Molecular basis of cell-cycle plasticity and robustness (breast cancer focus)
Official title: Molecular basis of cell-cycle plasticity and robustness
Funded at University of Colorado · NIH-11392435 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in people with breast cancer explores how cancer cells adapt their growth cycles and how this could affect treatments that target cell-cycle proteins.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boulder, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $383,621 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM152642-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11392435 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with breast cancer whose tumors show reliance on CDK-driven cell-cycle pathways and are eligible for translational studies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not depend on CDK-driven cell-cycle pathways may see limited or no benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project looks at how breast cancer cells change their cell cycle in response to drugs that block key cycle proteins. It will examine how cells switch between different CDKs to keep dividing and how this affects treatment effectiveness. Researchers will use cellular models and patient-derived samples to map these adaptive routes and identify potential strategies to prevent resistance. The goal is to inform better combinations or timing of therapies to keep cancer growth under control.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could guide more effective breast cancer treatments by preventing or delaying resistance to cell-cycle–targeting drugs.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown that cancer cells can rewire cell-cycle control to resist inhibitors, and this project aims to reveal concrete patterns that could improve strategies to counter it.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado
Boulder, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Spencer, Sabrina Leigh — University of Colorado
- Study coordinator: Spencer, Sabrina Leigh
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.