Understanding how cancer begins when a key cell process is disrupted
Official title: Mechanisms of tumor initiation upon disruption of the Rb/E2f interaction
Funded at Lankenau Institute for Medical Research · NIH-11095720 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research aims to understand how liver cancer starts when a specific cell control system, called the Rb/E2f interaction, stops working correctly.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lankenau Institute for Medical Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Wynnewood, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $380,395 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA251397-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11095720 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research is not directly recruiting patients but aims to benefit future patients at risk for or diagnosed with liver cancer.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose cancers do not involve the disruption of the Rb/E2f interaction may not directly benefit from this specific line of research.
What this research studies
Our cells have natural brakes, like the Rb/E2f system, that stop them from growing out of control. When these brakes fail, it's a common step in cancer development, but we don't fully understand how this leads to a tumor. This project uses models of liver cancer, where these cell brakes are known to be disrupted, to explore the exact steps that cause cancer to begin. We want to learn if a cell's maturity affects its ability to become cancerous and if the broken cell brakes activate other cancer-promoting features. By understanding these early steps, we hope to find new ways to prevent or treat liver cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a deeper understanding of how liver cancer initiates, potentially opening doors for new prevention strategies or early treatments.
How similar studies have gone: While the general role of Rb/E2f disruption in cancer is known, how this specifically initiates tumors in living organisms is poorly understood, making this a novel approach to a fundamental question.
Where this research is happening
-
Lankenau Institute for Medical Research
Wynnewood, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Viatour, Patrick — Lankenau Institute for Medical Research
- Study coordinator: Viatour, Patrick
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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.