High-resolution label-free imaging to predict outcomes in early triple-negative breast cancer
Official title: Label-Free Optical Redox Imaging for Pretreatment Prognosis of Early-Stage Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11161469 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work uses a special label-free imaging method to read tiny metabolic differences inside early-stage triple-negative breast tumors to help predict the chances of the cancer coming back.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $673,463 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA277037-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11161469 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with newly diagnosed, early-stage triple-negative breast cancer who can provide untreated tumor tissue from a biopsy or surgery.
✕Less likely to help
People with non–triple-negative breast cancer, advanced or heavily pretreated disease, or no available tumor tissue are unlikely to gain benefit from this specific imaging approach.
What this research studies
If you take part, doctors would use Optical Redox Imaging (ORI), which detects natural fluorescence from cell molecules, to scan your untreated tumor tissue in three dimensions at very high resolution (about 25 µm). The scans can show metabolic subtypes within the tumor, including highly oxidized "redox hotspots" that may be linked to higher risk of progression. Researchers will compare ORI findings from early-stage, treatment-naïve TNBC specimens to standard clinical measures like tumor size, stage, grade, and lymph node status. The aim is to see whether ORI can provide a more precise pretreatment prognosis to guide future treatment decisions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If this works, ORI could offer a more accurate early prognosis and help doctors choose better-tailored treatments for people with early triple-negative breast cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Early pilot data from treatment-naïve TNBC specimens showed that ORI redox hotspots predicted progression better than standard clinical indicators, but the method is still being tested in larger cohorts.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Lin Z — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Li, Lin Z
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Label-Free Optical Redox Imaging to Predict Outcomes in Early-Stage Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
A new imaging approach uses intrinsic signals to spot metabolic differences in untreated early-stage TNBC tumors to help predict how the cancer may behave.
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Using advanced imaging to predict outcomes in early-stage triple negative breast cancer
This study is exploring a new imaging technique that looks at the unique metabolism of early-stage triple negative breast cancer tumors to help doctors understand how the cancer might behave and create personalized treatment plans for patients.
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Genomic study to understand how genetics and epigenetics shape triple-negative breast cancer in African ancestry
This study looks at how inherited genes and gene activity affect triple-negative breast cancer in people of African ancestry to better understand why outcomes can be worse.
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Co-Targeting IL-6 and CDK4/6 to Prevent TNBC in Women Veterans
A study aims to block two cancer-promoting pathways (IL-6 and CDK4/6) to prevent or reduce progression of triple-negative breast cancer in women veterans.
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Linking heavy metal exposure to a tougher breast cancer type (TNBC)
Aimed at understanding how heavy metals like cadmium might trigger a dangerous breast cancer type (TNBC) in people, especially those with BRCA1 risk, to identify possible future treatment strategies.
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Dormancy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: How Liver and Skin Metastases Go Quiet or Reactivate
Researchers will study how dormant cancer cells in liver and skin metastases of triple-negative breast cancer become quiescent or wake up, using organ-on-chip models and single-cell analysis to map chromatin states.
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.