Understanding how breast cancer can resist hormone treatments
Official title: Elucidation of a novel transcriptional reprogramming-induced mechanism of endocrine resistance and therapeutic targeting
Funded at Wayne State University · NIH-11043424 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking into why some postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer don’t respond to hormone treatments, and it aims to find new ways to help these patients get better results from their therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wayne State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Detroit, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $215,985 |
| NIH project number | 5R21CA288314-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11043424 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are postmenopausal women diagnosed with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer who have experienced resistance to hormone treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with breast cancer that is not estrogen receptor-positive or those who have not undergone hormone therapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the mechanisms behind why some breast cancer patients do not respond to hormone therapies, particularly focusing on estrogen receptor-positive breast cancers in postmenopausal women. The team will explore how certain genetic changes can lead to resistance against treatments like tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors. By using advanced models, they aim to identify new ways to overcome this resistance and improve treatment outcomes for patients. The study will involve analyzing the interactions between hormone receptors and growth factor signaling pathways.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatment strategies for breast cancer patients who currently experience resistance to hormone therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding hormone resistance in breast cancer, but this specific approach to transcriptional reprogramming is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Wayne State University
Detroit, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shekhar, Malathy Pv — Wayne State University
- Study coordinator: Shekhar, Malathy Pv
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.