Understanding how tumor particles prepare distant sites for cancer spread
Official title: Tumor-derived extracellular vesicles in the pre-metastatic niche.
Funded at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles · NIH-11399146 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at tiny tumor particles that travel through the body and may help scientists find ways to stop cancer from spreading.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Hospital of Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2017 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,055,468 |
| NIH project number | 4R01CA207983-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11399146 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include patients with melanoma or neuroblastoma whose samples may be used for comparative analyses and to validate findings.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose cancer does not involve TEV interactions with pre-metastatic niches may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will study how tumor-derived extracellular vesicles help create pre-metastatic niches, using mouse models, single-cell analyses, and patient samples. The goal is to identify targets that could be blocked to prevent metastasis. The work focuses on melanoma and neuroblastoma, with attention to immune cells in organs where metastasis tends to occur. The study is collaborative and leverages advanced techniques to connect lab findings with human cancer biology.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to new strategies to prevent or delay cancer spread in patients.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data and recent studies hint that TEVs shape metastasis, but this project includes novel models and patient samples to strengthen evidence.
Where this research is happening
-
Children's Hospital of Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Declerck, Yves a — Children's Hospital of Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Declerck, Yves a
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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.