How the breast tissue environment affects breast cancer development
Microenvironmental regulation of breast tumorigenesis
This project looks at whether changes in the cells surrounding breast ducts in people with BRCA1 mutations help start breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11135426 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will examine breast tissue from people who carry BRCA1 mutations and compare it to tissue from people without these mutations. They will focus on nearby support cells called fibroblasts to see if they change into precancer-associated fibroblasts (preCAFs) that make enzymes like MMP3 and signals such as CXCL8. The team will use laboratory models to mimic BRCA1 loss in fibroblasts and trace how those changes influence nearby epithelial cells to become precancerous. Findings will combine human tissue analysis and experimental models to clarify how the microenvironment may drive early breast cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who carry a harmful BRCA1 mutation or have a strong family history of BRCA1-linked breast cancer and who can provide tissue samples or clinical data would be the best candidates.
Not a fit: People without BRCA1 mutations or those unable or unwilling to provide tissue samples are unlikely to directly benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to detect or prevent breast cancer early in people with BRCA1 mutations.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have shown precancerous changes in BRCA1 carriers and implicated epithelial progenitors, but the idea that surrounding fibroblasts drive initiation is relatively new and builds on promising preliminary data.
Where this research is happening
Irvine, United States
- University of California-Irvine — Irvine, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kessenbrock, Kai — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Kessenbrock, Kai
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.