# A novel strategy to image metabolic reprogramming of residual disease and recurrence in HER2  breast cancer

> **NIH NIH F31** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $8,566

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Given the clinical importance of minimal residual disease in Her2 positive (Her2+) breast cancer, understanding
how these residual tumor cells rewire their metabolic pathways is critical for developing strategies to eliminate
residual disease and/or prevent the subsequent re-activation of residual tumors into recurrence. Currently, there
are no techniques available to provide a systems level approach to image the major axes of metabolism at a
spatial resolution that can elucidate the modulation of cancer residual cell metabolism in vivo. Our technological
goal is to create an innovative platform to image tumor metabolism at a spatial resolution that allows for
visualization of primary tumors, residual disease, and recurrence following neoadjuvant therapy in order to
facilitate understanding of tumor biology and function, assessment of recurrence risk, and design of therapies
that can mitigate residual disease and recurrence altogether. Our technological approach fills an important gap
that exists between in vitro studies on single cells (Seahorse Extracellular Flux Assay) and whole-body imaging
(fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging) and is complementary to
metabolomics and immunohistochemistry with endpoints measuring the major axes of metabolism. The specific
goals of this proposal are to validate use of a fatty acid uptake probe to image fatty acid oxidation in vivo and
integrate this endpoint into our previously validated methods of near simultaneous imaging of glucose uptake to
measure glycolysis and mitochondrial membrane potential to measure mitochondrial activity. This will allow for
orthotopic, in vivo imaging of tumor metabolism (Aim 1). From here, we will apply this integrated technology to
measure key axes of metabolism during tumor progression, regression, residual disease, and recurrence
following typical therapy regimes in vivo using a mammary window chamber and GEM model derived cells (Aim
2).

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9969040
- **Project number:** 5F31CA243194-02
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Megan Cathleen Madonna
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $8,566
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-08-01 → 2020-09-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9969040

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9969040, A novel strategy to image metabolic reprogramming of residual disease and recurrence in HER2  breast cancer (5F31CA243194-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9969040. Licensed CC0.

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