Bone marrow immune and tumor markers to spot recurrence risk in triple-negative breast cancer
Official title: Synergized Immune and Tumor Cell Bone Marrow Biomarkers to Predict Recurrence in Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11160617 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is testing whether tumor cells and immune cell patterns in the bone marrow can show which people with triple-negative breast cancer are most likely to have the cancer come back and who might benefit from immunotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | September 21, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $653,623 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA262555-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11160617 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with triple-negative breast cancer, especially those who have completed or are receiving standard chemotherapy and are willing to provide bone marrow samples.
✕Less likely to help
People with other breast cancer subtypes, those with widespread metastatic disease already, or those unwilling to undergo bone marrow sampling are unlikely to benefit from this work.
What this research studies
You would be asked to give bone marrow samples and allow researchers to use previously collected bone marrow from people with triple-negative breast cancer. The team will measure tumor cell–related gene signals and the types of immune cells present in the bone marrow. They will link those patterns to whether cancer later returns and to responses to immune checkpoint drugs. The work uses both stored samples and new samples from patients in a partnered phase II immunotherapy protocol.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors identify which TNBC patients should get immunotherapy to reduce the risk of metastatic relapse.
How similar studies have gone: Immune checkpoint drugs have helped some TNBC patients and bone marrow tumor cell detection has shown promise, but combining immune-cell signatures with DTC markers to predict benefit is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Aft, Rebecca L. — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Aft, Rebecca L.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Using mitochondrial DNA to improve early detection and predict recurrence of triple-negative breast cancer in African American women
This study is looking at how tiny pieces of DNA from your cells can help find triple-negative breast cancer earlier and predict if it might come back, especially for African American women, so that doctors can offer better screenings and personalized treatments.
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Using bone marrow biomarkers to predict recurrence in triple negative breast cancer
This study is looking at how certain markers in the bone marrow of people with triple negative breast cancer can help doctors understand who might face a higher chance of their cancer coming back, so they can find better treatments for those patients.
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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.
-
Gene expression marks high risk for very late breast cancer return
A patient-focused study aims to find gene patterns that identify women with early breast cancer who are most likely to have cancer come back more than a decade later.
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.