Understanding how thyroid cancer cells use energy
Identifying metabolic dependencies in Hurthle cell carcinoma of the thyroid-Res 1
This project aims to discover how a specific type of thyroid cancer, called Hürthle cell carcinoma, uses energy to grow, which could lead to new ways to treat it.
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 ID | NIH-11114034 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Hürthle cell carcinoma is an aggressive thyroid cancer with unique changes in how its cells produce energy. We want to understand these energy changes better, especially how mutations in the cell's powerhouses (mitochondria) affect tumor growth. Our approach includes directly observing how surgical patients' cells use carbon for energy, testing new treatments in models grown from patient cells, and using special lab models to study how these energy changes drive cancer. This work will help us find new weaknesses in these cancer cells.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with Hürthle cell carcinoma of the thyroid, or potentially other thyroid and kidney cancers, might benefit from future treatments developed from this research.
Not a fit: Patients with cancers that do not share similar mitochondrial mutations or metabolic dependencies may not directly benefit from this specific line of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new targeted treatments for Hürthle cell carcinoma and potentially other thyroid and kidney cancers by disrupting their unique energy pathways.
How similar studies have performed: While the specific metabolic dependencies in Hürthle cell carcinoma are not fully understood, targeting cancer metabolism is a promising area of research with some prior successes in other cancer types.
Where this research is happening
Dallas, United States
- Ut Southwestern Medical Center — Dallas, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcfadden, David Glenn — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Mcfadden, David Glenn
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.