Blocking STAT3 in ER-positive breast cancer resistant to CDK4/6 inhibitors
Targeting STAT3 for the Treatment of CDK4/6 Inhibitor Resistant Advanced Estrogen Receptor Positive Breast Cancer Patients
This project tests whether blocking the STAT3 protein helps people with advanced estrogen receptor–positive breast cancer whose tumors no longer respond to CDK4/6 inhibitor drugs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11238567 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project will use lab-grown tumor cells and mouse models that became resistant to CDK4/6 inhibitors to study inflammatory signals that reactivate tumor growth. Researchers will test drugs that block STAT3 signaling to see if resistant tumors stop growing or regain sensitivity to therapy. They will also examine tumor tissue and blood from patients to measure STAT3 activity and look for biomarkers linked to resistance. Results are intended to guide future clinical trials of STAT3-targeting treatments for patients with resistant ER-positive breast cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with advanced or metastatic ER-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer whose disease progressed while on CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy.
Not a fit: Patients with HER2-positive or triple-negative breast cancer, early-stage disease not facing CDK4/6 resistance, or tumors that do not show STAT3 activation are unlikely to benefit from this specific approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that help people with ER-positive advanced breast cancer overcome resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors.
How similar studies have performed: Early laboratory studies and some early-phase trials targeting STAT3 or the IL-6/STAT3 pathway show promise, but effective STAT3-targeted therapies remain largely experimental.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Keyomarsi, Khandan — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Keyomarsi, Khandan
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.