Antibody-drug conjugates to fight diverse triple-negative breast cancer
Official title: Antibody-dual drug conjugates for eradicating triple-negative breast cancer with heterogeneity
Funded at University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston · NIH-11377479 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-focused look at a project aiming to use antibody-drug conjugates to tackle diverse triple-negative breast cancers and overcome treatment resistance.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $419,275 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA283876-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11377479 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with triple-negative breast cancer, particularly those whose tumors express TROP2, may be candidates for future therapies stemming from this research.
✕Less likely to help
Not all TNBC patients may respond to ADCs, especially if their tumors lack TROP2 or have resistant biology.
What this research studies
This grant supports research to develop antibody-drug conjugates that target TNBC, a hard-to-treat form of breast cancer that often relapses after standard therapy. The work targets the TROP2 protein, a common marker on TNBC cells, to deliver powerful drugs directly to cancer cells while aiming to spare healthy tissue. By addressing tumor heterogeneity, the study seeks to improve how well treatments work across different cancer cell populations. The research combines cutting-edge antibody technology with clinically relevant concerns about side effects and real-world effectiveness. If successful, these advances could expand options for patients who have few effective therapies left.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more effective treatments for TNBC with fewer side effects and reduced relapse.
How similar studies have gone: Previous ADCs targeting TNBC have shown promise but limited durability, making this approach timely and potentially impactful.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tsuchikama, Kyoji — University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
- Study coordinator: Tsuchikama, Kyoji
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Genomic study to understand how genetics and epigenetics shape triple-negative breast cancer in African ancestry
This study looks at how inherited genes and gene activity affect triple-negative breast cancer in people of African ancestry to better understand why outcomes can be worse.
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Co-Targeting IL-6 and CDK4/6 to Prevent TNBC in Women Veterans
A study aims to block two cancer-promoting pathways (IL-6 and CDK4/6) to prevent or reduce progression of triple-negative breast cancer in women veterans.
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Linking heavy metal exposure to a tougher breast cancer type (TNBC)
Aimed at understanding how heavy metals like cadmium might trigger a dangerous breast cancer type (TNBC) in people, especially those with BRCA1 risk, to identify possible future treatment strategies.
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Dormancy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: How Liver and Skin Metastases Go Quiet or Reactivate
Researchers will study how dormant cancer cells in liver and skin metastases of triple-negative breast cancer become quiescent or wake up, using organ-on-chip models and single-cell analysis to map chromatin states.
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Rac-enhanced CAR-Macrophages against TNBC
A new cell therapy approach uses engineered macrophages with a CAR and Rac2 activation to target and kill triple-negative breast cancer cells expressing CSPG4.
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A new peptide therapy to help treat metastatic triple-negative breast cancer
A new peptide therapy called PEG-FUD is being tested to help treat metastatic triple-negative breast cancer by normalizing the tumor environment to improve treatment delivery.
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.