Targeting cell-division proteins in aggressive triple-negative breast cancer in Hispanic/Latina patients
Official title: Targeting centrosome‐mitotic kinases as a novel therapeutic approach against breast cancers in Hispanic/Latinas.
Funded at Ponce School of Medicine · NIH-11223349 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests drugs that block two cell-division proteins (TTK and NEK2) to try to slow or stop aggressive triple-negative breast cancer, especially in Hispanic/Latina and people with African ancestry.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ponce School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ponce, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $239,942 |
| NIH project number | 3R01CA266046-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11223349 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with triple-negative (ER-/PR-/HER2-) breast cancer, particularly Hispanic/Latina patients or those with significant African genomic ancestry in the Tampa or Puerto Rico catchment areas.
✕Less likely to help
People with non–triple-negative breast cancer subtypes or tumors without TTK/NEK2 dysregulation are unlikely to benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
I would be part of work that focuses on two proteins, TTK and NEK2, which help cancer cells divide and spread. The team analyzes tumor samples from patients in Puerto Rico and Tampa to see how these proteins are expressed and linked to aggressive disease. They test blocking these proteins in lab models to see if tumors grow, move, or respond to drugs differently. The goal is to connect lab findings to patient tumors and identify treatments that might work better for people in these communities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to targeted therapies that reduce tumor spread and improve outcomes for people with triple-negative breast cancer in the affected communities.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical lab studies by the team show promise—blocking TTK and NEK2 reduced cancer cell migration and restored drug sensitivity in cell models—but clinical benefit in patients remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
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Ponce School of Medicine
Ponce, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Saavedra, Harold I — Ponce School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Saavedra, Harold I
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.