Understanding how colorectal polyps become cancer without mutations
Official title: Dissecting the non-mutational mechanisms of benign-to-malignant transition in colon cancer
Funded at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory · NIH-11279349 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies the non-mutational steps that let colorectal polyps turn into cancer, using a new mouse model that mirrors human disease and helps identify when and why progression happens.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cold Spring Harbor, United States) |
| Project start | June 16, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $704,182 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA307963-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11279349 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with colorectal polyps or a higher risk of colorectal cancer may benefit from future strategies arising from this research.
✕Less likely to help
The study is in early stages and may not directly benefit patients in the short term while it focuses on animal models and basic mechanisms.
What this research studies
Colorectal cancer often starts with benign polyps, and this project aims to map the non-mutational changes that drive those polyps to become malignant. Researchers will use a novel mouse model to replicate the stepwise mutation pattern seen in human cancers and pinpoint rate-limiting events outside DNA changes. They will study how certain mutations in established polyps affect tissue behavior and identify whether a fetal-like stem cell state contributes to progression. Spatial transcriptomics will help reveal how tumor regions differ in regeneration signals and growth potential, guiding future prevention or treatment strategies. The work is designed to bridge basic science with insights that could inform sooner detection or intervention in people at risk for colorectal cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding these non-mutational pathways could lead to new ways to prevent or halt colorectal cancer progression in people with polyps.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that non-mutational mechanisms can influence cancer progression, and this approach builds on those insights with a more precise model.
Where this research is happening
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Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Cold Spring Harbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Westcott, Peter Maxwell Kienitz — Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
- Study coordinator: Westcott, Peter Maxwell Kienitz
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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.