How heavy metals affect breast cancer treatment and progression
Official title: Suppression of progesterone receptor signaling by heavy metals promotes tamoxifen resistance and metastasis or ER+ breast cancer
Funded at Northwestern University at Chicago · NIH-11124190 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how being exposed to heavy metals like arsenic and lead might make certain types of breast cancer more aggressive and harder to treat, with the goal of finding new ways to help patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | June 24, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $436,338 |
| NIH project number | 5R01ES035353-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11124190 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are women diagnosed with estrogen receptor-positive and progesterone receptor-positive breast cancer who may have been exposed to heavy metals.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with breast cancer that is not hormone receptor-positive or those who have not been exposed to heavy metals may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how exposure to heavy metals like arsenic and lead can change estrogen and progesterone receptor-positive breast tumors into a more aggressive form that lacks progesterone receptors. The study aims to understand the mechanisms behind this transformation and how it leads to treatment resistance and metastasis. By examining the role of reactive oxygen species in this process, the researchers hope to identify potential therapeutic strategies to counteract the negative effects of these environmental pollutants. Patients may benefit from insights that could improve treatment options for those with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatment strategies that enhance the effectiveness of existing therapies for breast cancer patients affected by heavy metal exposure.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that environmental factors, including heavy metals, can influence cancer progression, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bonini, Marcelo G. — Northwestern University at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Bonini, Marcelo G.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.