Understanding How Hormone Receptors Break Down

Characterizing a Common Degradation Pathway for Nuclear Hormone Receptors

NIH-funded research Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-11174477

This research aims to understand how certain hormone receptors, which play a role in common cancers like breast and prostate cancer, are naturally broken down in the body.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionBrigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boston, United States)
Project IDNIH-11174477 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Many common cancers, such as breast and prostate cancer, are driven by signals from special proteins called nuclear hormone receptors. Current medicines for these cancers often work by targeting these receptors. This project focuses on a newly discovered way these receptors are naturally broken down after they receive a hormone signal. By learning more about this process, we hope to find new ways to control these receptors and potentially develop more effective treatments.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This foundational research is for future patients who may be diagnosed with cancers driven by nuclear hormone receptors, such as breast or prostate cancer.

Not a fit: Patients whose cancers are not driven by nuclear hormone receptors would likely not directly benefit from this specific research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to the development of new and more effective drugs for hormone-driven cancers like breast and prostate cancer.

How similar studies have performed: While this specific degradation mechanism is a new discovery, existing successful cancer drugs already work by influencing the breakdown of these same hormone receptors.

Where this research is happening

Boston, 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.
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.