Preventing breast cancer in the years after childbirth
Targeted Prevention of Postpartum-Related Breast Cancer (PRBC)
This project tries to prevent breast cancer that appears within five years after giving birth by studying whether common anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin can lower that risk for women who recently had a baby or have benign breast disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Jacksonville NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Jacksonville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11298953 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project looks at how the breast heals after weaning and whether that healing process causes inflammation that raises cancer risk. Researchers will examine breast tissue samples and biopsies, review medical records for NSAID (like aspirin) use, and use lab models to link inflammation to cancer development. The team will combine lab work with studies of women’s medical data to see if blocking inflammation could stop postpartum-related breast cancers. Findings could point to simple prevention steps or identify women who might benefit most.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are women within about five years after giving birth, especially those with benign breast disease or a family history of breast cancer.
Not a fit: People who have never been pregnant, whose cancers are unrelated to postpartum changes, or men are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to a low-cost way (for example, aspirin or other NSAIDs) to lower the chance of developing breast cancer after childbirth.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies and observational research have suggested NSAIDs can reduce postpartum-related breast cancer risk, but randomized prevention trials in postpartum women are still limited.
Where this research is happening
Jacksonville, United States
- Mayo Clinic Jacksonville — Jacksonville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sherman, Mark E — Mayo Clinic Jacksonville
- Study coordinator: Sherman, Mark E
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.