Understanding the link between cancer and muscle diseases
Official title: Prediction and Significance of Cancer in Idiopathic Inflammatory Myositis
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-10855717 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how muscle weakness from idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) might be linked to a higher risk of cancer, and it hopes to find specific markers in the blood that could help predict cancer in people with IIM, making cancer screenings easier and more effective for patients like you.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $575,021 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AR083912-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10855717 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies who may be at risk for developing cancer.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without a diagnosis of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies or those who do not have any associated cancer risk may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the connection between idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM), a group of autoimmune diseases that cause muscle weakness, and the risk of developing cancer. It aims to identify specific autoantibodies that may serve as biomarkers for predicting cancer in patients with IIM. By studying the relationship between cancer emergence and IIM outcomes, the research seeks to improve current cancer screening practices, which can be costly and lead to unnecessary procedures. The findings could provide valuable insights into how cancer affects muscle disease and vice versa.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more accurate cancer predictions for patients with muscle diseases, potentially reducing unnecessary screenings and improving patient outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the relationship between autoimmune diseases and cancer, but this specific approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mecoli, Christopher — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Mecoli, Christopher
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Myositis-ILD Risk Prediction: How ILD Progresses in Myositis Patients
A study to build better tools that predict how lung disease linked to myositis will behave in diverse patients.
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Autoantibodies and membrane repair in myositis
A blood and tissue study seeks to understand how immune reactions against muscle repair proteins contribute to inflammatory myositis, with the goal of guiding better treatments for people with this condition.
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Why chikungunya causes long-lasting joint and muscle pain
This work looks at how chikungunya virus can linger in joint and muscle cells and keep causing pain for people who had the infection.
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Autoantibodies against muscle membrane repair proteins in myositis
This work looks at whether people with myositis have antibodies that attack proteins that fix damaged muscle cell membranes and how that may cause muscle inflammation and weakness.
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Predicting lung disease outcomes in people with myositis
This project combines medical information and genetic markers to predict which people with myositis will have worsening interstitial lung disease.
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Cancer risk in inflammatory muscle disease (myositis)
This project looks for signs in people with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies that show whether they have or might develop cancer.
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.