Balancing immune signals IFNβ and TGFβ to make aggressive breast cancer more treatable
Shifting the balance between IFN-I and TGF-beta to improve cancer therapy
This project uses approaches to boost interferon-beta and reduce TGFβ activity to help people with aggressive triple-negative breast cancer respond better to therapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11143072 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You are facing aggressive triple-negative breast cancer that often resists treatment and spreads; this work focuses on two immune signals in the tumor that push cancer cells toward a more dangerous, stem-like state or toward a less aggressive state. The researchers found that TGFβ drives stem-like changes and weakens anti-tumor immunity while IFNβ pushes cancer cells to be less aggressive and re-engages the immune system. In the lab and in animal models they will lower TGFβ effects and restore IFNβ signaling to reverse the stem-like program and boost immune attack. The goal is to identify drug combinations and strategies that make tumors less invasive and more responsive to standard therapies, with the aim of moving successful approaches toward patient trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with triple-negative breast cancer, particularly aggressive or treatment-resistant tumors, would be the most relevant candidates for future trials based on this work.
Not a fit: Patients with non–triple-negative breast cancers or tumors driven by unrelated pathways may not benefit from therapies targeting the TGFβ/IFNβ balance.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could make aggressive triple-negative breast cancers less likely to recur and more responsive to existing treatments by reactivating anti-tumor immunity.
How similar studies have performed: Targeting TGFβ or boosting interferon signaling has shown promise in lab studies and early clinical efforts, but combining these approaches specifically to reprogram TNBC is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Cleveland, United States
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru — Cleveland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jackson, Mark W. — Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
- Study coordinator: Jackson, Mark W.
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.