Alcohol-linked DNA damage in breast stem cells
Official title: Project 3: Alcohol-Associated Toxicity and Genomic Instability of Mammary Stem Cells
Funded at North Carolina Central University · NIH-11160518 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at whether alcohol and its breakdown product acetaldehyde cause DNA changes in breast stem cells that could start breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | North Carolina Central University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $195,075 |
| NIH project number | 5U54AA030451-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11160518 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This project does not directly enroll patients, but people with a history of alcohol use or a family history of breast cancer could be candidates to provide samples if the researchers seek human tissue or blood.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate new treatments for existing breast cancer are unlikely to benefit directly from this basic laboratory-focused project.
What this research studies
From a patient's view, the team is trying to find out how drinking might harm the tiny stem cells in the breast that can lead to cancer. They will use lab-grown mammary stem cells, 3D cell cultures, and animal models to see how alcohol and acetaldehyde cause DNA breaks, chromosome changes, and expansion of cancer-like stem cells. The researchers will look for mutations in key genes such as p53 and changes in genomic stability to understand how cells become cancerous. Results are intended to reveal early steps by which alcohol could trigger breast cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal how alcohol increases breast cancer risk and point to new ways to prevent or detect alcohol-linked cancer early.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown alcohol or acetaldehyde can damage stem cells and promote cancer in other tissues, but applying these findings specifically to mammary stem cells is a more novel area.
Where this research is happening
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North Carolina Central University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yang, Xiaohe — North Carolina Central University
- Study coordinator: Yang, Xiaohe
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Alcohol-Associated Toxicity and Genomic Instability in Mammary Stem Cells
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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.