Long-Term Aging and Functional Changes After Breast Cancer and Its Treatments
Official title: Long-Term Trajectories of Accelerated Biological Aging and Functional Decline Associated with Breast Cancer and its Treatment
Funded at Kaiser Foundation Research Institute · NIH-11395567 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how aging and daily functioning change over time in older women who have had breast cancer and its treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Kaiser Foundation Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oakland, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $656,064 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA283839-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11395567 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women aged 65 and older with a history of invasive breast cancer who participated in the Women’s Health Initiative and have long-term follow-up data.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have a history of breast cancer or are younger than 65 may not directly benefit from this study.
What this research studies
Older women who survived breast cancer may face faster aging and declines in daily function. The project will link decades of health data from the Women’s Health Initiative to understand how cancer and treatment influence aging markers and physical abilities. Researchers will examine clinical records, self-reported health, and physiological measures to map aging trajectories and identify factors that worsen or lessen decline. The goal is to uncover patterns that could guide care to improve long-term health and independence for survivors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could inform personalized survivorship care to slow aging-related decline and improve quality of life for older breast cancer survivors.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests cancer and treatment can affect aging markers; this study aims to clarify trajectories in a well-characterized cohort.
Where this research is happening
-
Kaiser Foundation Research Institute
Oakland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Feliciano, Elizabeth Marjorie Cespedes — Kaiser Foundation Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Feliciano, Elizabeth Marjorie Cespedes
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Cognitive aging in long-term breast cancer survivors
This research explores how aging affects thinking and memory in people who survived breast cancer many years after treatment, focusing on those 65 and older.
-
Aging, DNA Methylation, and Cardio Risk in Breast Cancer Survivors
A study to help breast cancer survivors understand how aging and DNA changes might raise the chance of heart disease.
-
How breast cancer treatment affects biological aging and heart health
This project looks at whether breast cancer treatment speeds up biological aging and how that relates to heart strength and fitness in women getting treatment.
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How breast cancer and its treatment affect long-term aging and physical function
This project looks at whether breast cancer and its treatments lead to faster biological aging and physical decline in older women who survived breast cancer.
-
Understanding memory and thinking changes in older breast cancer survivors
This work looks at how memory and thinking skills change over many years in older breast cancer survivors compared to people who haven't had cancer.
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How breast cancer treatment affects heart health and aging
This study is looking at how breast cancer treatments might affect heart health and aging in women, and it aims to find out if staying active can help improve heart function and overall well-being during treatment.
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.