Understanding how cancer cells adapt to spread and survive in different organs
Project 2: Mechanochemical Mechanisms and Vulnerabilities of Individual and Collective Organ-Preferential Metastasis In Vivo
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY · NIH-10911875
This study is exploring how cancer cells that travel through the bloodstream manage to survive and settle in new parts of the body, and it aims to find ways to stop them from doing this, which could help make cancer treatments more effective.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CAMBRIDGE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-10911875 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This research investigates how circulating tumor cells (CTCs) adapt to mechanical and molecular stresses when they move from the bloodstream to different organs. It focuses on the mechanisms that allow these cells to survive and colonize new sites, particularly looking at how cell adhesion, cytoskeletal changes, and nuclear deformation play a role in this process. By using advanced imaging techniques in mouse models, the study aims to identify ways to disrupt these adaptations, potentially leading to increased cancer cell death and reduced metastasis.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients with metastatic cancer, particularly those whose tumors have spread to organs like the liver or skin.
Not a fit: Patients with localized cancer that has not spread to other organs may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that prevent the spread of cancer by targeting the mechanisms that allow tumor cells to survive in new environments.
How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown promise in targeting similar mechanisms of cancer cell adaptation, suggesting that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
CAMBRIDGE, UNITED STATES
- MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY — CAMBRIDGE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: FRIEDL, PETER — MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
- Study coordinator: FRIEDL, PETER
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.
Conditions: Breast Cancer Cell