Hypoxia-activated probiotic agents to attack breast cancer
Official title: Hypoxia-activated probiotic agents for breast cancer
Funded at University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-11330490 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new probiotic-based approach is being developed to directly target and kill breast cancer cells in the low-oxygen areas of tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | May 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $364,569 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA272564-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11330490 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be patients with breast cancer, particularly triple-negative breast cancer, where tumors have hypoxic regions and limited treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without hypoxic tumor regions or those not eligible for bacterial-based approaches may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses specially engineered probiotic bacteria that thrive in hypoxic (low-oxygen) tumor regions to deliver cancer-killing proteins directly where tumors are hardest to treat. Researchers have shown that these bacteria can localize to hypoxic tumor zones in mouse models and will now test delivering copper-containing proteins with a cancer-killing effect in triple-negative breast cancer. The work focuses on making the bacteria express these proteins only under hypoxic conditions to minimize effects on healthy tissue. If successful, this approach could provide a new way to reach and treat difficult tumor areas that current therapies miss.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could have a new, targeted therapy that reaches hypoxic tumor regions and improves outcomes for aggressive breast cancers.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies showed that hypoxia-targeted bacteria can localize to tumors in mice, supporting the concept though human translation is still to be proven.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yamada, Tohru — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Yamada, Tohru
Related research
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-
How low oxygen and altered fat handling affect breast cancer in people with obesity
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Using probiotics to target hypoxic areas in breast cancer
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How low oxygen levels affect fat metabolism in breast cancer linked to obesity
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This study is looking at how measuring oxygen levels in the brain with MRI can help spot early signs of small vessel disease, which is linked to memory problems and dementia, especially Alzheimer's, so if you're at risk due to age or high blood pressure, you might be able to participate in MRI scans to learn more about
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Improving Breast Cancer Guideline Adherence in Nigeria
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Genomic study to understand how genetics and epigenetics shape triple-negative breast cancer in African ancestry
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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.