EPHA2 signaling and breast cancer spread tied to the body’s stiffness
Official title: EPHA2 Receptor Signaling in Breast Cancer Mechanotransduction
Funded at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute · NIH-11473221 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how the EPHA2 receptor helps breast cancer cells respond to the stiffness of their surroundings and whether activating EPHA2’s normal signaling can block cancer invasion.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $88,084 |
| NIH project number | 3R01CA262794-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11473221 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is at the preclinical stage and does not specify patient recruitment; findings may inform future trials in people with breast cancer.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient benefit is not guaranteed in this preclinical study.
What this research studies
Researchers will study how mechanical forces from a stiff tumor environment influence EPHA2 signaling and breast cancer invasion, using 2D and 3D cell culture and mouse models. They will test how non-canonical EPHA2 signaling promotes EMT and metastasis when matrix rigidity increases, and how canonical signaling from ephrinA1 can counteract this effect. The project combines biochemical experiments with live models to map signaling pathways and assess potential therapeutic angles. The goal is to understand whether tuning EPHA2 signaling could reduce breast cancer aggressiveness linked to tissue stiffness.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify strategies to prevent breast cancer cells from becoming invasive by modulating EPHA2 signaling.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests EPHA2 signaling influences cancer cell behavior, with potential in targeting cancer spread; this study aims to clarify and extend those findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pasquale, Elena B — Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
- Study coordinator: Pasquale, Elena B
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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.