How breast cancer spreads to bone
Decipher the Molecular Mechanisms of Breast Cancer Bone Metastasis
This work looks at how breast cancer cells survive and grow in bone to help people with breast cancer who are at risk for bone metastases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Buffalo, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11301024 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's view, the team is trying to understand how tiny breast cancer deposits in bone change and later grow into larger, painful tumors. They examine tumor cell behavior and metabolism using 3-D lab models, animal experiments, and analysis of tissue or blood samples from people. By comparing early “micro” bone lesions to established “macro” lesions, researchers aim to find molecules or pathways that could be blocked by new treatments. The project is carried out at Roswell Park and is focused on discovering targets that might prevent or shrink bone metastases.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with breast cancer who have or are at high risk for bone metastases or who can donate tumor, bone, or blood samples for research.
Not a fit: People without breast cancer or whose disease does not affect bone are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to therapies that prevent or better treat breast cancer spread to bone, reducing pain, fractures, and disability.
How similar studies have performed: Existing drugs that change bone remodeling (like bisphosphonates) help in some cases, but directly targeting cancer cells in bone is still largely experimental and this work builds on early findings toward new approaches.
Where this research is happening
Buffalo, United States
- Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp — Buffalo, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Hai — Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp
- Study coordinator: Wang, Hai
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.