Improving cancer treatment by enhancing drug delivery to tumors
Official title: Reversing Drug Resistance in Tumors with Clickable Antibody Pairs
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11042719 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring a new way to make cancer treatments work better for people with HER2-positive breast and gastric cancers by using special antibodies that can more effectively deliver the medicine into cancer cells, especially for those whose cancer has become resistant to current treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $570,293 |
| NIH project number | 5R37CA276498-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11042719 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with HER2-positive breast or gastric cancer, particularly those who have experienced treatment resistance.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with HER2-negative tumors or those who do not have breast or gastric cancer may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a novel method to improve the effectiveness of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) in treating HER2-positive breast and gastric cancers. By using clickable pairs of antibodies that bind to different parts of the HER2 protein, the study aims to increase the internalization of these drugs into cancer cells, particularly in those that have developed resistance to current therapies. Patients with HER2-positive tumors may benefit from enhanced targeting and delivery of cancer treatments, potentially leading to better outcomes. The research involves preclinical models and advanced imaging techniques to assess the effectiveness of this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for patients with HER2-positive breast and gastric cancers, especially those who have not responded to existing therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results with antibody-drug conjugates in HER2-positive cancers, but this specific approach of using clickable antibody pairs is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
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Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ribeiro Pereira, Patricia Manuela — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Ribeiro Pereira, Patricia Manuela
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.