# Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis

> **NIH NIH P30** · INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS · 2024 · $57,602

## Abstract

ABSTRACT, Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis (TMM) Research Program
The Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis (TMM) Research Program is a highly interactive basic science
Program in which members combine fundamental research expertise to understand the biology of cancer cell
autonomous effects in relation to paracrine actions and specific components of the tumor microenvironment
(TME) and metastasis. Understanding factors released by the TME into systemic circulation will provide novel
diagnostic strategies, whereas understanding how the TME nurtures cancer cells to enhance metastasis and its
clinical consequence will lead to new cancer treatment strategies. The TMM overarching goal is to understand
the pathobiology of solid tumors, the TME, and systemic effects of metastases and develop our discoveries into
novel cancer targets and therapies. We advance this vision by focusing on two central themes with four aims.
Theme 1 pertains to tumor-stromal cell and immune cell interactions in the tumor micro- and macroenvironments.
Aim 1 is to identify pathways, mechanisms, and molecular targets alongside model development within the tumor
microenvironment that impact tumor cell survival; Aim 2 is to understand systemic consequences of tumor,
metastases, and treatment in the macroenvironment of the host including tumor effects on muscle wasting and
bone loss. Theme 2 pertains to tumor development and progression and molecular mechanisms of metastases.
Aim 3 is to identify pathways, mechanisms, and molecular targets involved in tumor progression and metastasis;
Aim 4 is to investigate molecular mechanisms of metastasis through bioengineering, genetically engineered
mouse models, and targeted therapies. In the past five years, notable successes with funded projects, including
renewal of the SPORE in hyperactive Ras signaling, a project in a new Epigenetic Therapies SPORE, a new
U01 in stromal reprogramming in pancreatic cancer, and further development of working groups in cancers
relevant to our catchment, resulted in increased funding in these areas. New team grants were also submitted
including two SPORE applications and recruitment into musculoskeletal effects of cancer metastasis group. Pilot
project RFAs expanded inter- and intra-programmatic collaborations, resulting in new grants. Annual retreats
fostered focused and robust collaborations, and we hosted visiting experts and recruited faculty members with
expertise based on needs identified at the retreats. The TMM Program has 35 Full and 24 Associate Members,
from 17 Departments and five Schools on the campuses of Indiana University (IU) School of Medicine, IU-Purdue
University Indianapolis, and IU School of Medicine-Bloomington. The Program has $12.4M in total direct funding
(up 36% since 2018) and $10.8M in peer-reviewed funding (up 59%), with $2.8M from the NCI (up 17%) and
$4.8M (up 167%) from other NIH institutes. In the current grant period, TMM members authored 583 publications
(23% intra-...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10934642
- **Project number:** 2P30CA082709-25
- **Recipient organization:** INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS
- **Principal Investigator:** Kenneth P Nephew
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $57,602
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1999-09-22 → 2029-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10934642

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10934642, Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis (2P30CA082709-25). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10934642. Licensed CC0.

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