Alcohol's effects on breast stem cells and cancer risk
Alcohol-Associated Toxicity and Genomic Instability of Mammary Stem Cells
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · NIH-11160722
This work looks at whether alcohol and its breakdown product acetaldehyde harm breast stem cells in ways that could raise breast cancer risk.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CHAPEL HILL, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11160722 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers will use 3D breast cell cultures and animal models to mimic how alcohol and acetaldehyde contact mammary stem cells in the body. They will look for DNA damage, chromosome changes, and mutations in key genes such as p53 that might cause stem cells to become cancerous. The team will also study whether these genetic changes lead to expansion of cancer stem–like cells that can start tumors. The goal is to map the steps from alcohol exposure to early breast cancer changes so future prevention or early-detection strategies can be developed.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: There is no direct patient enrollment in this lab-focused project, but the results will be most relevant to people who drink alcohol or have concerns about alcohol-related breast cancer risk.
Not a fit: Patients with advanced or metastatic breast cancer are unlikely to see immediate clinical benefit from these basic laboratory studies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal early genetic changes caused by alcohol that lead to breast cancer, informing prevention advice and future targeted therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have linked alcohol and acetaldehyde to DNA damage and cancer stem–like cell expansion in other tissues and breast cancer cell lines, but applying those findings to normal mammary stem cells is a newer, less-tested area.
Where this research is happening
CHAPEL HILL, UNITED STATES
- UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL — CHAPEL HILL, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: YANG, XIAOHE — UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- Study coordinator: YANG, XIAOHE
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 below.