Exploring a new treatment approach for breast cancer during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Breast cancer neoadjuvant endocrine therapy during the Covid-19 pandemic: Opportunity for a new treatment paradigm?

NIH-funded research Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-10589922

This study is looking at how taking hormone therapy before surgery can help breast cancer patients who have to wait longer for their operations, with the hope of improving their treatment outcomes.

Quick facts

Grant typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniv of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chapel Hill, United States)
Project IDNIH-10589922 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the use of neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NET) as a pre-surgical treatment for breast cancer patients who face delays in receiving surgery. By administering anti-endocrine drugs before surgery, the study aims to understand how NET can help improve outcomes for patients who may not benefit from traditional chemotherapy. The research will analyze the effects of NET on various patient demographics and tumor characteristics to determine its effectiveness in bridging gaps in timely care. The findings could lead to a new standard of care for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer patients.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer who are experiencing delays in surgical treatment.

Not a fit: Patients with hormone receptor-negative breast cancer or those who are not facing surgical delays may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a viable alternative treatment that improves survival rates for breast cancer patients facing surgical delays.

How similar studies have performed: While neoadjuvant endocrine therapy has been underutilized, preliminary data suggest it may be effective, indicating potential for success in this novel application.

Where this research is happening

Chapel Hill, United States

Researchers

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 below.
Conditions Breast CancerCancers
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.