Mitochondrial gene therapy plus targeted chemotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer
Official title: Combine mitochondrial gene therapy and synthetic lethal chemotherapy to treat triple-negative breast cancer
Funded at Ohio State University · NIH-11324279 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new approach combines modifying cancer cell powerhouses with a targeted chemotherapy strategy to help people with triple-negative breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | June 10, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $573,078 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA262028-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11324279 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with triple-negative breast cancer who have or are at risk of developing resistance to standard chemotherapies.
✕Less likely to help
Some patients with TNBC may not respond to the proposed mitochondrial approach or may experience intolerable side effects.
What this research studies
This project aims to use a novel mitochondrial therapy together with a targeted chemotherapy approach to overcome drug resistance in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Researchers will rely on preclinical models and patient-derived data to test how disrupting mitochondrial function can drive cancer cell death when paired with existing drugs. The study plans to deploy a mitochondria-focused gene therapy alongside a synthetic-lethal chemotherapy regimen to improve responses in TNBC patients. If successful, the work could pave the way for new treatment options that address relapse and resistance seen with current therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with TNBC could experience better tumor control and longer-lasting responses to therapy.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work showed partial responses with PARP inhibitors and EGFR inhibitors in TNBC, suggesting potential for combination strategies; this project explores a novel mitochondrial angle.
Where this research is happening
-
Ohio State University
Columbus, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Xiaoguang Margaret — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Liu, Xiaoguang Margaret
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Targeting mitochondrial energy in triple-negative breast cancer that remains after chemo
This work looks at whether blocking a tumor's mitochondrial energy program can help people with triple-negative breast cancer whose tumors remain after chemotherapy.
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Combining gene therapy and chemotherapy to treat aggressive breast cancer
This study is exploring a new way to treat triple-negative breast cancer by using a combination of gene therapy and special chemotherapy to target the energy centers of cancer cells, with the hope of making treatments work better and stopping the cancer from becoming resistant to drugs.
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Finding the best radiotherapy dose to use with immunotherapy for early-stage triple-negative breast cancer
This study is looking for the best amount of radiation therapy to use alongside immunotherapy and chemotherapy for people with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer, to help improve their treatment results.
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Understanding how triple negative breast cancer adapts after chemotherapy
This study is looking at how triple negative breast cancer cells adapt their energy use to survive after chemotherapy, and it aims to find new ways to target these changes to help improve treatment for patients like you.
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Best radiation dose with pre-surgery chemo and pembrolizumab for early-stage triple-negative breast cancer
This project compares different radiation doses given before surgery together with chemotherapy and pembrolizumab for people with early-stage, node-positive triple-negative breast cancer to find the safest and most helpful approach.
-
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.
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.