Understanding how cancer cells use energy to grow
Metabolic Control and Anticancer Mechanism
This research explores how cancer cells use energy to grow and how existing cancer medicines might be improved to better stop this growth.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11167462 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Cancer cells often have an overactive mTORC1 pathway, which helps them grow uncontrollably. Medicines called rapalogs, like temsirolimus, target this pathway and are approved for cancer, but they don't always work as well as hoped. This project aims to uncover why these medicines have limited success by looking at how mTORC1 signaling affects cancer cells' energy use, specifically through a molecule called NEAT1. By understanding this process, we hope to find ways to make current cancer treatments more effective.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is relevant for patients with cancers where the mTORC1 pathway is overactive, which is common in many human cancers.
Not a fit: Patients whose cancers do not involve the mTORC1 pathway or who are not candidates for rapalog-like therapies may not directly benefit from this specific line of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more effective treatments for cancers driven by the mTORC1 pathway, potentially improving patient outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: Rapamycin analogs are already FDA-approved drugs, but this project seeks to deepen the understanding of their mechanisms to improve their effectiveness, building on existing clinical experience.
Where this research is happening
Newark, UNITED STATES
- Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences — Newark, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zheng, Steven — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Zheng, Steven
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.