Lung-supporting cells in the spread of breast cancer to the lungs as we age
Official title: Lung Resident Mesenchymal Cells in the Pre-Metastatic Niche Formation
Funded at Jackson Laboratory · NIH-11389738 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how aging changes the lung environment to help breast cancer spread there.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Jackson Laboratory NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bar Harbor, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2021 |
| Project end | March 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $572,036 |
| NIH project number | 2R01CA251433-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11389738 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with breast cancer at risk for lung metastasis, including older adults, may benefit from future therapies arising from this work.
✕Less likely to help
People without breast cancer or without risk of lung metastasis would not be direct beneficiaries.
What this research studies
As breast cancer can metastasize to the lungs, researchers will study lung-resident mesenchymal cells and how aging affects their role in preparing the lung for cancer cells. They will use aged and young animal models to examine how these stromal cells recruit immune cells and create immunosuppressive conditions. The work builds on prior findings that Ptgs2+ adventitial fibroblasts secrete chemokines and mediators that influence the pre-metastatic niche, focusing on age-related differences. Results could point to new targets to prevent or limit lung metastasis in older patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to strategies to reduce breast cancer spread to the lungs, especially in older individuals.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have shown that lung-resident mesenchymal cells influence lung metastasis, with aging adding a new layer of complexity; this project extends those findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Jackson Laboratory
Bar Harbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ren, Guangwen — Jackson Laboratory
- Study coordinator: Ren, Guangwen
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.