NIH-funded research R21 grant

Finding new ways to help the immune system fight triple-negative breast cancer

Official title: Developing a novel therapeutic strategy for overcoming resistance to PD-1 blockade in Triple-negative breast cancer

Funded at Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope · NIH-11010798 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking for ways to make treatments better for people with triple-negative breast cancer by finding new ways to help the immune system fight the cancer more effectively.

More Breast Cancer research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionBeckman Research Institute/city of Hope
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Duarte, United States)
Project startFebruary 1, 2024
Project endJanuary 31, 2026
Funding year2025
Award (this year)$249,645
NIH project number5R21CA282528-02
Project IDNIH-11010798 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer who have not responded well to current PD-1 blockade therapies.

Less likely to help

Patients with non-triple-negative breast cancer or those who have already had successful responses to PD-1 therapies may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research focuses on improving treatment for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), a type of cancer known for its aggressive nature and poor response to existing therapies. The team aims to enhance the effectiveness of PD-1 blockade therapy, which has shown limited success in TNBC patients. By investigating the role of specific immune cells and their interactions, the researchers hope to activate suppressed T cells, thereby boosting the immune response against the cancer. The study employs advanced techniques to understand the mechanisms behind immune suppression and seeks to develop novel therapeutic strategies to overcome these challenges.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for patients with triple-negative breast cancer, potentially improving survival rates and quality of life.

How similar studies have gone: While there has been some success in using immune checkpoint inhibitors in other cancers, this specific approach to enhance PD-1 blockade in TNBC is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.

Where this research is happening

  • Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
    Duarte, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Zhang, Chunyan — Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
  • Study coordinator: Zhang, Chunyan

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.