Aptamer-based profiling of tumor vesicle proteins to guide treatment in TNBC
Official title: Aptamer-Based EV protein profiling for prognostic assessment in TNBC
Funded at University of Kansas Medical Center · NIH-11584612 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-friendly way to monitor changes in hard-to-treat triple-negative breast cancer by analyzing tumor-derived particles in blood with DNA aptamers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kansas Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kansas City, United States) |
| Project start | June 3, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $225,937 |
| NIH project number | 5P20GM130423-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11584612 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with or at risk for triple-negative breast cancer who are undergoing monitoring or treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancer types other than TNBC or those not undergoing plasma-based monitoring may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project will build a new blood test that looks at tiny particles shed by TNBC tumors to understand how the cancer is changing over time. Researchers will use DNA-based aptamers to detect multiple surface proteins on extracellular vesicles and integrate this with a microfluidic system for isolation. The goal is to provide dynamic, minimally invasive information that complements imaging and tissue biopsies, especially around treatment changes. The approach includes developing a panel of TNBC-relevant markers, validating two detection methods, and testing pre- and post-treatment samples from patients. If successful, this could help doctors tailor therapies based on how the tumor is evolving.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from more timely and personalized treatment decisions based on real-time tumor signals.
How similar studies have gone: Similar EV-based approaches have shown promise in reflecting tumor biology, but this specific aptamer-based, dual-detection platform is novel for TNBC.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kansas Medical Center
Kansas City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chang, Dingran — University of Kansas Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Chang, Dingran
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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.