Why Black women have higher risk of arm swelling after breast cancer surgery
Official title: Mechanisms of racial disparity in breast cancer-related lymphedema
Funded at Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research · NIH-11249991 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks for cellular reasons why Black women are more likely to develop long-term arm swelling after lymph node removal for breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $734,550 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA278599-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11249991 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women having axillary lymph node dissection for breast cancer, especially Black women, would be the most likely candidates for participation.
✕Less likely to help
People without breast cancer or those with long-standing, chronic lymphedema are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this research.
What this research studies
The team follows women who undergo axillary lymph node dissection for breast cancer and tracks arm measurements before and after surgery to document who develops lymphedema. Researchers will collect and compare blood and tissue samples from Black and White participants to search for cellular and inflammatory differences. Laboratory analyses will study immune cells and lymphatic tissue to identify biological processes linked to swelling and infection risk. The goal is to link measurable cellular changes to the higher lymphedema risk seen in Black women to guide future prevention or treatment strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent or treat breast cancer–related lymphedema and reduce chronic arm swelling and infections.
How similar studies have gone: Epidemiologic studies have shown higher lymphedema rates in Black women, but the cellular mechanisms remain largely untested, so this approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mehrara, Babak J — Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
- Study coordinator: Mehrara, Babak J
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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.