Shifting the balance between IFN-I and TGF-beta to improve cancer therapy
Funded at Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru · NIH-11415622 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aiming to help people with aggressive triple-negative breast cancer by tweaking immune signals in the tumor environment to make the cancer less aggressive and more responsive to therapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | September 13, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $400,890 |
| NIH project number | 5P01CA272161-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11415622 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with aggressive triple-negative breast cancer or at high risk of recurrence in the TNBC subtype.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without TNBC or those not affected by tumor microenvironment signaling might not experience direct benefit.
What this research studies
This grant explores how two cytokines, IFN-beta and TGF-beta, interact in the tumor environment of triple-negative breast cancer to influence cancer cell behavior and immune response. By understanding and modifying this balance, researchers hope to reverse harmful stem-like changes in cancer cells and re-activate anti-tumor immunity. The work involves studying the signaling pathways that control differentiation and immune activity, with the goal of identifying targets to improve treatment responses. The findings could guide new therapeutic strategies that complement existing treatments in TNBC patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with aggressive TNBC could gain more effective treatment options that reduce metastasis and therapy resistance.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research supports targeting TGF-beta and IFN signaling as a promising approach in solid tumors, with ongoing exploration in TNBC.
Where this research is happening
-
Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jackson, Mark W. — Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
- Study coordinator: Jackson, Mark W.
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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.