Do common lung viruses wake up dormant breast cancer cells?
Role of respiratory viral infections and inflammation in promoting metastatic outgrowth in the lung
Seeing if common respiratory infections can make leftover breast cancer cells in the lungs start growing again in people who had breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11292889 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you are a breast cancer survivor, researchers are looking at whether everyday lung infections (like flu or coronavirus) can 'wake up' tiny cancer cells that hid in the lung after your original treatment. They are using mice that carry dormant breast cancer cells and exposing them to respiratory viruses, while also examining immune signals such as IL-6 and the roles of different T cells that may let those cells survive and expand. The team will compare these lab findings with health record and population data to see whether people with prior respiratory infections had more lung metastases later on. The goal is to find triggers and immune pathways that could be targeted to lower the risk of late lung relapse.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with a history of breast cancer, especially survivors at risk for lung metastasis or with known lung-dormant tumor cells, would be most relevant to this research.
Not a fit: People without a history of breast cancer or whose cancers do not seed the lungs are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If true, the work could point to ways to prevent infection-triggered lung metastasis or to treatments that block the immune signals that let dormant cells wake up.
How similar studies have performed: Early animal studies, including the investigators' own mouse work, have shown that flu and SARS-like infections can wake dormant breast cancer cells, but clinical evidence in people is still limited.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Degregori, James V — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Degregori, James V
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.