How the protein Mad1 helps breast cancer grow and spread
Non-canonical roles of Mitotic Arrest Deficient 1 (Mad1) in tumor promotion
This project looks at how the Mad1 protein makes breast cancer cells lose chromosome stability, weaken the p53 tumor suppressor, and boost a molecule that helps tumors spread, with the goal of guiding new treatments for people with breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11299523 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use breast cancer cell lines and genetically edited mouse models to separate Mad1’s different actions in tumors. They will create precise Mad1 mutants, run competition experiments, and apply specific inhibitors and CRISPR/Cas9 editing to see which Mad1 functions drive tumor growth and metastasis. The team will also study how a pool of Mad1 at the Golgi affects maturation and secretion of α5 integrin, a protein linked to metastasis. Results will aim to identify the Mad1-driven processes that are the best targets for future therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with breast cancer, especially tumors that show high Mad1 levels or elevated α5 integrin, would be most relevant to this research.
Not a fit: People with cancers unrelated to Mad1 activity or breast cancers without Mad1 upregulation are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this lab-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new targets to stop tumor growth or spread in people whose breast cancers are driven by Mad1.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory and animal studies have shown Mad1 can drive tumor formation and affect p53, but translating these findings into human therapies has not yet been achieved.
Where this research is happening
Madison, United States
- University of Wisconsin-Madison — Madison, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weaver, Beth a — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Weaver, Beth 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.