Heavy Metals and Breast Cancer Treatment Resistance
Official title: Suppression of progesterone receptor signaling by heavy metals promotes tamoxifen resistance and metastasis or ER+ breast cancer
Funded at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst · NIH-11349797 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores how exposure to heavy metals might make ER+ breast cancer harder to treat and how we might overcome this challenge.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tampa, United States) |
| Project start | June 24, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $480,442 |
| NIH project number | 7R01ES035353-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11349797 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is relevant for women diagnosed with ER+/PR+ breast cancer, particularly those who may face treatment resistance or have environmental heavy metal exposure.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with breast cancer types other than ER+/PR+ may not directly benefit from this specific line of inquiry.
What this research studies
Our bodies are exposed to heavy metals like arsenic and lead through air pollution and water, and this project aims to understand how these metals might change ER+ breast tumors. We believe that these metals can suppress a key protein called the progesterone receptor (PR) in cancer cells, which can make tumors resistant to common treatments like tamoxifen and more likely to spread. Researchers are looking into how these metals affect cell processes, specifically by increasing harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS) within the cell's nucleus. The ultimate goal is to find ways to block these changes and make existing breast cancer treatments effective again for patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new strategies to prevent or reverse tamoxifen resistance in ER+ breast cancer patients, especially those exposed to environmental heavy metals.
How similar studies have gone: While the direct link between heavy metals and PR suppression in breast cancer is a novel focus, research on environmental factors influencing cancer progression and drug resistance has shown promise.
Where this research is happening
-
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst
Tampa, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bonini, Marcelo G. — H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst
- Study coordinator: Bonini, Marcelo G.
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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.