Understanding how cancer cells use purine nucleotides for growth
Official title: Decoding the metabolic routes of purine nucleotides in cancer - Resubmission - 1
Funded at Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-11048060 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how cancer cells make important building blocks they need to grow, and it aims to find better ways to treat cancer by understanding these processes better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $544,478 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA289251-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11048060 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with various types of cancer, particularly those whose tumors are known to rely on purine metabolism.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-cancerous conditions or those whose tumors do not significantly utilize purine metabolism may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the metabolic pathways that cancer cells use to produce purine nucleotides, which are essential for their growth and survival. By employing advanced techniques such as stable isotope infusions and metabolomics, the study aims to uncover how tumors regulate their purine levels through two main pathways: de novo synthesis and salvage. This understanding could lead to improved cancer therapies by targeting these metabolic routes more effectively. The research focuses on the intricate balance and flexibility of these pathways in cancer metabolism.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapeutic strategies that more effectively target cancer metabolism and improve treatment outcomes for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in targeting metabolic pathways in cancer, suggesting that this approach could yield significant advancements in treatment.
Where this research is happening
-
Ut Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hoxhaj, Gerta N/a — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Hoxhaj, Gerta N/a
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.