NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Credentialing CDK 4/6 inhibitors with radiation to treat high-risk breast cancer

Official title: Project 3: Credentialing CDK 4/6 inhibitors used with radiation as an effective treatment strategy in locally advanced ER+ and TNBC

Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11420513 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A study from the University of Michigan aims to test whether adding CDK4/6 inhibitors to radiation therapy could improve outcomes for women with high-risk ER+ or triple-negative breast cancer.

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Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Michigan at Ann Arbor
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Ann Arbor, United States)
Project startAugust 14, 2023
Project endJuly 31, 2028
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$255,536
NIH project number5P50CA269022-04
Project IDNIH-11420513 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Women with high-risk breast cancer (ER+ or TNBC) who are receiving standard radiation therapy, especially those with nodal involvement or characteristics noted in the proposal.

Less likely to help

Patients unlikely to benefit include those with contraindications to CDK4/6 inhibitors or radiation intolerance, or those diagnosed with disease subtypes not addressed by the study.

What this research studies

This project explores combining CDK4/6 inhibitors with radiation to reduce locoregional recurrence in women with high-risk breast cancer. It builds on existing use of CDK4/6 inhibitors for ER+ disease and investigates their role as radiosensitizers in upfront treatment, including patients with multiple lymph node involvement or TNBC. The study is conducted in a patient-relevant setting, leveraging clinical and translational approaches to understand safety and potential effectiveness. If successful, it could inform new treatment strategies that lower recurrence risk and improve survival for a substantial patient population.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience lower recurrence rates and potentially better survival when CDK4/6 inhibitors are used alongside radiation.

How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows CDK4/6 inhibitors are effective in ER+ metastatic disease, with ongoing exploration in upfront settings; this study extends that potential to combine with radiation.

Where this research is happening

  • University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
    Ann Arbor, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Speers, Corey W. — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
  • Study coordinator: Speers, Corey W.

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.