How low oxygen and altered fat handling affect breast cancer in people with obesity
Official title: Impact of hypoxia on lipid metabolism in obesity-driven breast cancer progression
Funded at Purdue University · NIH-11238490 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers want to know if low oxygen and changes in how tumors process fats help breast cancer spread in people with obesity.
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 start | December 28, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $641,634 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA271597-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11238490 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with breast cancer—especially those with obesity or metastatic disease—or those able to donate tumor samples could be relevant candidates for related studies or sample collection.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors are not driven by fat metabolism or whose cancer is unrelated to obesity may not see direct benefit from these specific findings.
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, the team is looking at how low oxygen levels in tumors (hypoxia) and obesity-related inflammation change fat production and breakdown inside cancer cells. They focus on enzymes like FASN, PC, and CPT1A that control fat synthesis, protection from oxidative stress, and fat oxidation, comparing primary breast tumors and metastases. The work uses laboratory models and tumor samples to study a “hypoxic memory” where genes stay active after oxygen returns, and to see how these changes help cancer cells survive and spread. Results could point to biological targets that might be tested in future treatments or prevention strategies for obesity-linked breast cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could reveal new targets to prevent or treat breast cancer metastasis in people with obesity.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical studies have linked hypoxia and altered lipid metabolism to worse cancer outcomes, but translating these findings into proven patient treatments remains largely experimental.
Where this research is happening
-
Purdue University
West Lafayette, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Teegarden, Dorothy — Purdue University
- Study coordinator: Teegarden, Dorothy
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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.