Harnessing neutrophils to boost immune therapy for breast cancer
Official title: Harnessing neutrophils to improve the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in breast cancer
Funded at Ohio State University · NIH-11397566 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to find neutrophil signals that predict and improve how well immune checkpoint therapies work for breast cancer patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | June 8, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $248,149 |
| NIH project number | 5R00CA279899-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11397566 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with breast cancer who are considering or receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors, and who can donate blood or tumor samples for research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers other than breast cancer or those who cannot provide samples may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, to understand why some breast cancer patients respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors while others don’t. It will study interferon signaling in tumor-associated neutrophils and identify gene signatures that might predict treatment response. The work will use patient samples from clinics and existing trials to test whether blood neutrophil signals can serve as biomarkers and guide therapy adjustments. If successful, findings could lead to better patient selection and strategies to overcome resistance to PD-1–targeted therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients may receive more effective immunotherapy and fewer ineffective treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work showed neutrophil signals can predict response to PD-1 therapy in some cancers, suggesting this approach could be promising but needs confirmation in larger breast cancer studies.
Where this research is happening
-
Ohio State University
Columbus, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gao, Yang — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Gao, Yang
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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.