Using fat-and-sugar chemistry to boost breast cancer response to chemo
Official title: Leveraging Sphingolipid Metabolism for Optimal Response of Breast Cancer Cells to Chemotherapy
Funded at State University New York Stony Brook · NIH-11397596 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to make low-dose chemotherapy work better against breast cancer by tweaking how lipid pathways in cancer cells respond to treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University New York Stony Brook NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stony Brook, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2003 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $494,449 |
| NIH project number | 5P01CA097132-22 |
| Project ID | NIH-11397596 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with breast cancer who may receive doxorubicin or similar DNA-damaging chemotherapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not receiving this type of chemo or with cancer types not studied in this project.
What this research studies
This project looks at how breast cancer cells react to common chemo drugs, especially when smaller doses are used. Researchers are mapping the whole sphingolipid metabolism network to find ways to enhance cancer-killing effects while reducing tumor-promoting signals. They will test how changing specific lipid enzymes and molecules can make low-dose treatment more effective and less likely to make cancer cells spread. The work combines lab analyses of cell behavior with measurements of lipid signals to identify actionable targets. Overall, the goal is to translate these metabolic insights into strategies that improve patient responses to chemotherapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients may experience better tumor control with lower chemotherapy doses and fewer side effects.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work links sphingolipid pathways to chemotherapy responses, suggesting this approach could yield meaningful improvements.
Where this research is happening
-
State University New York Stony Brook
Stony Brook, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Luberto, Chiara — State University New York Stony Brook
- Study coordinator: Luberto, Chiara
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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A 3D ultrasound scanner to see early chemotherapy response in breast cancer
A new 3D ultrasound imaging method will be tested to see if it can quickly show whether breast cancer is responding to chemotherapy.
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3D ultrasound method to see early breast cancer response to chemotherapy
A new 3D ultrasound imaging method is being tested to quickly tell if breast cancer is responding to chemotherapy, using a FDA-cleared scanner at an affordable cost.
-
Magnetic resonance fingerprinting to gauge chemotherapy response in breast cancer
A patient-facing look at using a special MRI method (MRF) to see early whether breast cancer is responding to preliminary chemotherapy.
-
3D ultrasound to detect early breast tumor response to chemotherapy
A 3D quantitative ultrasound scanner will be used to detect early changes in breast tumors during chemotherapy for people with breast cancer.
-
Understanding how chemotherapy affects breast cancer spread and liver immunity
A research project looks at how standard breast cancer chemotherapy may change the immune system and cancer spread, especially to the liver, in people with aggressive breast cancer.
-
3D wearable NIR imaging to predict breast cancer response during treatment
A noninvasive, portable 3D wearable optical test (NIRS tomography) will be used to spot early signs of how breast cancer is responding to chemotherapy, helping guide treatment for patients.
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.