Understanding why some esophageal cancer patients don’t respond to chemoradiation
Official title: Role of genomic and microenvironment factors in conferring acquired resistance to ferroptosis to chemoradiation in esophageal adenocarcinoma
Funded at University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · NIH-11395551 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project at MD Anderson is looking at why esophageal cancer patients often don’t fully respond to chemoradiation and how tumor biology and the surrounding environment affect treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $306,002 |
| NIH project number | 5U54CA274220-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11395551 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with esophageal adenocarcinoma undergoing chemoradiation who can provide tumor biopsies before and during treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not undergoing biopsy collection or those with non-eligible tumor samples may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project explores how genetic and microenvironment factors influence resistance to chemoradiation in esophageal adenocarcinoma, using patient tumor biopsies taken before and during treatment. Researchers will analyze single-cell gene expression to map ferroptosis-related pathways and how tumor cells talk to surrounding immune and stromal cells. The work connects basic science findings from preclinical models to real patient samples to identify markers that predict treatment resistance. The ultimate goal is to develop predictive tools that guide therapy decisions and improve outcomes for patients facing this disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive more personalized treatment plans and better chances of responding to therapy.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical models have shown ferroptosis-related pathways can influence therapy response, with translational efforts aiming to validate these findings in human tumors.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lin, Steven Hsesheng — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Lin, Steven Hsesheng
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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.