Bone marrow immune and tumor markers to spot recurrence risk in triple-negative breast cancer
Synergized Immune and Tumor Cell Bone Marrow Biomarkers to Predict Recurrence in Triple Negative Breast Cancer
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 ID | NIH-11160617 on NIH RePORTER |
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.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: 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.
Not a fit: 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.
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 performed: 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
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Aft, Rebecca L. — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Aft, Rebecca L.
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.