Blocking cancer-causing cMYC tricks after pregnancy changes in the breast
Official title: Blockade of cMYC oncogenic function by pregnancy-induced alterations and remodeling of the mammary gland
Funded at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital · NIH-11615605 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are testing how pregnancy and aging reshape the breast before cancer risk, using patient-reinformed models to see if it changes how dangerous cMYC signals behave.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Memphis, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $438,590 |
| NIH project number | 7R01CA284630-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11615605 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with a history of pregnancy and/or BRCA1-related risk who are willing to contribute tissue samples or related data for organoid and sequencing studies.
✕Less likely to help
People without a history of pregnancy or with different breast cancer risk factors may derive less direct benefit from these specific mechanistic findings.
What this research studies
This project studies how a woman's pregnancy history and age influence breast cell behavior and cancer risk. It uses mammary organoids, single-cell sequencing, and computer analyses to map long-lasting changes in breast cells after pregnancy. The goal is to understand how these changes affect responses to oncogenic signals and DNA repair pathways, with potential implications for prevention and therapy. The work builds on prior findings about ERα, IRF4, STAT5, p53, and cMYC interactions and looks at BRCA1-deficient models for tumor initiation potential.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to better risk assessment and targeted prevention strategies for breast cancer based on pregnancy history and age.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have shown pregnancy-related changes can influence breast cancer risk and cell signaling, supporting further investigation of these mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
-
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Memphis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dos Santos, Camila — St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- Study coordinator: Dos Santos, Camila
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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.