# Novel chemokine in the regulation of breast cancer metastasis

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE · 2024 · $407,391

## Abstract

Project Summary
Our long-term goal is to understand the immunobiology of cancer and identify the molecular drivers that
promote the metastatic progression of cancer. We discovered that a potent chemokine, CCL24, is
expressed explicitly by aggressive estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer cells. Our preliminary data
validated that the expression of CCL24 is significantly higher in breast cancer and that high CCL24
mRNA levels in aggressive breast cancer is associated with poor prognosis. Permutation studies
revealed that siRNA-mediated knockdown of CCL24 in overexpressing breast cancer cells promoted
mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET). CCL24 may promote cancer cell EMT and metastasis as a
known chemoattractant for immunosuppressor cells to further suppress antitumor immunity. Therefore,
we hypothesize that the chemokine ligand CCL24 drives invasive features of breast cancer cells
leading to metastasis. Our specific aims are: 1) to determine the clinical significance of CCL24 in
breast cancer and its induction of EMT and unfavorable clinical outcomes; and 2) to determine the
oncogenic function of CCL24 and therapeutic targeting of CCL24 in breast cancer. In parallel, we will
determine if CCL24 contributes to breast cancer metastasis by promoting the infiltration of
immunosuppressive cells at the breast tumor site. This innovative concept explores previously unknown
roles for CCL24 as a driver of metastatic progression of aggressive breast cancer. We expect to provide
preclinical proof-of-concept of oncogenic function and therapeutic targeting of CCL24 in breast cancer.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11223046
- **Project number:** 7R21CA286376-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE
- **Principal Investigator:** Dev Karan
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $407,391
- **Award type:** 7
- **Project period:** 2024-08-01 → 2026-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11223046

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11223046, Novel chemokine in the regulation of breast cancer metastasis (7R21CA286376-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11223046. Licensed CC0.

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