Understanding estrogen signals in bone to stop ER+ breast cancer spread
Official title: Interrogating Niche-specific Nuclear and Extra-Nuclear Estrogen Receptor-alpha (ER) Signaling to Prevent ER+ Breast Cancer Progression in ER+ Bone
Funded at University of Arizona · NIH-11364029 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant aims to uncover how estrogen signals inside bone help ER-positive breast cancer cells grow and spread, with the goal of finding better ways to prevent bone metastasis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Arizona NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tucson, United States) |
| Project start | July 10, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $545,195 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA299298-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11364029 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with ER-positive breast cancer who are at risk of or have bone metastases could benefit from the insights and therapeutic approaches developed.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without ER+ breast cancer or those not at risk of bone metastasis are unlikely to benefit from this research.
What this research studies
Researchers will study how estrogen receptor alpha (ER) signals inside bone influence ER+ breast cancer cells that have spread to bone. They will use human bone metastasis models to separate nuclear (classic) and extranuclear (non-traditional) signaling and see how each drives tumor growth in bone. The project has three aims focused on identifying which ER pathways in bone promote metastasis and how to target them. The work centers on translating findings from bone-specific biology to improved therapies for patients with ER+ breast cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to more effective treatments that prevent bone metastasis and improve survival for people with ER+ breast cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests that non-canonical ER signaling in bone influences tumor progression, but this project seeks to clarify and target these pathways more precisely.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Arizona
Tucson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Funk, Janet L — University of Arizona
- Study coordinator: Funk, Janet L
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
ER+ Breast Cancer Bone Metastasis in a Real Body Environment
This grant aims to understand why estrogen receptor alpha–positive breast cancer often spreads to bone and how the bone environment and immune system affect treatment resistance.
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Targeting RAGE to fight obesity-related ER+ breast cancer and its drug resistance
A scientist team will explore how obesity-related inflammation involving RAGE and estrone interacts with ER+ breast cancer to drive growth and spread, aiming to find strategies to overcome therapy resistance.
-
Progesterone Receptor Signaling and Dormancy in ER+ Breast Cancer
Researchers are studying how hormone signals in ER+/PR+ breast cancer influence cancer cell dormancy and later recurrence.
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Heavy Metals and Breast Cancer Treatment Resistance
This project explores how exposure to heavy metals might make ER+ breast cancer harder to treat and how we might overcome this challenge.
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Turning ER-positive breast cancer into a viral target for immune attack
This project aims to wake up viral-like bits inside ER-positive breast cancer cells so the immune system can spot and attack them.
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Improving CDK7-targeted treatments for estrogen receptor–positive (ER+) breast cancer
This project looks at whether drugs that block CDK7, alone or combined with other medicines, can overcome resistance in ER+ breast cancers that no longer respond to hormone therapy and CDK4/6 inhibitors.
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.