How early breast cells adapt to harsh conditions
Ecology and Evolution of Breast Carcinogenesis
['FUNDING_U01'] · STATE UNIVERSITY NEW YORK STONY BROOK · NIH-11175478
Researchers are exploring how cells in early breast lesions change when exposed to low oxygen, acidity, and limited nutrients, which could help people with early or pre-cancerous breast conditions.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_U01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | STATE UNIVERSITY NEW YORK STONY BROOK (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (STONY BROOK, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11175478 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
In the lab, researchers recreate the harsh microenvironment found inside early breast lesions—low oxygen, low pH, and limited nutrients—and see which benign or early cancerous breast cells survive. They grow cells under these stresses, select surviving clones, and apply single-cell RNA sequencing and genetic lineage tracking to identify genetic and epigenetic changes. The team combines experimental evolution, molecular profiling, and computational analysis to map how short-term adaptations can become permanent, heritable cancer traits. The goal is to chart the stepwise changes that make early cells more aggressive.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is most relevant to people with early-stage breast lesions (such as DCIS) or those at high risk of developing breast cancer who are interested in research or future prevention trials.
Not a fit: People with unrelated health conditions or those with late-stage metastatic cancers are unlikely to see direct benefits from this basic laboratory research in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal early changes that make breast tumors more aggressive and suggest new strategies to prevent or treat breast cancer before it spreads.
How similar studies have performed: Prior lab studies have linked stressful microenvironments and the Warburg effect to tumor aggressiveness, but combining eco-evolutionary experiments with single-cell lineage and molecular profiling is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
STONY BROOK, UNITED STATES
- STATE UNIVERSITY NEW YORK STONY BROOK — STONY BROOK, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: DAMAGHI, MEHDI — STATE UNIVERSITY NEW YORK STONY BROOK
- Study coordinator: DAMAGHI, MEHDI
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.
Conditions: Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer Cell