NIH-funded research R01 grant

Boosting the body's defenses against advanced breast cancer by easing tumor pressure

Official title: Improving anti-tumor immunity in advanced breast cancer by targeting solid stress

Funded at Boston University Medical Campus · NIH-11089375 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This project explores how a common blood pressure medicine might help immune cells better fight advanced breast cancer.

More Breast Cancer research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionBoston University Medical Campus
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boston, United States)
Project startJune 1, 2024
Project endMay 31, 2029
Funding year2025
Award (this year)$421,414
NIH project number5R01CA284133-02
Project IDNIH-11089375 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

This foundational work is for patients with advanced breast cancer who might benefit from improved immunotherapy responses in the future.

Less likely to help

Patients seeking immediate treatment options would not directly benefit from this early-stage laboratory research.

What this research studies

For patients with advanced breast cancer, current immune treatments don't always work well, especially if immune cells can't get into the tumor. We've found that breast cancer tumors can be very dense, squeezing blood vessels and making it hard for helpful immune cells to reach the cancer. This project will use a medication called losartan, which is already used for high blood pressure, to see if it can loosen up the tumor tissue, open up blood vessels, and allow more immune cells to get inside. Our goal is to make existing immunotherapies more effective by helping the body's own defenses reach and attack the cancer.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to new ways to make immunotherapies more effective for patients with advanced breast cancer.

How similar studies have gone: Previous work by this team has shown that losartan can reduce tumor density and improve immune cell access in laboratory models.

Where this research is happening

  • Boston University Medical Campus
    Boston, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Jones, Dennis — Boston University Medical Campus
  • Study coordinator: Jones, Dennis

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.