How Body Composition Affects Breast Cancer Survival
Official title: Body composition and breast cancer survival: immune and metabolic biomarkers in breast tumors
Funded at Kaiser Foundation Research Institute · NIH-11144496 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores how a patient's body composition, like muscle and fat levels, influences how well breast cancer treatments work and their long-term survival.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Kaiser Foundation Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oakland, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 1, 2020 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $492,813 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA251589-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11144496 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research focuses on breast cancer patients, particularly those with different levels of muscle mass and body fat.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not directly participating in this molecular study would not receive immediate personal benefit.
What this research studies
We know that patients with low muscle mass or too much body fat often have a harder time with breast cancer treatments and face a higher risk of the cancer coming back. This project aims to understand how these body composition factors directly impact the breast tumor itself, specifically looking at the tumor's immune response and its growth pathways. By studying human breast cancer patients, we hope to uncover how body composition changes the tumor environment, which could help us personalize future treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help doctors tailor breast cancer treatments based on a patient's body composition, potentially improving outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: While previous animal and lab studies suggest a link, this project is a novel comprehensive look at these relationships directly in human breast cancer patients.
Where this research is happening
-
Kaiser Foundation Research Institute
Oakland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Feliciano, Elizabeth Marjorie Cespedes — Kaiser Foundation Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Feliciano, Elizabeth Marjorie Cespedes
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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.