Why milk-producing breast units sometimes stay enlarged and how that links to breast cancer
Official title: A Mouse Model of Persistence of Ductal and Alveolar Hyperplasia and Breast Cancer
Funded at Portland VA Medical Center · NIH-11257738 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are using a mouse model to understand how lasting enlargement of milk-making breast units may raise breast cancer risk for women.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Portland VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX006607-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11257738 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women with high mammographic breast density or a history suggesting persistent terminal duct lobular units (TDLUs) are the human group most directly related to this research.
✕Less likely to help
People without increased breast density or TDLU persistence are less likely to benefit directly from the specific findings of this model.
What this research studies
This project uses genetically modified mice that keep expressing a specific protein (GRB7) in mammary cells after nursing to mimic persistent terminal duct lobular units (TDLUs) seen on mammograms. Scientists will follow these mice as they age to see whether persistent ductal and alveolar hyperplasia leads to higher rates or different types of breast cancer. They will examine breast tissue changes over time and study molecular signals that keep the milk-producing units from involuting. The goal is to create a laboratory model that mirrors the TDLU persistence linked to higher breast density in people so researchers can test prevention and detection strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal biological reasons why persistent breast units and high breast density raise cancer risk, guiding better screening, prevention, or targeted treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Prior mouse models showed delayed involution after lactation but typically regressed over time, so creating a model with true persistent alveolar and ductal hyperplasia is a novel advance.
Where this research is happening
-
Portland VA Medical Center
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Luoh, Shiuh-Wen — Portland VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Luoh, Shiuh-Wen
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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.