How air-pollution chemicals affect breast (mammary) cells across species
Environmental mammary carcinogen evaluation in a xenotransplantation mouse model
This project compares how pollutants from air and other sources change breast tissue cells from horses, dogs, and mice to learn why some species resist mammary cancer while others are more vulnerable.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cornell University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ithaca, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11295430 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, this research looks at cells from horses (which rarely get mammary cancer) and dogs (which get it more often) and exposes them to pollutants called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The team uses cell experiments and a mouse xenotransplantation model to see whether damaged cells die off or keep growing after chemical exposure. They focus on whether apoptosis (programmed cell death) protects some species while damaged cells persist in others. The goal is to pinpoint cellular responses that might explain differing mammary cancer risk between species.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This is a laboratory and animal-based project with no human enrollment, though people worried about breast cancer risk from environmental pollution are the eventual beneficiaries of the findings.
Not a fit: Patients needing immediate treatment or clinical therapies will not get direct benefit because this is preclinical research focused on cells and animal models.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal protective mechanisms against mammary cancer that ultimately inspire new prevention or treatment targets for people.
How similar studies have performed: DMBA and other PAH-driven models have been used for decades to induce mammary tumors in rodents, but directly comparing horse and dog cellular responses to these chemicals is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Ithaca, United States
- Cornell University — Ithaca, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Harman, Rebecca M — Cornell University
- Study coordinator: Harman, Rebecca M
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.