Understanding Lymphatic Drainage in Breast Cancer
Tissue-Engineered Models of Lymphatic Drainage in Breast Cancer
This project aims to better understand how lymphatic drainage works in breast cancer, especially triple-negative breast cancer, to find new ways to help immune cells fight the disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cornell University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ithaca, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11092890 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Triple-negative breast cancer is a challenging type of breast cancer with poor outcomes, often forming solid tumors with high fluid pressure inside. This high pressure can prevent the body's immune cells from effectively reaching and fighting the cancer. While problems with lymphatic drainage contribute to this issue, the exact ways it impairs immune function are not fully clear. This work seeks to build special tissue-engineered models to explore these processes, hoping to uncover new strategies to improve treatments for patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with triple-negative breast cancer could potentially benefit from future treatments developed based on the insights gained from this fundamental research.
Not a fit: Patients without breast cancer or those whose cancer does not involve issues with lymphatic drainage may not directly benefit from this specific line of inquiry.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to reduce fluid pressure in breast tumors, allowing immunotherapies to work better and potentially improving outcomes for patients with triple-negative breast cancer.
How similar studies have performed: While some studies have shown that improving lymphatic function can inhibit tumor growth, the precise mechanisms and optimal strategies for breast cancer, particularly triple-negative breast cancer, remain to be fully understood.
Where this research is happening
Ithaca, United States
- Cornell University — Ithaca, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, Esak — Cornell University
- Study coordinator: Lee, Esak
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.