How cancer cells hide in the body and later wake up
Functional Analysis of Distinct and Co-existing Transcriptional Programs Regulating Tumor Dormancy
This research looks at what makes leftover breast cancer cells stay asleep or start growing again so future treatments can better prevent metastasis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Albert Einstein College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bronx, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11314546 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will study disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) that remain after initial breast cancer treatment to understand why some stay dormant and others reactivate. They will examine molecular programs driven by factors like NR2F1 and SOX2, and signaling pathways such as retinoic acid and LIF/OSM, using lab models and tissue or cell samples. The team will compare distinct dormant cell populations, their chromatin states, and how enhancer regulation affects reactivation potential. The aim is to identify molecular targets that could be used to keep DTCs dormant longer or stop them from starting new metastases.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People treated for breast cancer who are at risk of metastasis or who can donate tumor, blood, or tissue samples containing disseminated tumor cells would be relevant for related studies.
Not a fit: Patients with widespread active metastatic disease are unlikely to receive direct short-term benefit from this basic and preclinical research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to ways to prevent cancer recurrence by keeping hidden tumor cells asleep or stopping them from reawakening.
How similar studies have performed: Prior lab work showed NR2F1 can induce dormancy in some cancers, but the SOX2-driven dormancy and its reactivation potential are newer and less tested.
Where this research is happening
Bronx, United States
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine — Bronx, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sosa, Maria — Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Sosa, Maria
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.