The National Cancer Institute (NCI) awarded a $688,092 federal Project Grant (CFDA 93.396 - Cancer Biology Research) to Yale University to conduct research on the role and regulation of asparagine in colorectal cancer. The key objectives are to:
Determine if asparagine synthetase (ASNS) and G-protein coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER1) can serve as sex-specific prognostic biomarkers in advanced stage colorectal cancer patients, and examine how colorectal cancer treatment impacts asparagine-metabolizing gut microbiota.
Evaluate how GPER1 and ASNS promote primary tumor growth and metastasis in colorectal cancer, with a focus on sex-specific differences.
Assess the impact of dietary asparagine and microbial asparagine production on sex-specific differences in colorectal cancer growth using gnotobiotic mouse models.
The project will leverage clinical cohorts, colonoscopy-guided mouse models, and metagenomic analysis to provide innovative insights into the complex interplay between tumor biology, host metabolism, and the gut microbiome in driving sex-specific colorectal cancer progression. The award period is from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2029.