Blocking ATR to stop aggressive, immune‑hiding triple‑negative breast cancer
ATR: targeting mechanical stress induced EMT and immune suppression in triple negative breast cancer
This project is looking at whether blocking the ATR protein can stop mechanical‑stress driven changes that make triple‑negative breast cancers more invasive and better at hiding from the immune system.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11141115 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have triple‑negative breast cancer that resists treatment, the team is studying how stiffness and forces in the tumor environment push cancer cells to become more mobile and avoid the immune system (a change called EMT). They found ATR protein goes up when cells experience mechanical stress, driven by an enzyme called USP21, and high ATR links to shorter progression‑free survival in patients. Researchers will use patient tumor data along with lab cell and animal models to block ATR and watch whether EMT, invasion, and immune suppression are reduced. The goal is to identify biomarkers and strategies that could move into future clinical testing if the lab work looks promising.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with triple‑negative breast cancer, particularly those with therapy‑resistant or metastatic disease or tumors showing fibrotic/stiff tissue features.
Not a fit: People with non‑triple‑negative breast cancer subtypes or cancers driven by unrelated molecular pathways are less likely to benefit directly from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that make resistant triple‑negative breast cancers less invasive and more visible to the immune system.
How similar studies have performed: ATR inhibitors have been studied in other cancers for DNA repair weaknesses, but applying ATR blockade to stop mechanical‑stress‑driven EMT and immune suppression is a newer approach with mostly preclinical support so far.
Where this research is happening
Rochester, United States
- Mayo Clinic Rochester — Rochester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mutter, Robert W — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Mutter, Robert 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.