How a protein switch may drive ER-positive breast cancer to resist treatment and spread
A SIM2s/SEMA7A Switch Drives ER+ Breast Cancer Progression
This project looks at whether changes between two proteins, SIM2s and SEMA7A, help estrogen receptor–positive (ER+) breast cancers stop responding to hormone drugs and become more aggressive.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11284024 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers have found that high levels of the protein SEMA7A in ER+ tumors are linked with shorter survival and poorer responses to tamoxifen. They will study how loss of the tumor suppressor SIM2s and gain of SEMA7A activate cell survival signals and epithelial-to-mesenchymal changes that can lead to therapy resistance and metastasis. The team will use tumor samples, cell models, and animal models to map the signaling pathways and test whether blocking survival pathways can restore drug sensitivity. The work aims to identify biomarkers and drug targets that could guide new treatments for people with recurrent or metastatic ER+ breast cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with ER-positive breast cancer—especially those with recurrent or metastatic disease or whose tumors show high SEMA7A—would be the most relevant candidates for related future trials or tissue-donation efforts.
Not a fit: Patients with ER-negative breast cancers or those whose tumors do not involve the SIM2s/SEMA7A pathway are unlikely to benefit directly from findings focused on this specific mechanism.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new targets or biomarkers to overcome hormone-therapy resistance and slow or prevent spread in ER+ breast cancer patients.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked high SEMA7A and low SIM2s to worse outcomes and therapy resistance, but targeting this specific switch as a treatment approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lyons, Traci — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Lyons, Traci
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.