Changing estrogen's effects to help treat cancer
Manipulating normal estrogen physiology as a therapeutic approach in cancer
This project explores whether altering how estrogen works in the body can improve treatment for people with breast cancer and some other cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11258566 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you or a loved one has cancer, researchers at Duke are working to understand how normal estrogen signals in the body affect tumor growth. They use lab experiments and animal models to study estrogen receptor-alpha actions in immune cells and the brain, and how those actions change the tumor environment. The team plans to identify points where blocking or modifying estrogen signaling could reduce immune suppression around tumors or otherwise slow cancer growth. Findings could guide new hormonal or immune-focused treatments that are informed by these biological effects.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with breast cancer—especially tumors influenced by estrogen signaling—and possibly patients with other cancers that show sex-hormone links (such as some lung, melanoma, glioblastoma, or thyroid cancers) could be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: Patients whose tumors have no role for estrogen signaling or whose care cannot safely include hormone-directed approaches are unlikely to directly benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to use hormone-targeting treatments to slow tumor growth or boost immune response against cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Hormone-blocking therapies already help many ER-positive breast cancers, but targeting estrogen's effects on immune cells and the brain is a newer approach with limited clinical testing.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcdonnell, Donald P — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Mcdonnell, Donald P
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.