What wakes up dormant breast cancer cells
Transcriptional Regulation of Dormancy and Emergence in Breast Cancer
This project tests whether the MRTF/SRF proteins cause dormant breast cancer cells to wake up and grow again, which could help people with breast cancer who are at risk of metastasis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11140452 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research looks at why scattered breast cancer cells can stay quiet for years and then start new tumors, focusing on a protein pair called MRTF and SRF. In lab-grown human breast cancer cells and animal models, the team will use genetic changes and drugs to block or boost MRTF/SRF activity to see how that affects dormancy or metastatic growth. They will also examine whether MRTF/SRF act directly in tumor cells or by changing surrounding tissues or immune responses. The goal is to identify targets that could keep disseminated cells asleep or stop them from growing into metastases.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with a history of breast cancer, especially those at higher risk for metastatic spread (for example to bone), are the most relevant group for this research.
Not a fit: People without breast cancer or whose tumors do not disseminate are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to therapies that prevent or delay metastatic growth by keeping disseminated breast cancer cells dormant or blocking their emergence.
How similar studies have performed: Prior preclinical work has linked MRTF/SRF to cancer cell movement and metastasis, but using MRTF/SRF-targeting approaches specifically to control dormancy-to-emergence is a relatively new direction.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Roy, Partha — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Roy, Partha
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.