Breast cancer study: how DNA repair problems shaping tumor signals affect treatment resistance
Official title: Regulation of the tumor microenvironment by DNA damage repair proteins
Funded at San Diego State University · NIH-11361093 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying why some ER-positive breast cancers with MLH1 loss stop responding to standard hormone therapy, by looking at how these cancers secrete growth signals that activate HER2.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | San Diego State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project start | July 14, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $440,825 |
| NIH project number | 5R37CA270362-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11361093 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with ER-positive breast cancer, especially those with MLH1 loss or heterogeneous MLH1 loss, may benefit from future therapies informed by this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without ER+ breast cancer or without MLH1 loss may not directly benefit from this study.
What this research studies
This project explores how loss of the MLH1 gene in ER+ breast cancer cells leads to the release of signaling molecules that turn on HER2, making tumors resistant to endocrine therapy. The team will use lab experiments and animal models to see if these secreted ligands trigger HER2 pairing and activation in both MLH1-deficient and MLH1-sufficient cancer cells within heterogeneous tumors. They will also investigate whether the cGAS-STING pathway is involved in increasing HER ligand secretion. The goal is to identify mechanisms that drive therapy resistance and point toward potential strategies to overcome it.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets to overcome hormone therapy resistance in ER+ breast cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous data suggest MLH1 loss can influence HER signaling and therapy resistance, supporting a plausible path forward, though the exact mechanisms are being defined.
Where this research is happening
-
San Diego State University
San Diego, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Haricharan, Svasti — San Diego State University
- Study coordinator: Haricharan, Svasti
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.