michael M.
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.