Why some ER-positive breast cancers resist anti-estrogen treatment
WNT pathway-driven anti-estrogen therapy resistance in breast cancer
This work aims to stop a WNT-driven signal that lets certain ER-positive breast cancers—often in younger women and seen more in some Black women—escape anti-estrogen treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Thomas Jefferson University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11321255 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have ER-positive breast cancer that doesn’t respond well to hormone therapy, this project looks at a mixed tumor type called lumino-basal breast cancer (LBBC) that contains both ER-positive and ER-negative/CK5-positive cells. Researchers will study how hormones (like progesterone and prolactin) and a WNT11-PLZF-BCL6 signaling network cause the ER-negative stem/progenitor cells to expand during anti-estrogen treatment. The team will use tumor samples and lab models to test whether blocking this WNT-related pathway or reversing its effects can prevent the growth of therapy-resistant CK5+ cells. The goal is to translate lab findings into markers or approaches that could guide better treatments for people with this aggressive tumor mix.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with ER-positive breast tumors that show mixed luminal and CK5-positive basal features or those whose cancers are not responding to standard anti-estrogen treatments, especially younger women.
Not a fit: People with purely ER-negative breast cancer or tumors that lack CK5/WNT11-related features are unlikely to benefit from the approaches studied here.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to ways to prevent or reverse resistance to anti-estrogen therapy and improve outcomes for people with lumino-basal ER-positive breast cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Related laboratory studies have shown that targeting WNT-linked signals or BCL6 can reduce resistant cancer cell populations, but clinical success for this approach remains limited and largely preclinical.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Thomas Jefferson University — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rui, Hallgeir — Thomas Jefferson University
- Study coordinator: Rui, Hallgeir
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.