Reactivating a natural enzyme to help stop breast cancer growth
Neutral Sphingomyelinase in Breast Cancer
This project tests whether turning back on an enzyme that makes a cancer-fighting lipid can slow or prevent breast cancer progression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University New York Stony Brook NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stony Brook, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11198314 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are focusing on an enzyme called neutral sphingomyelinase-2 (N2) that makes ceramide, a molecule thought to suppress tumor growth. They will use cell models and animal experiments to show how N2 affects cancer cell behaviors like growth without attachment and signaling pathways such as YAP/TAZ. The team will also look for enzymes that reverse N2's effects and explore ways to 'reactivate' the N2 pathway or exploit weaknesses created when it is turned off. Success here could point to new drug targets or strategies to prevent progression and metastasis.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with breast cancer—particularly those with tumors showing loss or suppression of the N2 enzyme or with advanced/metastatic disease—might be candidates for future trials stemming from this research.
Not a fit: People without breast cancer or whose tumors do not involve the N2/ceramide pathway are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that restore a natural tumor-suppressing pathway or target related enzymes to slow tumor growth and reduce metastasis.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical studies have suggested N2 and ceramide act as tumor suppressors, but translating this into patient therapies is still early and largely untested.
Where this research is happening
Stony Brook, United States
- State University New York Stony Brook — Stony Brook, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hannun, Yusuf Awni — State University New York Stony Brook
- Study coordinator: Hannun, Yusuf Awni
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.