Tumor metabolism in invasive ductal breast cancer
Tumor Microenvironment Metabolism in Invasive Ductal Carcinoma of the Breast
The team is looking at how invasive ductal breast cancer tumors and nearby cells share and use energy molecules to help develop new tests and treatments for people with aggressive breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Thomas Jefferson University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11257656 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project focuses on how invasive ductal breast cancer cells and nearby non-cancer cells (especially fibroblasts) change the way they make and share energy. Researchers use patient tumor tissue and laboratory models to measure metabolites like lactate and enzymes such as TIGAR and PFK1, and to see how inflammation and oxidative stress shape those processes. They manipulate these pathways in the lab to test whether blocking metabolic coupling makes tumors less aggressive and to identify metabolic markers that predict outcomes. The work combines molecular analysis of patient-derived samples with cell and animal experiments to link lab findings back to human disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast, especially those undergoing surgery or biopsy who can donate tumor tissue or those with aggressive disease, would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: People without breast cancer, those with different breast cancer types (for example, pure lobular carcinoma), or those not eligible for tissue collection are unlikely to directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to biomarkers that predict aggressive invasive ductal carcinoma and to new metabolism-focused treatments that slow tumor growth.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical studies have shown that targeting tumor metabolism can slow cancer growth in laboratory models, but translating these approaches into effective patient therapies remains largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Thomas Jefferson University — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Martinez Outschoorn, Ubaldo — Thomas Jefferson University
- Study coordinator: Martinez Outschoorn, Ubaldo
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.