How changes in a fat molecule called ceramide affect PD-L1 and treatment response in triple-negative breast cancer
Official title: Ceramide metabolism and the regulation of PD-L1 signaling to control metastasis and resistance to immunotherapy in TNBC
Funded at Medical University of South Carolina · NIH-11172568 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at whether lowering ceramide levels in triple-negative breast cancer changes PD-L1 behavior and could help people respond better to immunotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical University of South Carolina NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project start | August 31, 2018 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $371,074 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA214461-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11172568 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with triple-negative breast cancer, particularly those with metastatic disease or tumors showing altered ceramide metabolism or PD-L1 patterns, would be most relevant to this work.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non–triple-negative breast cancer subtypes or whose tumors do not rely on PD-L1 or ceramide-related pathways are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.
What this research studies
You would be hearing about lab work that explores how reduced activity of an enzyme (CerS4) and lower ceramide lipids make cancer cells more likely to spread and resist immunotherapy. The team studies where PD-L1 sits in the cell (on the surface versus internalized) and how internal PD-L1 promotes signals that drive metastasis, using cancer cell lines, animal models, and tumor samples. They will test whether restoring ceramide levels or blocking linked pathways (like TGF-β and Sonic hedgehog signaling) can prevent spread and improve response to PD-1/PD-L1 drugs. Findings could point to new drug targets or biomarkers to guide treatment choices for people with TNBC.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new ways to make immunotherapy work better and slow or prevent metastasis in people with triple-negative breast cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have linked PD-L1 levels and lipid signaling to tumor behavior and immunotherapy response, but targeting ceramide-driven PD-L1 regulation is a relatively new and mostly preclinical approach.
Where this research is happening
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Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ogretmen, Besim — Medical University of South Carolina
- Study coordinator: Ogretmen, Besim
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Enhanced Viro-Immunotherapy for Breast Cancer Brain Metastasis
A study testing a virus-based cancer therapy to help treat breast cancer that has spread to the brain, with focus on boosting the body’s immune response to fight the tumors.
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Ceramide signals and PD-L1 help in triple-negative breast cancer spread and response to immunotherapy
This grant tests how fat molecules inside TNBC cells influence PD-L1 and help cancer spread, with the goal of improving immunotherapy results for patients.
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Enhanced virus-based immunotherapy for breast cancer that has spread to the brain
This project explores a modified herpes virus treatment designed to help the immune system fight breast cancer that has spread to the brain.
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Improving viral immunotherapy for breast cancer that has spread to the brain
This project tries to improve a cancer-killing herpes virus plus immune therapy to help people with breast cancer that has spread to the brain.
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Improving immune treatments for cancers that have spread to the brain
Researchers will try blocking a molecule called TGF-β in lymph nodes to help immune therapies work better for people whose cancer has spread to the brain.
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Improving treatment for breast cancer that has spread to the brain
This study is looking for ways to make a promising new treatment for breast cancer that has spread to the brain work better, by helping your immune system fight the cancer more effectively.
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.