MDC1's role in estrogen response in lobular breast cancer
MDC1: central regulator of estrogen receptor function and therapy response in lobular carcinoma
The team looks at how the protein MDC1 changes estrogen receptor behavior and treatment response in people with invasive lobular breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11145043 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will study tumor tissue and lab-grown models of invasive lobular carcinoma to see how MDC1 interacts with the estrogen receptor and changes which genes are turned on or off. They will test how MDC1 affects cancer cell responses to tamoxifen and newer estrogen receptor blockers using molecular assays and patient-derived samples. The team will combine genetic, biochemical, and genomic methods to map MDC1's role in DNA binding and signaling pathways. The goal is to explain why ILC often shows resistance to anti-estrogen therapy and to identify potential targets for new treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people diagnosed with estrogen receptor–positive invasive lobular breast cancer who can provide tumor tissue or clinical data.
Not a fit: Patients with non-lobular breast cancers or whose tumors are estrogen receptor–negative likely would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal why ILC often resists anti-estrogen treatments and point to new drug targets or strategies that improve long-term outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies show ILC behaves differently under anti-estrogen therapy, and identifying MDC1 as an ER co-regulator is a novel finding that builds on earlier lab-based research.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sikora, Matthew J — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Sikora, Matthew J
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.