How DNA-repair differences affect outcomes in Black women with triple-negative breast cancer
Understanding the role of DNA damage repair in racial disparities of triple-negative breast cancer outcomes
This project looks at whether differences in tumor DNA-repair proteins explain why Black women with triple-negative breast cancer respond differently to chemotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11299504 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, researchers compare tumor samples from African American and European American women with triple-negative breast cancer to measure DNA double-strand break repair proteins and a key protein called VCP. They link those molecular findings to treatment records and survival after chemotherapy to see which repair patterns predict poor outcomes. Methods include tumor molecular profiling, immunostaining for proteins such as pSer784-VCP, genomic analyses of homologous recombination versus non-homologous end joining signatures, and comparison across patient groups. The team aims to find molecular signals that could guide future treatments for patients who do not respond well to standard chemotherapy.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with triple-negative breast cancer, especially African American/Black patients who can provide tumor tissue and treatment outcome information.
Not a fit: Patients without triple-negative breast cancer or without available tumor tissue and clinical outcome data would not directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify markers that predict chemotherapy resistance in Black women with TNBC and suggest more personalized treatment approaches.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies and the team's pilot data link DNA-repair patterns and pSer784-VCP levels to chemotherapy outcomes, but applying these markers specifically to explain racial disparities is a newer, less-tested area.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shao, Jieya — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Shao, Jieya
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.