Tissue tension and cancer: how stiff tissues drive cancer growth and spread
Official title: Tissue mechanics reprograms the tissue to malignancy and metastasis
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11392427 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant explores how stiff tissue environments and mechanical forces inside the body may promote cancer growth, aggression, and spread, with the goal of finding biomarkers and new drug targets that could help patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2020 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $955,470 |
| NIH project number | 5R35CA242447-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11392427 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with cancers where tissue stiffness and ECM changes are relevant, particularly breast cancer and other solid tumors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors are not driven by ECM stiffness or mechanical cues may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers are studying how the physical properties of tissues, like stiffness and tension, influence cancer development. They use 3D cell culture models and animal studies to uncover how the extracellular matrix and actomyosin forces affect cell signaling, metabolism, and immunity. The work aims to identify biomarkers that predict cancer risk and to discover strategies for chemoprevention and targeted therapies. If successful, this could lead to earlier risk detection and new treatments that limit tumor growth and metastasis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better risk prediction and new, more effective treatment strategies for patients with aggressive cancers.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows that mechanical properties of tissue can influence tumor behavior, but direct links to predictive biomarkers and drug targets are still being developed.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weaver, Valerie Marie — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Weaver, Valerie Marie
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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How tissue stiffness and tension drive cancer and spread
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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.