How dietary fats influence breast cancer in obese women
Official title: Dietary lipids as drivers and therapeutic targets in obesity-accelerated breast cancer
Funded at University of Utah · NIH-10973832 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the fats we eat might help breast cancer grow in women who are overweight, and it hopes to find new ways to treat this type of cancer by understanding how these cancer cells use fats for energy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $179,988 |
| NIH project number | 1UH2CA286584-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10973832 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are postmenopausal women who are obese and diagnosed with breast cancer.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not obese or do not have breast cancer may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how dietary lipids contribute to the growth of breast cancer in women with obesity. It aims to understand the metabolic changes that occur in breast cancer cells when exposed to high levels of dietary fats, as well as how these changes can be targeted for new treatments. The study will explore whether breast cancer cells prefer to use fats instead of sugars for energy in obese patients, and how this preference affects tumor growth. By identifying unique metabolic vulnerabilities in these cancer cells, the research seeks to develop more effective therapies for obesity-related breast cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatment strategies that specifically target breast cancer in obese patients, potentially improving outcomes and survival rates.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in targeting metabolic pathways in cancer, suggesting that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chaix, Amandine H. — University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Chaix, Amandine H.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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How fat in our bodies may link obesity to breast cancer risk through A-FABP
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How a mother's obesity might affect her child’s breast cancer risk through the gut
This study investigates whether maternal obesity changes a child’s gut bacteria in a way that could increase breast cancer risk later in life.
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This grant asks how obesity and African ancestry affect breast cancer biology and outcomes in rural Alabama women.
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Targeting RAGE to fight obesity-related ER+ breast cancer and its drug resistance
A scientist team will explore how obesity-related inflammation involving RAGE and estrone interacts with ER+ breast cancer to drive growth and spread, aiming to find strategies to overcome therapy resistance.
-
FSH, body fat, and breast cancer risk after menopause
This project will look at whether higher follicle-stimulating hormone after menopause is linked to more belly fat and a higher chance of breast cancer in a large group of women.
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.