How blood flow and pressure affect breast cancer cells in tiny blood vessels
Project1: The role of intravascular pressure and shear stress on tumor cell arrest, survival and proliferation in the microvascular niche
This work looks at how the forces of blood flow and pressure help or stop breast cancer cells from getting stuck, surviving, and growing in tiny blood vessels.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11182476 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers create lab-grown microvessel networks that mimic the small blood vessels where circulating breast cancer cells first land and then change flow and pressure to watch how tumor cells behave. They examine interactions with platelets, immune cells, and cell clusters to see which contacts help cancer cells survive, leave the vessel, or begin to grow. The team uses human breast cancer cells and supporting animal or tissue models to mirror processes that occur in patients. Results aim to reveal the physical and cellular steps that let a few cancer cells form new metastases.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with breast cancer—particularly those with advanced disease, known circulating tumor cells, or who can donate blood or tumor samples—would be the most relevant contributors.
Not a fit: People without breast cancer or those who cannot travel to the study site are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this laboratory-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to block cancer cells from settling and forming metastases, reducing the chance of cancer spread.
How similar studies have performed: Prior clinical and lab studies have shown platelets and cancer cell clusters can aid metastasis, but using engineered microvessel models to test how flow and pressure affect tumor cell fate is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Cambridge, United States
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Cambridge, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kamm, Roger D — Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Kamm, Roger D
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.