Understanding how male breast tumors respond to hormone therapy
Official title: Predicting Endocrine Therapy Response In Male Breast Tumors
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-10940688 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how well different hormone treatments work for men with a specific type of breast cancer, and it will help us understand which treatments might be best for you by checking your tumor's response to the therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $604,746 |
| NIH project number | 1R37CA292075-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10940688 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are men diagnosed with ER+/HER2- breast cancer who are eligible for endocrine therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with breast cancer who do not have the ER+/HER2- subtype may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the response of male breast tumors to different endocrine therapies, specifically in patients with ER+/HER2- breast cancer. The ETHAN trial will involve 60 male patients who will be randomly assigned to three different treatment regimens over a short initial phase, followed by a longer treatment period that may include a specific drug called abemaciclib. By analyzing tissue samples before and after treatment, the researchers aim to identify genetic markers that can predict how well these tumors respond to therapy. This study addresses a significant gap in knowledge about male breast cancer treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective and personalized treatment options for men with breast cancer.
How similar studies have gone: While male breast cancer research is limited, similar studies in female breast cancer have shown that understanding genetic responses can significantly improve treatment outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Spanheimer, Philip M — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Spanheimer, Philip M
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.