Wednesday, February 18, 2026 2/18/2026

Investigation of STAT2 Signaling in the tumor microenvironment

Award Number: R03CA273613
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2023
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2025

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Investigation of STAT2 Signaling in the tumor microenvironment - SUMMARY Intercellular communication between tumor cells and stromal cells of which major components are fibroblasts play a significant role in tumor growth, cancer progression and metastasis. This proposal aims to investigate the role of STAT2 signaling in the exchange of communication between colorectal cancer (CRC) cells and stromal cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor microenvironment. Our preliminary show that a clinical correlation between high STAT2 expression and poor survival as well as a positive correlation between STAT2 and markers of CAFs. Analysis of tumor biopsies of CRC patients showed elevated STAT2 protein in the tumor and surrounding stroma. Studies in two animal models of CRC reveal that STAT2 is tumorigenic. RNA-Seq analysis exposed a transcriptional signature associated with tumor associated fibroblasts. Furthermore, we found that STAT2 facilitates the proliferation and invasion of tumor cells. In parallel, we found that induction of EGF expression in normal fibroblasts was poorly induced after incubation with conditioned medium from STAT2 deficient tumor cells. Given these observations, we postulate that STAT2 mediates the crosstalk between the tumor and CAFs leading to CRC disease progression. The objective is to: (1) Determine whether intrinsic tumor STAT2 signaling leads to reprogramming of normal fibroblasts to CAFs to promote tumor growth and (2) Determine whether STAT2 signaling in normal fibroblasts leads to their conversion to CAFs to enhance tumor growth. Completion of this study will reveal the importance of STAT2 signaling in the tumor microenvironment as the communication axis (unidirectional vs. bidirectional) between tumor cells and CAFs to enhance tumor growth, migration, and invasion. Significance: Treatment of advanced CRC by combining targeted therapies with chemotherapy has produced modest success. Delineating the oncogenic role of STAT2 signaling in the tumor microenvironment may lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies. If results from our study reveal that STAT2 plays a dynamic role in the establishment of cell-to-cell communication in the tumor microenvironment, our findings will support a rationale to inhibit STAT2 signaling as a therapeutic intervention for the treatment of metastatic CRC.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = -$2,892 )
2025	2024	TEMPLE UNIVERSITY-OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	1805 N BROAD ST	PHILADELPHIA	PA	19122	PHILADELPHIA	USA	Cancer Biology Research	000	2	8/5/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$2,892
														Subtotal = -$2,892

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $150,020 )
2024	2024	TEMPLE UNIVERSITY-OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	1805 N BROAD ST	PHILADELPHIA	PA	19122	PHILADELPHIA	USA	Cancer Biology Research	000	2	3/20/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$79,250
2024	2024	TEMPLE UNIVERSITY-OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	1805 N BROAD ST	PHILADELPHIA	PA	19122	PHILADELPHIA	USA	Cancer Biology Research	001	2	4/25/2024	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$70,770
														Subtotal = $150,020

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $79,250 )
2023	2023	TEMPLE UNIVERSITY-OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	1801 N BROAD ST	PHILADELPHIA	PA	19122	PHILADELPHIA	USA	Cancer Biology Research	000	1	3/23/2023	NEW	$79,250
														Subtotal = $79,250

Grand Total All Awards = $226,378

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Investigation of STAT2 Signaling in the tumor microenvironment

Award Number: R03CA273613

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2023

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2025

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer