Helping broken bones heal when breast cancer has spread to bone
Rescuing impaired fracture healing by molecular targeting
Looking for molecular ways to help fractures heal properly in people whose bones contain breast cancer cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11249997 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
I would be told that researchers want to know why fractures often fail to harden when breast cancer cells are present in bone. They measured gene activity in cancer cells grown in bone and found a pro-inflammatory MEK–pERK–cytokine signaling pattern. Using lab and animal models (including mouse 4T1 cancer models), they will try molecular approaches to reduce that inflammation and support bone repair while also checking effects on tumor growth. The work aims to identify treatments that could let pathological fracture calluses ossify correctly even with cancer nearby.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with breast cancer that has spread to bone, especially those with or at high risk for pathological fractures, would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: People with fractures unrelated to cancer, or with cancers that have not involved bone, are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to treatments that allow cancer-related fractures to heal better and possibly slow tumor growth in bone.
How similar studies have performed: Drugs that target MEK/ERK signaling exist for cancer, but using them specifically to restore fracture healing in bone metastases is a newer approach with limited prior clinical testing.
Where this research is happening
New Haven, United States
- Yale University — New Haven, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, Francis Young-in — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Lee, Francis Young-in
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.