Carolina Breast Cancer Initiative
Project 1: Carolina Breast Cancer Study
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · NIH-11181659
This project looks at how genes, tumor biology, health conditions, and social factors affect breast cancer outcomes for women in North Carolina, especially younger, rural, and Black women.
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-11181659 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From your perspective, the team uses long-term data and biospecimens from the Carolina Breast Cancer Study, oversampling groups that face worse outcomes, to link tumor features with patient health and social conditions. They analyze tumor markers (like ER/HER2 status, p53, proliferation, and genomic risk scores), perform genetic and molecular profiling, and review medical records and patient questionnaires. The researchers also examine other health risks such as obesity and cardiovascular disease, plus treatment delays and neighborhood or socioeconomic factors. Their approach combines lab testing, genomics, and real-world clinical and social data to explain why some women develop earlier, more aggressive disease and have poorer survival.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are women with breast cancer in the Carolina Breast Cancer Study catchment (especially younger, Black, or rural patients) who can provide medical records and tumor samples or consent to use of existing samples and data.
Not a fit: People without breast cancer, those outside the study region who cannot provide records or samples, or those unwilling to share clinical data are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify women at higher risk of aggressive or recurrent breast cancer and guide targeted screening, follow-up, or supportive interventions to reduce disparities.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work from the Carolina Breast Cancer Study has already linked tumor biology (proliferation scores, p53 mutations, immune and stromal signatures) to worse outcomes, and this project builds on those findings by adding social and comorbidity data.
Where this research is happening
CHAPEL HILL, UNITED STATES
- UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL — CHAPEL HILL, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: TROESTER, MELISSA A. — UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- Study coordinator: TROESTER, MELISSA A.
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.
Conditions: Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer Model, Cardiovascular Diseases