How the Ah receptor links air pollution to immune changes in breast cancer
Ah-Receptor as a central mediator of immunomodulation in the tumor microenvironment of breast cancer
This project sees if a cell sensor called the Ah receptor explains how air pollution changes immune cells around breast tumors, to help people with breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11237112 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You should know researchers are focusing on the Ah receptor, a protein that responds to pollution chemicals called PAHs and may change immune cells near breast tumors. They will combine experiments on tumor samples and cell models with mouse studies to test how blocking AhR changes tumor-related immune cells and tumor growth. The team will also examine links between traffic-related air pollution and breast cancer in groups that face higher exposure to understand health disparities. The overall aim is to identify ways to target AhR in the tumor environment that could lead to new treatment strategies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with breast cancer, especially those living in urban areas with high traffic pollution exposure or whose tumors show signs of AhR activity, would be the most likely candidates.
Not a fit: People without breast cancer or whose tumors do not involve AhR-driven biology are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that block AhR to strengthen anti-tumor immunity in some people with breast cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical work, including mouse studies, showed that inhibiting AhR reduced mammary tumor growth, but human trials targeting AhR remain limited.
Where this research is happening
Davis, United States
- University of California at Davis — Davis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vogel, Christoph F a — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Vogel, Christoph F a
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.