Targeting stress hormone receptor signaling in triple-negative breast cancer

Who could benefit from this research

What this research studies

In people with triple-negative breast cancer, this research explores how the glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors, along with hypoxia pathways, drive tumor growth and resistance to therapy. The team investigates a signaling loop where stress signals activate receptor complexes that move to the nucleus and change gene programs related to EMT, metabolism, and metastasis. They also study how inflammatory signals and steroid enzymes shift receptor activity toward cortisol-activated states, potentially promoting cancer progression. Using cell and molecular approaches, the study aims to define how GR, MR, and HIF cooperate and how this could be targeted to improve outcomes for TNBC patients.

Why it matters

Where this research is happening

• University of Minnesota
  Minneapolis, United States Active

Researchers

• Principal investigator: Lange, Carol a — University of Minnesota
• Study coordinator: Lange, Carol a

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

• Genomic study to understand how genetics and epigenetics shape triple-negative breast cancer in African ancestry

  This study looks at how inherited genes and gene activity affect triple-negative breast cancer in people of African ancestry to better understand why outcomes can be worse.

  NIH research Tuskegee University · Tuskegee Institute, United States · NIH-11621786

• Co-Targeting IL-6 and CDK4/6 to Prevent TNBC in Women Veterans

  A study aims to block two cancer-promoting pathways (IL-6 and CDK4/6) to prevent or reduce progression of triple-negative breast cancer in women veterans.

  NIH research Baltimore VA Medical Center · Baltimore, United States · NIH-11608792

• Linking heavy metal exposure to a tougher breast cancer type (TNBC)

  Aimed at understanding how heavy metals like cadmium might trigger a dangerous breast cancer type (TNBC) in people, especially those with BRCA1 risk, to identify possible future treatment strategies.

  NIH research University of Louisville · Louisville, United States · NIH-11567535

• Dormancy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: How Liver and Skin Metastases Go Quiet or Reactivate

  Researchers will study how dormant cancer cells in liver and skin metastases of triple-negative breast cancer become quiescent or wake up, using organ-on-chip models and single-cell analysis to map chromatin states.

  NIH research Massachusetts Institute of Technology · Cambridge, United States · NIH-11531542

• Rac-enhanced CAR-Macrophages against TNBC

  A new cell therapy approach uses engineered macrophages with a CAR and Rac2 activation to target and kill triple-negative breast cancer cells expressing CSPG4.

  NIH research University of Louisville · Louisville, United States · NIH-11520503

• A new peptide therapy to help treat metastatic triple-negative breast cancer

  A new peptide therapy called PEG-FUD is being tested to help treat metastatic triple-negative breast cancer by normalizing the tumor environment to improve treatment delivery.

  NIH research University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, United States · NIH-11453153

About this research

1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.