Understanding muscle pain caused by breast cancer treatments
Official title: A Drosophila model for Aromatase Inhibitor-induced Musculoskeletal Pain
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-11212285 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at why some post-menopausal women with hormone receptor positive breast cancer experience painful side effects from their hormone treatments, and it hopes to find ways to help doctors choose the best treatment for each patient right from the start, making their experience easier and more comfortable.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | June 10, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $434,542 |
| NIH project number | 1R21CA303409-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11212285 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are post-menopausal women diagnosed with hormone receptor positive breast cancer who are considering or currently undergoing treatment with Aromatase Inhibitors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not post-menopausal or those with hormone receptor negative breast cancer may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the painful side effects experienced by post-menopausal women taking Aromatase Inhibitors (AIs) for hormone receptor positive breast cancer. Using a Drosophila model, the study aims to identify genetic factors that contribute to musculoskeletal pain associated with these treatments. By understanding these genetic susceptibilities, the goal is to match patients with the most suitable AI from the start, potentially reducing the trial-and-error process that many endure. This approach could lead to improved quality of life for patients by minimizing painful side effects.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly enhance the quality of life for breast cancer patients by reducing treatment-related pain.
How similar studies have gone: While the use of genetic profiling to match patients with specific treatments is a growing field, this particular approach using a Drosophila model for AIs is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pfleger, Cathie M — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Pfleger, Cathie M
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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.