Double-negative T cells and their role in fighting breast cancer
Mechanism of double-negative T cells in antitumor immunity to breast cancer
This work looks at whether a rare type of immune cell called double-negative T cells can help the immune system attack breast cancer, especially aggressive triple-negative tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Louisville NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Louisville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11161538 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project explores how a rare type of immune cell called double-negative (DN) T cells may attack breast tumors, with a focus on triple-negative breast cancer. Scientists use mouse models that lack certain T cells and transplant donor immune cells to see how DN T cells form and stop tumor growth. They will study the cells' behavior in tumors and the molecules that let them survive and kill cancer cells, and will compare findings to human breast cancer samples when possible. The aim is to learn whether boosting or harnessing DN T cells could lead to new immunotherapy options for patients whose cancers resist current treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with advanced or metastatic breast cancer, especially triple-negative and chemoresistant cases, would be the most likely future candidates for therapies developed from this work.
Not a fit: Patients with early-stage, hormone receptor–positive breast cancer that respond well to standard therapies may be less likely to benefit from therapies targeting DN T cells.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new immune-based treatments that better control or eliminate aggressive, treatment-resistant breast cancers.
How similar studies have performed: Some immunotherapies have helped subsets of breast cancer patients, but approaches focused on double-negative T cells are novel and largely untested in humans.
Where this research is happening
Louisville, United States
- University of Louisville — Louisville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Hui — University of Louisville
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Hui
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.