Microbial therapies to fight triple-negative breast cancer
Official title: Multimodal microbe-mediated therapies for synergistic treatment of triple negative breast cancer
Funded at University of Massachusetts Amherst · NIH-11422181 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A program aims to create engineered microbes that deliver cancer-fighting therapies directly to TNBC tumors to provoke lasting immune responses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Massachusetts Amherst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hadley, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,736,507 |
| NIH project number | 1P01CA300738-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11422181 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with triple-negative breast cancer (especially ICI-resistant cases) could be eligible for future trials.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without TNBC or with conditions not targeted by the microbial therapy approach may not benefit.
What this research studies
If funded, this project will develop bacteria-based treatments that release therapeutic agents inside cancer cells, deliver oncolytic viruses, and target tumors with precise radiation. Researchers from UMass Amherst and Weill Cornell will study how these therapies interact with tumor tissue and the immune system to help translate them into clinical use. The work combines tumor biology, drug delivery, immune oncology, synthetic biology, and radiology across two major institutions. The program has three aims: to treat ICI-resistant TNBC, uncover how microbial therapies stimulate immunity, and create a toolbox of clinically relevant bacterial therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with tough-to-treat breast cancer could benefit from new microbial therapies that overcome resistance to existing immunotherapies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in microbial therapies and oncolytic approaches has shown promise in preclinical settings, supporting the rationale for this program.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Hadley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Forbes, Neil S. — University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Study coordinator: Forbes, Neil S.
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.
-
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.
-
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.