Lung stem cells and breast cancer return after chemotherapy

The Role of Lung Resident Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Post-Chemotherapy Lung Metastases of Breast Cancer

['FUNDING_R37'] · JACKSON LABORATORY · NIH-11283932

This work looks at whether chemotherapy changes lung stem cells in ways that help breast cancer cells come back to the lungs.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R37']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorJACKSON LABORATORY (nih funded)
Locations1 site (BAR HARBOR, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11283932 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

If you have had breast cancer and chemo, this research studies how the lung's own stem cells respond to that treatment and whether those changes create a safe place for cancer cells to regrow. The team uses laboratory and animal models to mimic chemotherapy, then examines lung tissue and cells to see how resident mesenchymal stem cells change and interact with drug-resistant tumor cells. They combine tissue analysis, cell experiments, and molecular profiling to map signals that could promote metastatic relapse. The goal is to find biological steps that could be blocked to stop lung metastases after chemotherapy.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People who have had breast cancer and systemic chemotherapy, especially those at risk for or with early signs of lung metastasis, would be most relevant to the findings of this work.

Not a fit: Patients whose cancers do not spread to the lungs or who need immediate clinical treatments may not directly benefit from these laboratory-focused results.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new ways to prevent or reduce breast cancer relapse in the lungs after chemotherapy.

How similar studies have performed: Previous preclinical studies show that stromal or mesenchymal cells can support tumor relapse, but applying these ideas specifically to lung-resident MSCs after chemotherapy is relatively new and mostly tested in animal models.

Where this research is happening

BAR HARBOR, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Conditions: Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer Model

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.