Changing STAT5 to shift STAT3 activity in triple-negative breast cancer
Official title: Modulation of STAT3 activity by STAT5 in triple negative breast cancer
Funded at University of New Hampshire · NIH-11127575 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are trying to change the activity of a protein called STAT5 so it can alter STAT3 behavior and slow tumor growth in people with triple-negative breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of New Hampshire NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2017 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $185,547 |
| NIH project number | 5P20GM113131-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11127575 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with triple-negative breast cancer, particularly tumors showing active STAT3 signaling, would be the most likely eventual candidates for therapies based on this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non–triple-negative breast cancers or tumors driven by entirely different pathways may not benefit from findings focused on STAT3/STAT5 interactions.
What this research studies
This team is looking at how STAT5 affects the cancer-promoting protein STAT3 in triple-negative breast cancer cells by mapping where each protein binds on the genome and how that changes gene activity. They use lab techniques like ChIP-seq and ATAC-seq to see DNA binding and chromatin accessibility, and test how those changes affect cancer cell growth and response to chemotherapy. Because turning on STAT5 directly can promote other cancers, the researchers want to find molecular ways to get the helpful effects on STAT3 without activating STAT5 itself. The goal is to identify new drug targets or strategies that could make tumors more sensitive to existing treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new drug targets that make triple-negative breast cancers easier to treat or more sensitive to chemotherapy.
How similar studies have gone: Prior laboratory work showed STAT5 activation can reduce STAT3-driven growth and increase chemo sensitivity in cells, but direct STAT3 inhibitors have not yet proven effective in patients.
Where this research is happening
-
University of New Hampshire
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Walker, Sarah — University of New Hampshire
- Study coordinator: Walker, Sarah
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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.