Targeting immune cells (macrophages) to treat triple-negative breast cancer
Targeting tumor-associated macrophages for triple-negative breast cancer treatment
This project looks at whether changing how certain immune cells called macrophages act inside tumors can help treat people with triple-negative breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Duarte, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11230240 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I have triple-negative breast cancer, researchers are trying to reprogram tumor-associated macrophages—immune cells inside my tumor—so they will attack cancer cells instead of protecting them. They will study blocking the "don't eat me" signal CD47 and other pathways using lab experiments, animal models, and analysis of human tumor samples to identify promising approaches. The goal is to develop new immunotherapy strategies and drug combinations that could be tested in people with TNBC. This work is preclinical and translational and aims to lead to future clinical trials rather than offering an immediate treatment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, especially those with advanced or treatment-resistant disease, would be the likely candidates for related clinical trials.
Not a fit: Patients with other breast cancer subtypes or tumors that do not involve tumor-associated macrophages may not benefit directly from these specific approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new immunotherapies that help the immune system clear triple-negative breast tumors and improve outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: Blocking CD47 and other macrophage-targeting strategies have shown promising results in preclinical models and early-phase trials for some cancers, but applying them to TNBC is still an emerging approach.
Where this research is happening
Duarte, United States
- Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope — Duarte, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Feng, Mingye — Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
- Study coordinator: Feng, Mingye
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 below.