IRS2's role in cell division in triple-negative breast cancer
IRS2 and mitotic regulation in breast cancer
This project looks at how a protein called IRS2 controls cell division in triple-negative breast cancer to point toward new treatment options for people with that aggressive tumor type.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Worcester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11162418 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You can think of IRS2 as a protein that helps cancer cells divide and sometimes lets them skip the normal safety checks that prevent chromosome errors. The team will study IRS2 using patient-derived triple-negative breast cancer cells and laboratory models to see how it affects the spindle assembly checkpoint during mitosis. They will test whether blocking IRS2-related signals makes tumor cells more sensitive to drugs that disrupt cell division. The goal is to identify drug approaches or biomarkers that could guide better treatments for people with this breast cancer subtype.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with triple-negative breast cancer, particularly those whose tumors show high IRS2 activity, would be the most relevant candidates for future therapies developed from this work.
Not a fit: Patients with non–triple-negative breast cancers or tumors that do not rely on IRS2 signaling may not benefit directly from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new targeted therapies or drug combinations that better stop growth and spread of triple-negative breast cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Previous attempts to target the insulin/IGF receptor pathway have largely failed clinically, but recent laboratory data from several groups suggest focusing on IRS2's role in mitosis is a promising and relatively new direction.
Where this research is happening
Worcester, United States
- Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester — Worcester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shaw, Leslie M — Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
- Study coordinator: Shaw, Leslie M
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.