# The Functional Role of GRM3 in Colon Cancer

> **NIH NIH R50** · OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $135,998

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer mortality and the third most common cancer diagnosed
in the United States, largely due to metastasis, recurrence and drug resistance. Therefore, there is an urgent
need to identify new targets and develop novel target-specific therapies. Our previous study has shown for the
first time that expression of GRM3, a metabotropic glutamate receptor mainly expressed in mammalian central
nervous system, is significantly upregulated in the majority of human colonic adenocarcinomas tested and colon
cancer cell lines. Knockdown of GRM3 expression in colon cancer cells reduces cell survival and anchorage-
independent growth in vitro and inhibits tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, GRM3 antagonizes TGFβ-
mediated activation of protein kinase A and inhibition of AKT. As a long-term researcher with 10 year experience
and expertise in colon cancer research in Dr. Jing Wang lab, I will continue to work on this project to understand
the mechanisms of TGFβ-mediated GRM3 expression, determine the functional role of GRM3 in colon cancer
development, progression and metastasis in vivo using orthotopic and genetic mouse models and demonstrate
clinical relevance and significance of elevated GRM3 expression and TGFβ/GRM3 crosstalk in colon cancer
patient samples. With this award support, the completion of these studies will identify TGFβ/GRM3/PKA as a
novel signaling axis regulating colon cancer development and progression and establish GRM3 as a potential
therapeutic target for colon cancer treatment. Additionally, I will also continue to contribute to collaborations with
researchers inside and outside of university in NCI funded research programs and take responsibilities in
mentoring and training students and postdocs this proposed project.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10044505
- **Project number:** 1R50CA243898-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Liying Geng
- **Activity code:** R50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $135,998
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-08-15 → 2025-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10044505

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10044505, The Functional Role of GRM3 in Colon Cancer (1R50CA243898-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10044505. Licensed CC0.

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