New immunotherapy combo for hard-to-treat triple-negative breast cancer
Official title: Developing a novel combination immunotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer
Funded at University of Hawaii at Manoa · NIH-11401949 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to test a combination immunotherapy with JNK inhibitors to improve treatment 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 start | September 18, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $650,749 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA278056-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401949 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with triple-negative breast cancer who may be eligible for immunotherapy-based treatment plans.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose TNBC does not respond to immunotherapy or who cannot tolerate the combination could see little benefit.
What this research studies
This project explores a new treatment strategy for triple-negative breast cancer by pairing a JNK inhibitor with immunotherapy and chemotherapy. Researchers will study how this combo changes the tumor environment and whether it can produce stronger, longer-lasting responses. They will look for biomarkers in the tumor and blood that predict who benefits most, guiding future patient selection. The work uses preclinical data and early clinical concepts to translate a more effective approach for TNBC patients. If successful, it could lead to better survival and fewer relapses for those facing this aggressive cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with TNBC could experience more durable responses and improved survival with a more effective combination therapy.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data suggest that targeting the JNK pathway may alter the tumor immune environment, but translational success in humans remains to be proven.
Where this research is happening
-
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.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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.
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Determinants of Response to DNA-Damaging Radiation and Immunotherapy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
This grant explores why some people with triple-negative breast cancer respond to a combo of radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy and why others don’t, to guide more personalized treatment.
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Reprogrammed exosome immunotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer
A new treatment approach uses engineered exosomes to stimulate the immune system to fight triple-negative breast cancer in patients.
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Engineered CD4+ T cells targeting KK‑LC‑1 for triple‑negative breast cancer
This project creates engineered CD4+ T cells that recognize the KK‑LC‑1 tumor antigen to help people with HLA‑DR13-positive triple‑negative breast cancer.
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Why some triple-negative breast cancers respond to radiation plus immunotherapy and others resist
This project looks at whether patterns of tumor cell death and immune signals can predict and improve responses to radiation combined with anti-PD1 immunotherapy for people with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer that has spread to lymph nodes.
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New 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.
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.