How bursts of a low‑oxygen protein (HIF‑1α) may drive breast cancer growth
Investigating the Role of Emergent Oscillations of Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1 alpha Activity in Cancer Growth and Progression
This work looks at whether swings in a low‑oxygen sensing protein called HIF‑1α change how breast and other tumors grow and spread.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Farmington, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10976838 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers study tumor models in the lab to watch how HIF‑1α levels rise and fall in individual cancer cells and how those swings affect tumor behavior. They use breast cancer cell and tumor models, measure gene activity across the tumor population, and track metabolic changes such as lactate production that can feed back on HIF‑1α. The team will link these molecular patterns to changes in cell growth, metabolism, invasion, and day/night (circadian) pathways. Findings could point to new molecular signals that help some tumor cells become more aggressive.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with breast cancer, especially those with aggressive or treatment‑resistant tumors, might be relevant for future sample donation or follow‑on clinical efforts.
Not a fit: People without cancer or whose tumors are not driven by low‑oxygen/HIF‑1α biology would not expect direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets to interrupt harmful HIF‑1α dynamics and slow tumor growth or spread.
How similar studies have performed: HIF‑1α has been widely studied and linked to worse cancer outcomes, but focusing on oscillatory HIF‑1α activity is a newer idea with limited prior clinical translation.
Where this research is happening
Farmington, United States
- University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt — Farmington, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kshitiz, Fnu — University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt
- Study coordinator: Kshitiz, Fnu
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.