Stopping dead, low-oxygen areas inside aggressive breast tumors that help them spread and resist chemo
Role of necrosis in the evolution of highly metastatic and chemo-resistant breast cancers
This project looks at whether blocking a tumor-made protein called Angptl7 can prevent dead, low-oxygen areas inside aggressive breast tumors and help stop them from spreading or resisting chemotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11137607 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many high-grade, fast-growing breast tumors develop dead, low-oxygen cores that can make drugs work less well and help cancer cells evolve to spread. The research team will use specialized animal models together with blood and tumor samples from breast cancer patients to study how a protein called Angptl7 controls blood vessel development and necrosis in the tumor core. They will test whether reducing Angptl7 (genetically or with other approaches) lowers necrosis, slows tumor growth, and reduces metastatic spread in models. Patient samples will be analyzed to see if Angptl7 and necrosis-related changes are present in human tumors and could guide future treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with high-grade, fast-growing or necrotic breast tumors who can provide tumor tissue or blood samples during surgery or treatment.
Not a fit: Patients with early-stage, low-grade breast cancers without tumor necrosis or those seeking immediate therapeutic benefit rather than sample donation are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent tumor necrosis, improve chemotherapy delivery, and reduce metastasis in aggressive breast cancers.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical studies from the team show that blocking Angptl7 reduces tumor necrosis, growth, and spread in animal models, but this approach has not yet been tested as a treatment in patients.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cheung, Kevin Jon — Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
- Study coordinator: Cheung, Kevin Jon
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.