Understanding how diet and fat metabolism affect KRAS-driven cancers and ferroptosis in humans
Official title: Exploiting Lipid Metabolism and Dietary Interventions to Sensitize KRAS-Driven Tumors to Ferroptosis
Funded at University of Cincinnati · NIH-11444414 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to see if specific diets and lipid strategies can slow or improve treatment of lung, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers in model systems and preclinical settings.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Cincinnati NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $672,300 |
| NIH project number | 1U01CA317558-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11444414 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with lung, pancreatic, or colorectal cancer, or those with tumors displaying KRAS mutations, may benefit from translational strategies informed by this research.
✕Less likely to help
People without these cancer types or whose tumors do not rely on lipid metabolism for progression may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests how what we eat and how fats are processed in the body influence tumor growth and how well treatments work for certain cancers. Researchers will use a mix of human tumor samples grown in animals, immune-competent models, and mouse models that mimic human disease to study tumor metabolism and the microenvironment. Both male and female mice will be included, and treatments will be started when tumors reach predefined sizes. The study will track tumor growth with imaging and endoscopy, and will use power calculations to ensure reliable results with a careful number of animals. Findings aim to reveal how diet and lipid pathways shape cancer therapy response, potentially guiding future clinical strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, results could inform dietary and metabolic approaches to enhance cancer treatment and patient outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical models have shown that metabolism and diet can affect tumor behavior, but this specific combination of lipid metabolism and ferroptosis in KRAS-driven tumors is advancing into more comprehensive models.
Where this research is happening
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University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bartolacci, Caterina — University of Cincinnati
- Study coordinator: Bartolacci, Caterina
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.