LncRNA EPIC1 and EZH2: a strategy to overcome breast cancer immunotherapy resistance
Official title: LncRNA EPIC1 induces immunotherapy resistance by activating EZH2 in breast cancer
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11370688 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A breast cancer research project is exploring whether a long noncoding RNA called EPIC1 helps tumors dodge immune therapy and if an EZH2 inhibitor can boost treatment responses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $371,510 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA272866-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11370688 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with triple-negative breast cancer or tumors expressing EPIC1-related immune suppression may be relevant for future translational studies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not rely on EPIC1-EZH2–mediated immune suppression may not benefit from the proposed approach.
What this research studies
This project studies how a tumor-specific RNA, EPIC1, may suppress the body’s immune attack against breast cancer by activating the EZH2 protein. It uses human breast cancer samples to examine the EPIC1-EZH2 pathway and how it relates to immune markers. In mouse models that mimic human breast cancer, researchers will test whether combining an EZH2 inhibitor with anti-PD1 therapy improves anti-tumor responses. The goal is to identify a potentially more effective treatment strategy for patients whose tumors resist current immunotherapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with breast cancer could benefit from new combination therapies that overcome resistance to immunotherapy.
How similar studies have gone: Early studies have suggested that similar RNA-driven immune evasion mechanisms exist; this project tests a targeted combination strategy in preclinical models.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yang, Da — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Yang, Da
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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.