How stiffness of breast tissue helps cancer spread
Regulation of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis by Matrix Stiffness
This work looks at whether stiffer breast tissue makes breast cancer cells change and spread, which could help people with breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11264836 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research examines how the physical stiffness of breast tissue can drive cancer cells to become more invasive. Scientists will use 3‑D lab models that mimic soft and stiff tissue, study how stiffness turns on proteins like LYN and moves the EMT driver TWIST1 into the cell nucleus, and test effects in animal models of metastasis. They will also compare these findings with human tumor samples to see if the same pathway predicts which cancers are more likely to spread.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with a diagnosis of breast cancer—especially those with firm or fibrotic tumors or who can donate tumor tissue for research—would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: People without breast cancer or those with unrelated conditions would not benefit directly from this mechanistic research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could identify markers that predict tumor spread and suggest new targets to block metastasis in breast cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Previous lab studies have shown that increased matrix stiffness can promote malignant traits in cultured breast tissue, but the specific LYN–TWIST1 mechanotransduction pathway is a newer idea not yet proven in patients.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- University of California, San Diego — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yang, Jing — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Yang, Jing
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.