How estrogen receptor and NF‑κB signals interact in ER‑positive breast cancer
Estrogen Receptor and NFkB Crosstalk in Breast Cancer
This work looks at whether blocking an inflammation-related protein called NF‑κB can keep estrogen receptor–positive breast cancers from surviving hormone therapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11258872 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will study tumor samples from women treated with endocrine therapy and look for cells with active NF‑κB that survive treatment. In the lab they will use breast cancer cell lines, patient-derived organoids, and tumor grafts in mice to follow how NF‑κB and the estrogen receptor change during and after hormone therapy. They will test drugs and approaches that block NF‑κB to see if those surviving cells can be stopped from regrowing once treatment stops. The team will also use a gene signature from tolerant cells to identify tumors more likely to relapse.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with estrogen receptor–positive (ER+) breast cancer, particularly those receiving or completing endocrine therapy or whose tumors show signs of NF‑κB activation or the ET‑tolerant gene signature.
Not a fit: Patients with ER‑negative breast cancers or tumors that do not show NF‑κB activation are unlikely to benefit from NF‑κB–targeted approaches described here.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to new treatments that reduce the chance of relapse for people with ER‑positive breast cancer by targeting NF‑κB–driven survival pathways.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical work in cell lines, patient organoids, and mouse models suggests NF‑κB blockade can prevent tumor regrowth after tamoxifen, but this strategy has not yet been proven effective in patients.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, UNITED STATES
- University of Illinois at Chicago — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Coloff, Jonathan L. — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Coloff, Jonathan L.
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.