How tiny particles from breast cancer cells help tumors grow and spread
Exosome Secretion in Tumor Aggressiveness
This work looks at whether tiny particles released by breast cancer cells and nearby support cells help tumors grow and spread, with the goal of helping people with breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11177857 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have breast cancer, researchers at Vanderbilt are studying small extracellular vesicles called exosomes that cancer and fibroblast cells release and use to talk to other cells. The team will analyze which adhesion molecules and RNA cargos these exosomes carry and how those cargos change cancer cell movement and metastatic behavior. They will use laboratory models, molecular analyses, and new imaging tools to track exosomes and study how exosome production is controlled by proteins like syntenin. The hope is to pinpoint steps in exosome formation or action that could be blocked or used as markers for aggressive disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with breast cancer who are willing to provide tissue, blood, or clinical information for laboratory research or future translational studies would be ideal candidates to support this work.
Not a fit: People without breast cancer or those seeking immediate treatment options should not expect direct or immediate personal benefit from this laboratory-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to block cancer spread or new biomarkers that identify aggressive breast cancers earlier.
How similar studies have performed: Laboratory and animal studies have shown exosomes can promote metastasis and carry useful biomarkers, but translating those findings into approved patient treatments is still limited and emerging.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, UNITED STATES
- Vanderbilt University — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sung, Bong Hwan — Vanderbilt University
- Study coordinator: Sung, Bong Hwan
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.