Age-related dormancy genes in breast cancer using a worm model
Official title: Identification of age-regulating breast cancer dormancy genes using C. elegans dauers
Funded at Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp · NIH-11453867 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study looking at how aging affects dormant breast cancer cells to find genes that keep cancer asleep or trigger relapse.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Buffalo, United States) |
| Project start | July 3, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $446,112 |
| NIH project number | 1R21CA308180-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11453867 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with breast cancer who are at risk of late metastasis due to dormant cancer cells.
✕Less likely to help
There may be no direct benefit for patients currently undergoing treatment during the basic discovery phase.
What this research studies
Researchers will use a C. elegans dauer model to identify genes that control aging-related dormancy in breast cancer cells and test how these genes influence cancer cell behavior in a bone-like environment. The project builds on prior findings about dormancy signatures and uses a functional genomic approach to uncover new targets that could delay or prevent relapse. Results could point toward therapies that keep dormant cancer cells from reawakening years after initial treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new strategies to prevent late breast cancer relapse by targeting aging-related dormancy pathways.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary studies have identified certain dormancy genes, but broader in vivo aging models are needed and this approach is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp
Buffalo, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gelman, Irwin H. — Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp
- Study coordinator: Gelman, Irwin H.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.