Stem cell drivers of breast cancer spine metastases
Official title: Discovery of a stem cell driving breast cancer spine metastases
Funded at Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-11364133 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Scientists are studying how a special bone-forming cell in the spine helps breast cancer spread to the spine, with the goal of stopping or slowing that spread.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,432,301 |
| NIH project number | 4R01CA282815-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11364133 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable at this stage; preclinical research using animal models and human-derived tissues.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient treatment is tested in this preclinical stage.
What this research studies
This project focuses on vertebral skeletal stem cells (vSSCs) that make bone in the spine and appear to attract breast cancer cells. Researchers will use mouse models and bone organoids to compare spine tissue with other bones and see why the spine is more prone to metastasis. By turning off certain vSSC functions, they aim to reduce vertebral metastasis in the models. The work could reveal new targets to prevent or limit cancer spread to the spine. If successful, the findings could inform future therapies aimed at protecting spine health for people with breast cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with breast cancer could benefit from therapies that reduce spine metastases and related pain and disability.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical work has shown that specific spinal bone cells influence metastasis, but this study explores a novel vertebral stem cell population.
Where this research is happening
-
Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Greenblatt, Matthew Blake — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Greenblatt, Matthew Blake
Related research
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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.