Understanding how cancer cells use nutrients from their environment
Mechanistic insights into lysosomal nutrient efflux in cancer
This study is looking at how certain aggressive cancer cells, especially those with RAS mutations, manage to survive chemotherapy by taking in nutrients from their environment, and it hopes to find new ways to stop this process to help improve treatment for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10902035 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates how aggressive cancer cells, particularly those with RAS mutations, survive chemotherapy by scavenging nutrients from their surroundings. It focuses on the process of macropinocytosis, where cancer cells internalize extracellular proteins and recycle them through lysosomes to obtain essential amino acids. The study aims to identify the mechanisms that control the release of these nutrients from lysosomes into the cell, potentially leading to new therapeutic strategies that target nutrient-scavenging pathways in cancer cells.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients with RAS-transformed cancers, particularly those who have shown resistance to chemotherapy.
Not a fit: Patients with non-cancerous conditions or those with cancers not driven by RAS mutations may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for certain aggressive cancers that currently evade standard therapies.
How similar studies have performed: While targeting nutrient-scavenging mechanisms in cancer is a relatively novel approach, preliminary studies have shown promise in understanding these processes.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rogala, Kacper — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Rogala, Kacper
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.