# Core C – Immunophenotyping Core

> **NIH NIH P01** · MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · 2024 · $186,553

## Abstract

SUMMARY: CORE C 
Cachexia is a wasting syndrome that significantly contributes to the morbidity and mortality of cancer patients, 
especially those diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The overarching hypothesis of this 
P01 project is that the NF-κB/IL-6/STAT3 signaling axis acts as a central regulator of the macroenvironment in 
PDAC-induced cachexia, encompassing tumor, skeletal muscle and adipose tissues. Three projects in this P01 
focus on specific components of this signaling axis integrating on the use of mouse models and patient samples. 
The role of the Immunophenotyping Core will be to support molecular and histological studies in the projects 
requiring next generation single cell sequencing (scRNA-seq) and multispectral imaging. In addition, the 
Immunophenotyping Core will use deep learning methods to perform the quantitation of multiplex images of 
immune cells to assess the function of the NF-κB/IL-6/STAT3 signaling axis in the progression of PDAC and 
wasting of muscle and adipose tissues in cachexia. The two specific aims of the Immunophenotyping core is to 
1) Utilize multiplex immunofluorescence panels and multispectral imaging to evaluate how the NF-κB/STAT3/IL- 
6 signaling axis regulates the immune architecture contributing to PDAC tumor progression and muscle and 
adipose wasting; and 2) Perform single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) to reveal functional pathways 
regulated by the NF-κB/STAT3/IL-6 signaling axis in the macroenvironment of murine models of PDAC-induced 
cachexia.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10898589
- **Project number:** 5P01CA236778-04
- **Recipient organization:** MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
- **Principal Investigator:** Martin John Romeo
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $186,553
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-07-01 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10898589

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10898589, Core C – Immunophenotyping Core (5P01CA236778-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10898589. Licensed CC0.

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