How distant tissues become ready for breast cancer to spread
Engineering the Premetastatic Niche
Learning how changes in distant tissues make it easier for breast cancer cells to settle and resist treatment, to help people with breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Purdue University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (West Lafayette, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11170476 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project builds lab-grown 3D models that mimic the 'premetastatic niche'—the distant tissue environment where breast cancer cells can take root. Researchers will study how extracellular vesicles and proteins like transglutaminase 2 and fibronectin change tissue architecture to support tumor cell colonization and drug resistance. They will test interventions in these engineered models to block those niche changes and see whether that prevents cancer cells from settling and becoming treatment-resistant. The work uses 3D cell cultures and molecular tools to recreate and manipulate the niche so findings can guide future patient-focused work.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with a history of breast cancer who are willing to donate blood or tissue samples, especially those concerned about or at risk for metastasis, would be the most relevant candidates for contributing to this work.
Not a fit: Patients with cancers unrelated to breast cancer or those already living with widespread, untreatable metastases are unlikely to see direct benefits from this basic laboratory research in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new ways to stop or slow breast cancer spread and make existing therapies work better.
How similar studies have performed: Prior lab studies have shown that extracellular vesicles and ECM proteins can shape premetastatic niches, but moving from these findings to human treatments is still early and experimental.
Where this research is happening
West Lafayette, United States
- Purdue University — West Lafayette, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Solorio, Luis — Purdue University
- Study coordinator: Solorio, Luis
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.