Investigating how breast cancer spreads from bone to other organs
Mechanistic and therapeutic investigation of secondary metastatic seeding from breast cancer bone lesion
This study is looking at how breast cancer that spreads to the bones can sometimes lead to cancer spreading to other parts of the body, and it's for patients with bone metastases who want to understand why this happens and how it might be prevented.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10862850 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how breast cancer that initially spreads to the bones can lead to further metastasis in other organs. It aims to explore the mechanisms behind this secondary spread, particularly how cancer cells in the bones can become more aggressive and contribute to the development of additional tumors. By using advanced techniques, including CRISPR, the study seeks to identify key factors that facilitate this process, which could ultimately help in preventing the progression of the disease. Patients with bone metastases may have a better prognosis initially, but this research aims to uncover why many of them later develop metastases in other areas of the body.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients with breast cancer who have developed metastases in their bones.
Not a fit: Patients whose breast cancer has not metastasized to the bones may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing the spread of breast cancer from bones to other organs, potentially improving survival rates.
How similar studies have performed: While there has been significant research on primary tumor metastasis, this investigation into metastasis-to-metastasis seeding is relatively novel and has not been extensively studied.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- Baylor College of Medicine — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Xiang — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Xiang
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.