Understanding how palmitoylation affects Cadherin-Catenin cell adhesion and lung melanoma spread
Official title: Exploring palmitoylation dynamics: impacts on Cadherin-Catenin adhesion and lipid metabolism in the progression of melanoma lung metastasis
Funded at Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru · NIH-11400079 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant studies how a chemical modification called palmitoylation influences how melanoma cells stick together and spread to the lungs, with potential to improve future treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $487,468 |
| NIH project number | 5R37CA295784-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11400079 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with or at risk for metastatic melanoma, particularly with pulmonary involvement, may be eligible for future trials or related studies.
✕Less likely to help
Early-stage patients with melanoma limited to the skin may not directly benefit until translational steps advance.
What this research studies
Melanoma can move from the skin to the lungs, making it harder to treat and lowering survival. This project looks at palmitoylation, a reversible lipid modification, and how it affects protein interactions that control cell adhesion and communication in melanoma. By studying the enzyme ZDHHC13 and its impact on E-cadherin stability and the tumor immune environment, researchers aim to identify new targets to slow or stop metastasis. The work combines basic biology with insights that could guide new diagnostic or therapeutic approaches for patients with metastatic melanoma. Results could pave the way for strategies that limit lung metastasis and improve outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to new targets or therapies that reduce melanoma spread to the lungs and improve survival for patients with metastatic disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work supports the idea that palmitoylation influences cell adhesion and cancer metastasis, but this specific pathway in melanoma lung metastasis is an area of active investigation with potential for new breakthroughs.
Where this research is happening
-
Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Shuyang — Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
- Study coordinator: Chen, Shuyang
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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.