Understanding how changes in tissues help breast cancer spread
Official title: Engineering the Premetastatic Niche
Funded at Purdue University · NIH-10827063 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain changes in the body can help breast cancer spread to other places, and it's trying to find new ways to stop that from happening, which could lead to better treatments for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Purdue University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (West Lafayette, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $521,240 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA281216-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10827063 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with breast cancer who are at risk of metastasis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-breast cancers or those whose cancer has already metastasized may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the premetastatic niche, which is the environment in distant tissues that becomes favorable for breast cancer cells to spread and form new tumors. By using engineered models, the researchers aim to identify how specific changes in the extracellular matrix and other factors contribute to this process. The study will explore the role of extracellular vesicles and certain proteins in facilitating these changes, with the goal of uncovering potential targets for preventing metastasis. Patients may benefit from insights that could lead to new treatments aimed at stopping cancer from spreading.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing breast cancer metastasis, potentially improving survival rates.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding the mechanisms of metastasis, but this specific approach to studying the premetastatic niche is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Purdue University
West Lafayette, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Solorio, Luis — Purdue University
- Study coordinator: Solorio, Luis
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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.