E-cigarettes and possible links to breast cancer growth
Official title: Electronic cigarettes, oxidative stress and development of breast tumor
Funded at Charles R. Drew University of Med & Sci · NIH-11176041 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether e-cigarette exposure causes oxidative stress that helps breast cancer cells and tumors grow, which could matter for people with or at risk for breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Charles R. Drew University of Med & Sci NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | August 5, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $143,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM149471-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11176041 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with breast cancer or those at high risk who currently use e-cigarettes or have significant vaping exposure would be the most relevant group to follow this research or join related future studies.
✕Less likely to help
People who have never vaped and have no history or risk of breast cancer are unlikely to get direct benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Researchers will expose human breast cancer cells and mouse tumors to e-cigarette vapor (with and without nicotine) and measure signs of oxidative stress such as reactive oxygen species and antioxidant enzyme activity. They will follow tumor growth in mouse models and examine immune signals and pathways like NF-kB that can help tumors evade the immune system. The team will use genetic and drug-based approaches to block those pathways and see if that slows tumor growth. The work uses a human breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-468) and Balb/c mouse models to mirror aspects of human disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If confirmed, the findings could show vaping worsens breast cancer biology and point to ways to reduce harm, such as antioxidant or pathway-targeted interventions and clearer public health guidance.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical studies, including the investigators' own mouse data, suggest e-cigarette exposure can increase oxidative stress and tumor growth, but human evidence is limited and findings are still emerging.
Where this research is happening
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Charles R. Drew University of Med & Sci
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pervin, Shehla — Charles R. Drew University of Med & Sci
- Study coordinator: Pervin, Shehla
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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.