Improving chemotherapy effectiveness in aggressive breast cancer by targeting a specific protein
Official title: Enhancing chemotherapeutic efficacy in triple-negative breast cancer via DSTYK silence
Funded at University of Toledo Health Sci Campus · NIH-11286452 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how turning off a protein called DSTYK might help make chemotherapy work better for people with triple-negative breast cancer, and it aims to find new ways to do this using tiny particles called exosomes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Toledo Health Sci Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Toledo, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $336,458 |
| NIH project number | 7R01CA272760-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11286452 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer who are undergoing or have undergone chemotherapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-triple-negative breast cancer or those who have not received chemotherapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how silencing a protein called DSTYK can enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy in patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer. The study aims to understand the role of DSTYK in making cancer cells resistant to treatment and explores innovative methods to silence this protein using exosomes. By conducting experiments in both laboratory settings and animal models, the researchers hope to find new ways to overcome chemotherapy resistance and improve treatment outcomes for TNBC patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective chemotherapy treatments for patients with triple-negative breast cancer, potentially improving survival rates.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of targeting DSTYK in chemotherapy is novel, similar strategies targeting other proteins have shown promise in enhancing treatment efficacy in cancer research.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Toledo Health Sci Campus
Toledo, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jiang, Yong — University of Toledo Health Sci Campus
- Study coordinator: Jiang, Yong
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.
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Rac-enhanced CAR-Macrophages against TNBC
A new cell therapy approach uses engineered macrophages with a CAR and Rac2 activation to target and kill triple-negative breast cancer cells expressing CSPG4.
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A new peptide therapy to help treat metastatic triple-negative breast cancer
A new peptide therapy called PEG-FUD is being tested to help treat metastatic triple-negative breast cancer by normalizing the tumor environment to improve treatment delivery.
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.