AURKA/KAP1 signals linked to breast cancer spread
Official title: AURKA/KAP1 signaling in breast cancer metastasis
Funded at West Virginia University · NIH-11345970 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A doctor-research team is studying how a protein called AURKA, and its partner KAP1, may drive early spread of aggressive breast cancer by changing how cancer cells read their genes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | West Virginia University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Morgantown, United States) |
| Project start | June 16, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $443,359 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA311774-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11345970 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with triple-negative breast cancer or individuals whose cancer shows nuclear AURKA signaling might benefit from future therapies targeting this pathway.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose cancer does not rely on AURKA/KAP1–driven chromatin changes may not benefit from targeting this mechanism.
What this research studies
This project looks at how nuclear AURKA and KAP1 interact to reshape the genome in triple-negative breast cancer cells and promote early metastasis. Researchers will examine gene expression and chromatin changes driven by AURKA–KAP1, and how these changes influence cancer cell movement and invasion. The study will use cells and models to map which genes get turned on or off and how this relates to early dissemination. If successful, the work could point to new targets to prevent spread and improve outcomes for patients with TNBC.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding this pathway could lead to new therapies that prevent early metastasis in aggressive breast cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Similar studies have identified AURKA and chromatin remodeling as important in cancer progression, but this specific N-AURKA and KAP1 interaction is a novel area needing confirmation.
Where this research is happening
-
West Virginia University
Morgantown, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pugacheva, Elena Nikolaevna — West Virginia University
- Study coordinator: Pugacheva, Elena Nikolaevna
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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.