Engineering the premetastatic niche in breast cancer
Official title: Engineering the Premetastatic Niche
Funded at Purdue University · NIH-11384472 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Purdue University team is studying how breast cancer spreads to other parts of the body by modeling the distant tissue environment and finding key changes that help cancer cells take hold.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Purdue University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (West Lafayette, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,563,719 |
| NIH project number | 4R01CA281216-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11384472 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with breast cancer at risk of metastasis, whose disease biology could be affected by interventions targeting the PMN.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose cancer does not metastasize or whose tumor biology is unaffected by PMN changes may see no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses a 3-D engineered model of the premetastatic niche to identify which changes in distant tissues make them friendly for metastatic breast cancer cells. It focuses on how extracellular matrix components and EVs influence tumor cell colonization, heterogeneity, and drug resistance. By pinpointing critical niche events, the work aims to reveal targets that could prevent or delay metastasis. The findings could inform future therapies to keep breast cancer from spreading and improve outcomes for patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to new approaches that block metastasis and improve survival for people with breast cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies with PMN models and EVs have shown that niche changes influence metastasis, supporting the potential effectiveness of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Purdue University
West Lafayette, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Solorio, Luis — Purdue University
- Study coordinator: Solorio, Luis
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.