New combination immunotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer
Developing a novel combination immunotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer
See if adding a drug that blocks the JNK pathway can help immunotherapy work better for people with triple-negative breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Hawaii at Manoa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Honolulu, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11171590 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will study how a pathway called JNK keeps the tumor environment in a state that shuts down the immune system and test drugs that block JNK together with immune checkpoint therapies. They will analyze tumor tissue and blood from patients to find markers that predict who is most likely to benefit. Laboratory and animal experiments will be used to identify the best drug combinations, and the team will develop tests that could guide future treatment decisions. The work aims to prepare a combination approach and biomarkers for future clinical testing in people with TNBC.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with triple-negative breast cancer, particularly those with metastatic or treatment-resistant disease, would be the main candidates for this approach.
Not a fit: Patients with other types of breast cancer or whose tumors do not show the JNK-related biomarker pattern identified here are unlikely to benefit from this specific strategy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make immunotherapy work better and for longer in people with triple-negative breast cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Combining immunotherapy with other drugs has helped some patients in other cancer types, but using JNK inhibitors in TNBC is a newer approach with limited clinical testing so far.
Where this research is happening
Honolulu, United States
- University of Hawaii at Manoa — Honolulu, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ueno, Naoto T. — University of Hawaii at Manoa
- Study coordinator: Ueno, Naoto T.
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 below.