Finding the tipping points that make cancers start and grow
Tipping Points in Cancer
This program will look at how small changes in cells and their surroundings can push breast cancer (including BRCA1-linked triple-negative), melanoma, and certain leukemias from early harmless stages into aggressive disease to help people at risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11306054 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, researchers are studying the moments when pre-cancerous tissue suddenly becomes malignant. They will use improved genetically engineered mouse models that mimic chronic myeloid leukemia, melanoma, and BRCA1-driven triple-negative breast cancer to watch how cell states and cell-to-cell interactions change over time. The teams focus on non-genetic, random (stochastic) shifts and collective behaviors of cells that are not caused by DNA mutations. Insights are intended to point toward new ways to prevent progression or overcome therapy resistance.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People most relevant to this work include those with BRCA1 mutations or triple-negative breast cancer, patients with melanoma, and people with or at risk for chronic myeloid leukemia.
Not a fit: Patients with unrelated cancer types or those needing immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to gain direct, short-term benefit from this primarily mouse-based research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new strategies to stop cancers before they become invasive or to make treatments work better by targeting the cellular changes that trigger progression.
How similar studies have performed: Prior basic-science studies have shown that non-genetic cell-state changes can affect therapy resistance, but applying a tipping-point framework across multiple cancer types is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Irvine, United States
- University of California-Irvine — Irvine, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lowengrub, John — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Lowengrub, John
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.