New Ways to Treat Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Official title: Integrating Low-Cost Paper-Based Devices and Personalized Immunotherapeutics to Treat Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Funded at Delaware State University · NIH-11095734 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to develop new, personalized treatments for triple negative breast cancer, especially for minority populations, using affordable paper-based tools.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Delaware State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dover, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $366,308 |
| NIH project number | 5U54MD015959-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11095734 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer, particularly those from minority populations, would be the primary beneficiaries of this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of breast cancer (ER+, PR+, or HER2+) who already have targeted therapies available would not directly benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
When breast cancer is diagnosed as "triple negative," it means common targeted therapies don't work because the cancer cells lack specific receptors. This leaves patients with more toxic chemotherapy options and often requires drastic surgeries. Our goal is to create personalized immune-boosting treatments that are more effective and less harmful. We are also developing low-cost paper-based devices to help guide these treatments, making them more accessible. This work focuses on improving outcomes for those with this aggressive form of breast cancer, particularly within minority communities who are disproportionately affected.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more effective, less toxic, and personalized treatment options for patients with triple negative breast cancer.
How similar studies have gone: While personalized immunotherapies are a growing field, this specific integration with low-cost paper-based devices for TNBC represents a novel and promising approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Delaware State University
Dover, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Islam, M Shahidul — Delaware State University
- Study coordinator: Islam, M Shahidul
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.