Understanding how chemotherapy damages small blood vessels in breast cancer survivors
Official title: Mechanism of Chemotherapy Induced Microvascular Dysfunction in Cancer Survivors
Funded at Medical College of Wisconsin · NIH-11319760 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant looks at how a common chemotherapy drug harms the tiny blood vessels in the heart and body of breast cancer survivors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical College of Wisconsin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Milwaukee, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $683,643 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL173549-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11319760 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Breast cancer patients who have received anthracycline-based chemotherapy and are at risk for or experiencing cardiovascular side effects.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not exposed to anthracycline chemotherapy or without cardiovascular risk after treatment may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Breast cancer patients often receive anthracycline chemotherapy like doxorubicin, which can damage the heart and blood vessels. The project focuses on how chemotherapy induces mitochondrial DNA damage and reactive oxygen species in endothelial cells, leading to vascular dysfunction. Researchers will study these mechanisms to identify ways to protect the microvasculature and improve cardiovascular outcomes for survivors. The work combines laboratory studies on human-relevant models with a clear emphasis on translating findings to patient care in cardio-oncology.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to strategies that prevent or lessen chemotherapy-related vascular damage, improving heart health for survivors.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have shown chemotherapy can cause vascular and mitochondrial damage, but detailed mechanisms in humans are still being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Beyer, Andreas M — Medical College of Wisconsin
- Study coordinator: Beyer, Andreas M
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how chemotherapy affects blood vessel function in cancer survivors
This study looks at how chemotherapy, especially a type called anthracyclines like doxorubicin, affects blood vessel health in breast cancer survivors, aiming to understand how these treatments might lead to heart problems later on.
-
Telehealth exercise program to help rural breast cancer survivors fight fatigue
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Cancer Pain Management for Asian American Breast Cancer Survivors with Depressive Symptoms
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Photodynamic lipids to boost chemotherapy for metastatic ovarian cancer
A patient-friendly approach tests a light-activated method to make ovarian cancer metastases more sensitive to chemotherapy.
-
Dual targeting of heart cell receptors to prevent chemotherapy heart damage
Atrial patients receiving the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin may be protected from heart damage by targeting two heart cell receptors at once.
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.