Understanding how tumor cells resist anti-estrogen therapy in breast cancer
Cell cycle paths as a framework for understanding drug resistance in tumor cell subpopulations
This study is looking into why some breast cancer patients don’t get better with a specific treatment that combines anti-estrogen therapy and CDK4/6 inhibitors, focusing on certain stubborn tumor cells that keep growing despite the medicine, to find out how these cells work and how we can better target them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 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 ID | NIH-11012299 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates why some breast cancer patients do not respond to anti-estrogen therapy combined with CDK4/6 inhibitors. It focuses on a specific group of tumor cells that continue to grow despite treatment, known as fractional resistance. By analyzing individual tumor cells and their unique paths through the cell cycle, researchers aim to identify the mechanisms that allow these cells to evade therapy. The study employs advanced techniques to profile proteins involved in cell cycle regulation, providing insights into how these resistant cells behave and how they can be targeted more effectively.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients with ER+/HER2- breast cancer who are undergoing or have undergone anti-estrogen therapy combined with CDK4/6 inhibitors.
Not a fit: Patients with breast cancer types other than ER+/HER2- or those not receiving anti-estrogen therapy may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment strategies for breast cancer patients who currently experience resistance to standard therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown promising results in understanding drug resistance mechanisms in cancer, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Purvis, Jeremy — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Purvis, Jeremy
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 below.