# Analytical determination of biomarkers for diagnosis of breast cancer metastatic progression

> **NIH NIH R01** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $370,575

## Abstract

An inherent challenge within cancer research is the cataloguing of fundamental information on what is
generally fatal metastatic disease within vital organs. Treating metastatic progression remains a formidable
task due to an inability to monitor specific differential molecular adaptations that allow for the cancer to
survive and thrive within different tissue types. Hence, an important consideration is the divergence of the
metastatic cancer cells growing in visceral organs from the primary tumor. To address this problem, we
have established isogenic human metastatic breast cancer cell lines, which are representative of the
common metastatic sites of lung, bone, liver, and brain observed in breast cancer patients. Our preliminary
biological evaluations of these new metastatic cell lines strongly indicated that they exhibit site-to-site
phenotypic distinctions that ultimately reflect genetic diversity as well as drug resistance differences. In
addition, we have preliminary label-free Raman spectroscopy and metabolomic characterizations that
provide objective evidence of the distinct biochemical differences that specifically identify each of the cell
lines. Importantly, we have carried out label-free Raman spectroscopy on human breast cancer tissue
microarray slides and obtained defined spectral biochemical signatures that differentiate normal from
metastatic breast tissues. The importance of this finding is that we have now established objective
molecular methods that will permit the identification of unique signatures of breast cancer metastatic lesions.
The central hypothesis is that identification of molecular signatures that can be assigned to site-specific
breast cancer metastatic lesions will facilitate optimal treatment strategies to increase overall survival. In
this application, three specific Aims have been proposed to test the above hypothesis. In specific Aim 1, we
will establish Raman spectral signatures of newly established isogenic organ-specific metastatic breast
cancer cells in vitro. In specific Aim 2, we will validate Raman spectral signatures in preclinical models of
breast cancer metastasis and in matched primary and metastatic human breast cancer samples. In specific
Aim 3, we will determine chemotherapeutic efficacy of FDA approved oncological drugs in a site-specific
manner based on Raman spectral signatures.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9969470
- **Project number:** 5R01CA207208-05
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Venu Raman
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $370,575
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-07-01 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9969470

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9969470, Analytical determination of biomarkers for diagnosis of breast cancer metastatic progression (5R01CA207208-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9969470. Licensed CC0.

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