Targeted gene therapy to boost immune attack on breast cancer tumors
Official title: Novel gene delivery to modulate the tumor microenvironment and antigen-specific antitumor immunity
Funded at Methodist Hospital Research Institute · NIH-11353908 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new gene therapy approach uses a tumor-targeted virus to trigger cancer cell death and help the immune system attack breast cancer, including hard-to-treat metastases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Methodist Hospital Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $610,783 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA283580-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11353908 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with breast cancer (including triple-negative types) who could benefit from experimental immunotherapy approaches and whose disease characteristics align with tumor-targeted gene delivery.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without accessible tumor targets or those who cannot receive viral-based therapies may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses a tumor-targeted adenovirus to deliver HSV-TK, a suicide gene, directly to breast cancer cells and combines it with an antibody-based immune therapy to release tumor antigens. By turning suppressive immune cells into cancer-fighting cells, the treatment aims to create a more welcoming environment for the body’s own defenses to attack cancer. The approach relies on a viral vector that concentrates in the tumor and minimizes spread to other organs, with the goal of safer, more effective therapy. Researchers will test this strategy in breast cancer models, including patient-derived samples, to gauge how well it reshapes the tumor microenvironment and mobilizes anti-tumor immunity.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could lead to a new, targeted therapy that helps the immune system fight breast cancer more effectively and reduce metastasis.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies using tumor-targeted gene therapy and immune checkpoint strategies have shown promise, but this combination in breast cancer is still exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
Methodist Hospital Research Institute
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Shu-Hsia — Methodist Hospital Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Chen, Shu-Hsia
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.