How androgen receptors contribute to breast cancer spread after hormone therapy
Official title: The pro-metastatic role of androgen receptor in estrogen receptor mutated breast cancer
Funded at University of Maryland Baltimore · NIH-11009037 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain receptors in breast cancer cells might help the cancer spread, especially in women who have stopped responding to regular hormone treatments, and it aims to find new ways to improve treatment for those patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | January 8, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $630,810 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA279108-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11009037 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer who have experienced resistance to hormone therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-hormone receptor-positive breast cancer or those who have not undergone hormone therapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how androgen receptors in breast cancer cells may promote the spread of the disease, particularly in cases where patients have developed resistance to standard hormone therapies. The study focuses on understanding the mechanisms that allow these cancer cells to survive and recur as metastatic disease, especially in postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. By examining the interactions between androgen receptors and other cellular pathways, the research aims to identify new therapeutic targets that could improve treatment outcomes for patients. The approach includes laboratory experiments using breast cancer cell lines to explore the effects of androgen signaling under conditions of hormone deprivation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatment strategies that improve survival rates for patients with metastatic breast cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the role of androgen receptors in breast cancer, indicating that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Maryland Baltimore
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yu, Min — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Yu, Min
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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.