A new treatment approach that targets the tumor environment in inflammatory breast cancer
Development of a novel therapy targeting the tumor microenvironment in inflammatory breast cancer
Seeing if blocking EGFR can change the tumor’s immune environment so people with inflammatory breast cancer respond better to immunotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Hawaii at Manoa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Honolulu, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11170542 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project follows early clinical signs that an anti-EGFR antibody plus chemotherapy helped some inflammatory breast cancer patients respond better to treatment. Researchers will study how EGFR drives immune-suppressing signals in the tumor and whether blocking EGFR shifts the tumor environment to allow more cancer-killing immune cells inside. The team will use lab models, patient tumor samples, and data from prior patients to map the pathways and test combinations that might boost immune therapy effects. The goal is to identify approaches that could be moved into future clinical testing for people with this aggressive cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with inflammatory breast cancer, especially those whose tumors show EGFR activity or who are eligible for immunotherapy-based approaches, would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: People with other types of breast cancer or whose tumors lack EGFR activity or who cannot tolerate EGFR-targeting drugs are less likely to benefit from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could make immunotherapy and existing treatments work better for people with inflammatory breast cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Early clinical results combining an anti-EGFR antibody with chemotherapy showed promising responses in triple-negative inflammatory breast cancer, but using EGFR blockade specifically to reprogram the tumor immune environment is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Honolulu, United States
- University of Hawaii at Manoa — Honolulu, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ueno, Naoto T. — University of Hawaii at Manoa
- Study coordinator: Ueno, Naoto T.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.