Effects of tamoxifen on immune cells in breast cancer patients
Official title: Impact of tamoxifen treatment on neutrophils in breast cancer patients
Funded at University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · NIH-11051890 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how tamoxifen, a common medicine for breast cancer, affects certain immune cells in patients, to better understand why some people stop responding to the treatment, with the hope of finding ways to improve care for those who struggle with it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $191,704 |
| NIH project number | 5R21CA274085-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11051890 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are breast cancer patients who are currently receiving tamoxifen treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not undergoing tamoxifen treatment or those with non-estrogen receptor positive breast cancer may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how tamoxifen, a common treatment for estrogen receptor positive breast cancer, affects neutrophils, a type of immune cell. The study aims to understand the mechanisms behind some patients developing resistance to tamoxifen, which can lead to cancer progression. By analyzing blood samples from breast cancer patients undergoing tamoxifen treatment, researchers will explore the relationship between tamoxifen treatment duration and the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which may contribute to treatment resistance. The findings could help in designing better therapies for patients who do not respond to standard tamoxifen treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment strategies for breast cancer patients who experience resistance to tamoxifen.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that understanding immune responses in cancer treatment can lead to significant advancements, suggesting potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sharma, Jyotika — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Sharma, Jyotika
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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.