Using sphingolipid pathways to make chemotherapy work better for breast cancer
Leveraging Sphingolipid Metabolism for Optimal Response of Breast Cancer Cells to Chemotherapy
This work aims to help chemotherapy drugs like doxorubicin kill breast cancer more effectively while stopping low doses from making tumors more aggressive.
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 ID | NIH-11198316 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are studying how a group of fat-like molecules called sphingolipids change when breast cancer cells are exposed to low versus high doses of doxorubicin. They measure enzyme activity and lipid levels across the whole sphingolipid pathway to find patterns linked to cancer cell survival, movement, and death. The team has identified several key nodes (for example DES1, CERT, SK2) and tests whether targeting those nodes can boost the cancer-killing effect of lower chemo doses and reduce cancer cell migration. Most work is done in laboratory models and aims to translate promising targets toward therapies that could affect patient care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with breast cancer, particularly those treated with or eligible for anthracycline chemotherapy such as doxorubicin, would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: Patients with cancers other than breast cancer or those not receiving anthracycline chemotherapy are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could allow lower doses of chemotherapy with fewer side effects while keeping or improving cancer control and reducing tumor spread.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory studies have linked sphingolipid enzymes to doxorubicin effects and early preclinical results support targeting parts of this pathway, but the comprehensive, pathway-wide approach here is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Stony Brook, United States
- 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
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.