GPR56-targeted antibody-drug therapy for triple-negative breast cancer
Preclinical efficacy of GPR56 antibody-drug conjugates and combination therapies for triple-negative breast cancer
A new antibody linked to a cancer drug that targets the GPR56 protein on tumor cells to kill triple-negative breast cancer while sparing normal tissue.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11300255 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are creating antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) that bind the GPR56 protein, which is more abundant on many triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells than on normal tissues. They will test these ADCs in lab-grown TNBC cell lines, patient-derived tumor models, and animal models to measure tumor killing and safety. The team will also try combining the GPR56 ADCs with a PARP inhibitor to see if the combination works better than either treatment alone. Safety and whether the treatment selectively targets tumor cells will be closely tracked in preclinical experiments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with triple-negative breast cancer, especially those whose tumors express the GPR56 protein, would be the likely candidates for future clinical trials.
Not a fit: Patients with other breast cancer subtypes or whose tumors do not express GPR56 are unlikely to benefit from this specific therapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could become a more effective, targeted treatment for TNBC with fewer side effects than conventional chemotherapy.
How similar studies have performed: Antibody-drug conjugates have already shown clinical benefit in some breast cancers, and the investigators reported promising preclinical activity of GPR56 ADCs in colorectal tumor models, but GPR56-directed therapy in TNBC remains at an early, preclinical stage.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Carmon, Kendra S. — University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
- Study coordinator: Carmon, Kendra S.
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.