Investigating how obesity affects breast cancer treatment response through fatty acid metabolism
Official title: Evaluating the impact of obesity associated fatty acid metabolic dysregulation on breast cancer sensitivity to ferroptosis
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11056676 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how being overweight might affect breast cancer treatment by changing the way the body processes fats, and it aims to find new ways to help improve treatment outcomes for people with breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | September 12, 2023 |
| Project end | September 11, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $35,988 |
| NIH project number | 5F31CA275336-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11056676 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are breast cancer patients who are also experiencing obesity.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with breast cancer who are not obese or those with other unrelated health conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the relationship between obesity and breast cancer, focusing on how obesity-induced changes in fatty acid metabolism may influence the effectiveness of treatments that induce cell death in tumors. By using mouse models, the study aims to understand how excess fatty acids can fuel tumor growth and metastasis, potentially leading to new therapeutic strategies. The researchers will analyze tumor and blood samples to measure lipid levels and gene expression related to metabolism, providing insights into how these factors interact in the context of breast cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment strategies for breast cancer patients, particularly those who are obese.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific approach of linking obesity, fatty acid metabolism, and ferroptosis in breast cancer is relatively novel, related research has shown promising results in understanding metabolic influences on cancer progression.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Devericks, Emily — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Devericks, Emily
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
FABP5: How fats in obesity may drive triple negative breast cancer
A study exploring how a fat‑binding protein called FABP5 helps obesity-related fats push the spread of aggressive breast cancer in models that resemble human disease.
-
How fat in our bodies may link obesity to breast cancer risk through A-FABP
This grant looks at how a protein called A-FABP helps obesity from high-fat diets increase the risk of breast cancer, with potential targets for prevention.
-
How a mother's obesity might affect her child’s breast cancer risk through the gut
This study investigates whether maternal obesity changes a child’s gut bacteria in a way that could increase breast cancer risk later in life.
-
Obesity, ancestry, and breast cancer in African American women
This grant asks how obesity and African ancestry affect breast cancer biology and outcomes in rural Alabama women.
-
Targeting RAGE to fight obesity-related ER+ breast cancer and its drug resistance
A scientist team will explore how obesity-related inflammation involving RAGE and estrone interacts with ER+ breast cancer to drive growth and spread, aiming to find strategies to overcome therapy resistance.
-
FSH, body fat, and breast cancer risk after menopause
This project will look at whether higher follicle-stimulating hormone after menopause is linked to more belly fat and a higher chance of breast cancer in a large group of women.
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.