The National Cancer Institute (NCI) awarded a $499,744 Project Grant (CFDA 93.396 - Cancer Biology Research) to the Regents of the University of Minnesota, Office of Sponsored Projects Administration. The grant supports research to understand the impact of modulating the STAT5 signaling pathway in tumor-associated macrophages and its effects on breast cancer growth and metastasis. Key objectives include:
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Using genetic mouse models to define the effects of myeloid STAT5 deletion on mammary tumor progression and determine the role of GM-CSF in STAT5 activation in tumor-associated macrophages.
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Identifying direct STAT5 target genes in macrophages and assessing the impact of STAT5-regulated chemokines on modulating the tumor immune environment.
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Developing antibody-based approaches to restore STAT5 function in macrophages and evaluate the effects on tumor growth and metastasis, as well as using multiplex imaging to characterize the cellular neighborhoods associated with STAT5-activated macrophages in human breast cancer samples.
The 5-year project period runs from February 1, 2025 to January 31, 2030 and aims to gain a better understanding of how macrophages impact tumor progression and respond to cancer therapies, with the goal of exploiting their anti-tumorigenic potential for therapeutic benefit.
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