Breast cancer treatment using proteins from healthy CD36-positive fibroblasts
Official title: A novel breast cancer therapy based on secreted protein ligands from CD36+ fibroblasts
Funded at University of Nevada Reno · NIH-11319056 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Testing whether proteins released by certain CD36-positive fibroblasts can slow growth of some types of breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Nevada Reno NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Reno, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $435,682 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA279408-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11319056 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with breast cancer—particularly those whose tumors show involvement of cancer-associated fibroblasts—would be the likely candidates for future trials of this approach.
✕Less likely to help
People with cancers that do not rely on fibroblast interactions or with non-breast cancers are unlikely to benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
This project looks at proteins released by fibroblasts that carry CD36, a marker often lost in cancer-associated fibroblasts. In lab experiments and animal models, the team found that adding these proteins or co-transplanting CD36+ fibroblasts reduced tumor growth. They plan to identify the active protein ligands, produce recombinant versions, and test their effects in 3D cell cultures, breast cancer cell lines, and CAF models to see which tumor subtypes respond. The goal is to slow tumor cells and shift harmful fibroblasts back toward a healthier state.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to new treatments that slow tumor growth by using proteins that reprogram tumor-supporting fibroblasts.
How similar studies have gone: Early laboratory and animal work by the team showed tumor suppression with CD36-positive fibroblasts, but using their secreted proteins as a therapy is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Nevada Reno
Reno, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Parvin, Bahram a. — University of Nevada Reno
- Study coordinator: Parvin, Bahram a.
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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.