Understanding how breast cancer cells grow and return after treatment

In Vivo Oncogene-Induced Tumorigenesis and Escape

NIH-funded research University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11145884

This work aims to uncover why breast cancer sometimes comes back after treatment, even years later, to help prevent its return.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Pennsylvania NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Philadelphia, United States)
Project IDNIH-11145884 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Many breast cancer patients face the challenge of their cancer returning, which is often difficult to cure. This happens because some cancer cells can remain hidden in the body, in a 'dormant' state, long after initial treatment. Our goal is to understand how these hidden cells survive and what causes them to wake up and cause new tumors. By learning more about these processes, we hope to find ways to eliminate these lingering cells and stop the cancer from coming back.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This foundational research is relevant for all patients who have been treated for breast cancer, especially those concerned about recurrence.

Not a fit: Patients without a history of breast cancer would not directly benefit from this specific research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that prevent breast cancer from recurring, significantly improving long-term survival for patients.

How similar studies have performed: Previous work using advanced mouse models has already identified specific biological pathways linked to dormant cancer cells and recurrence risk in patients, suggesting a promising direction.

Where this research is happening

Philadelphia, United States

Researchers

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 below.
Conditions Breast CancerBreast Cancer PatientBreast Cancer Treatment
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.