Investigating how the environment around tumors affects breast cancer after pregnancy
Official title: The Tumor Microenvironment and Lymphatic Remodeling in Postpartum Breast Cancer
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-10877903 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how pregnancy might change the way breast cancer behaves, especially for new moms, to find ways to lower the risk and improve treatment for those who develop postpartum breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2022 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $447,191 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA267897-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10877903 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are women who have recently given birth and are at risk for postpartum breast cancer.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not postpartum or those who have not been diagnosed with breast cancer may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding postpartum breast cancer (PPBC), which can be more aggressive and deadly compared to other types of breast cancer. The study examines how changes in the tumor microenvironment and lymphatic system during and after pregnancy may contribute to the increased risk of PPBC. By analyzing the immune cells and other factors in the tumor environment, the research aims to identify potential strategies to reduce the risk and improve outcomes for women diagnosed with PPBC. The findings could lead to better risk stratification and treatment options tailored for young women.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide new insights and strategies to reduce the risk of aggressive breast cancer in postpartum women.
How similar studies have gone: While there is limited research specifically on postpartum breast cancer, studies on tumor microenvironments and immune responses have shown promise in other cancer types.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcdonald, Jasmine Alise — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Mcdonald, Jasmine Alise
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and immune changes in postpartum breast cancer
This research tests whether breast changes after pregnancy make postpartum breast cancer more aggressive and whether breastfeeding or common anti-inflammatory medicines might lower that risk for women who recently gave birth.
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Preventing breast cancer in the years after childbirth
This project tries to prevent breast cancer that appears within five years after giving birth by studying whether common anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin can lower that risk for women who recently had a baby or have benign breast disease.
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How immune cells and lymphatic changes after childbirth affect postpartum breast cancer
This project looks at how immune cells and lymphatic changes in the breast after childbirth may make postpartum breast cancers more likely to grow and spread, especially in women who did not breastfeed or stopped early.
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Preventing breast cancer related to childbirth
This study is looking at how having a baby might raise the risk of breast cancer in women within five years after childbirth, and it’s exploring whether certain anti-inflammatory medications could help lower that risk by examining changes in breast tissue.
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Investigating how the environment around tumors affects breast cancer after pregnancy
This study is looking at how breast cancer that happens after having a baby might be different and more serious, and it aims to find ways to help young women who face this challenge by understanding what happens in the tumor environment during this time.
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Wearable tech to track blood loss during childbirth
A wearable device monitors cardiovascular signals to detect postpartum hemorrhage early so clinicians can act quickly to protect mothers.
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.