PTP1b Inhibition to Boost Anti-Tumor Response During Chemotherapy in Advanced Breast Cancer
Official title: PTP1b Inhibition Restores the Innate Anti-tumor Response During Chemotherapy
Funded at University of Kentucky · NIH-11417926 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to see if blocking a cellular protein called PTP1b can improve the body’s immune response against breast cancer when patients receive chemotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kentucky NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lexington, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $329,306 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA262241-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11417926 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with advanced breast cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy and are able to participate in research activities or provide biological samples.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not receiving chemotherapy or those unable to participate in research procedures may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at how chemotherapy interacts with the immune system and whether adding a PTP1b inhibitor can enhance the body’s innate anti-tumor signals. Researchers will study how tumor cells may suppress immune responses and whether blocking this pathway can restore macrophage activity and inflammatory signaling during treatment. The study will use laboratory models that reflect human breast cancer to understand the mechanism and potential benefits before moving to patient-focused steps. If results are promising, it could guide new combination strategies to help more patients respond to chemotherapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more effective chemotherapy regimens for advanced breast cancer by boosting the patient’s own immune response against tumors.
How similar studies have gone: Early research suggests that combining immune modulation with chemotherapy can enhance anti-tumor activity in some contexts, but this exact mechanism is being tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kentucky
Lexington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ubil, Eric S — University of Kentucky
- Study coordinator: Ubil, Eric S
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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.