# ROLE OF STROMA IN MAMMARY GLAND CELL PROLIFERATION

> **NIH NIH R01** · MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY · 1992 · $120,669

## Abstract

The objective of the study is to provide insight into ways in which
mammary epithelial-stromal cell interactions influence estrogen
and/or progesterone-induced proliferation in normal mouse mammary
gland.  Of particular interest is to determine how stromal
influences can affect hormone independence in normal and cancerous
mammary tissue.  The relationship between epithelial-stromal
interactions and hormonal regulation will be analyzed both in vivo
and in vitro by comparing different mammary gland development
stages that exhibit varying degrees of hormone independence.  In
all cases proliferation will be assessed in epithelial and stromal
cells by DNA histoautoradiography.  The effects on hormone receptor
regulation will be monitored by ligand binding assays, steroid
autoradiography, or immunocytochemistry using anti-hormone receptor
antibodies.

From in vivo experiments we intend to determine if estrogen and/or
progesterone are direct acting mitogens or if they act indirectly
via local paracrine or autocrine growth factors or systemic growth
factors such as epidermal growth factor or transforming growth
factors.

We will determine if estrogen and/or progesterone induced
proliferation are correlated with the presence of estrogen or
progesterone receptors in epithelial cells or stromal cells.

We will also determine if one can alter hormonal responsiveness in
vivo by manipulating the stromal environment.

From in vitro, cell culture studies we intend to identify cellular,
biochemical and molecular mechanisms by which stromal cells affect
hormone responsiveness.  Epithelial cells and stromal cells will
be physically separated from one another and further dissected into
their biochemical and molecular components.  Reconstitution will
be experimentally manipulated to identify the specific types of
stromal cells involved, the roles of cell contact and soluble
factors in hormone dependent proliferation.  The biochemical
composition of the extracellular matrix has a profound effect on
hormonally regulated gene expression of milk proteins.  Similar
biochemical and molecular methods will be applied to the study of
extracellular matrix and proliferation.  The long term goal of
these studies is to elucidate the biological basis of hormone
independence and provide a rationale for treatment of hormone
independent human mammary cancer.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3179639
- **Project number:** 5R01CA040104-08
- **Recipient organization:** MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** R28EKN92ZTZ9
- **Principal Investigator:** SANDRA Z HASLAM
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1992
- **Award amount:** $120,669
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1985-07-01 → 1993-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3179639

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3179639, ROLE OF STROMA IN MAMMARY GLAND CELL PROLIFERATION (5R01CA040104-08). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3179639. Licensed CC0.

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