Breaching the tumor’s mechanical barrier to boost immune attack in breast cancer
Official title: Breaching the Tumor-Immune Mechanical Barrier for Optimal Antitumor Immunity
Funded at Mayo Clinic Arizona · NIH-11401696 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant aims to understand and loosen the physical barriers inside breast tumors so the body's immune system can better attack cancer cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Arizona NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Scottsdale, United States) |
| Project start | January 17, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R00CA286969-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401696 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with breast cancer, particularly those with tumors showing immune exclusion or low immune cell infiltration.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not exhibit immune exclusion or whose barriers cannot be targeted by the proposed approaches may not benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers at Mayo Clinic Arizona are studying how the tumor’s surrounding structure stops immune cells from infiltrating breast cancers, especially aggressive forms. They plan to identify key barrier molecules like TROP2 and how they relate to immune exclusion, using bioinformatics and experiments in models to test new ways to weaken these barriers. The goal is to design therapies that allow immune cells to reach and destroy tumor cells more effectively. This work could lead to novel treatments that enhance antitumor immunity in breast cancer patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could enable more effective immune-based treatments for breast cancer by removing barriers that prevent immune cells from reaching tumors.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary analyses suggest correlations between barrier molecules like TROP2 and reduced immune infiltration, with some studies showing promise for barrier-disrupting strategies.
Where this research is happening
-
Mayo Clinic Arizona
Scottsdale, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wu, Bogang — Mayo Clinic Arizona
- Study coordinator: Wu, Bogang
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.