Investigating how stress affects the immune response in aggressive breast cancer.
Official title: Stress-induced immunosuppression via downregulation of interferon in triple negative breast cancer
Funded at Emory University · NIH-11287201 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how stress affects the immune system's ability to fight triple negative breast cancer and hopes to find ways, like using certain medications, to make treatments work better for patients dealing with this type of cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $156,562 |
| NIH project number | 7K08CA279766-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11287201 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are women diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer, particularly those experiencing significant psychosocial stress.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other subtypes of breast cancer or those not experiencing psychosocial stress may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how psychosocial stress impacts the immune system's ability to fight triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). It explores the role of stress hormones in reducing the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors, which are treatments designed to enhance the immune response against tumors. By examining the mechanisms of stress-induced immunosuppression, the study aims to identify potential therapeutic strategies, such as the use of beta-blockers, to improve treatment outcomes for patients with TNBC.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment strategies for patients with triple negative breast cancer, enhancing their response to existing immunotherapies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that interventions targeting stress responses can improve treatment outcomes in cancer patients, suggesting a promising avenue for this research.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gandhi, Shipra — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Gandhi, Shipra
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Stress-related hormonal signals and immune response in a specific breast cancer type
A study in triple-negative breast cancer looks at how stress hormones may weaken the body's immune attack and whether blocking those signals could improve cancer treatment.
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Understanding how stress affects immune response in aggressive breast cancer
This study is looking at how stress affects the immune system in people with triple negative breast cancer, to see if managing stress can help make cancer treatments work better.
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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.
-
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.
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.