Targeting the tumor environment in patients with aggressive breast cancer to prevent relapse
Official title: Therapeutic targeting of the tumor microenvironment in triple negative breast cancer patients at high risk of relapse and preclinical models of lung metastases
Funded at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic · NIH-11051483 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a drug called tetrathiomolybdate can help people with triple negative breast cancer by lowering copper levels in the body, which might stop the cancer from spreading, and it will involve patients taking this drug along with their usual treatments to see if it helps prevent the cancer from coming back.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lebanon, United States) |
| Project start | March 19, 2025 |
| Project end | February 28, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $442,343 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA290013-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11051483 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer who are at high risk of relapse.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-triple negative breast cancer or those who are not at high risk for relapse may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on improving outcomes for patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) by targeting the tumor microenvironment that supports cancer spread. The approach involves using a drug called tetrathiomolybdate (TM) to deplete copper levels, which is believed to disrupt processes that allow cancer cells to invade and metastasize. The study will include a small phase Ib trial where patients will receive TM alongside standard treatments to assess its effectiveness in preventing cancer relapse. Patients will be monitored for changes in specific biomarkers and overall health outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the risk of cancer relapse in patients with triple negative breast cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results with similar approaches, particularly in reducing relapse rates in high-risk breast cancer patients.
Where this research is happening
-
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic
Lebanon, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vahdat, Linda Theresa — Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic
- Study coordinator: Vahdat, Linda Theresa
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Changing the tumor environment to prevent relapse and lung spread in triple negative breast cancer
This project gives a long‑term copper‑lowering medicine called tetrathiomolybdate to people with high‑risk triple negative breast cancer alongside standard chemotherapy and immunotherapy to help stop cancer from coming back.
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Genomic study to understand how genetics and epigenetics shape triple-negative breast cancer in African ancestry
This study looks at how inherited genes and gene activity affect triple-negative breast cancer in people of African ancestry to better understand why outcomes can be worse.
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Co-Targeting IL-6 and CDK4/6 to Prevent TNBC in Women Veterans
A study aims to block two cancer-promoting pathways (IL-6 and CDK4/6) to prevent or reduce progression of triple-negative breast cancer in women veterans.
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Linking heavy metal exposure to a tougher breast cancer type (TNBC)
Aimed at understanding how heavy metals like cadmium might trigger a dangerous breast cancer type (TNBC) in people, especially those with BRCA1 risk, to identify possible future treatment strategies.
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Dormancy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: How Liver and Skin Metastases Go Quiet or Reactivate
Researchers will study how dormant cancer cells in liver and skin metastases of triple-negative breast cancer become quiescent or wake up, using organ-on-chip models and single-cell analysis to map chromatin states.
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Rac-enhanced CAR-Macrophages against TNBC
A new cell therapy approach uses engineered macrophages with a CAR and Rac2 activation to target and kill triple-negative breast cancer cells expressing CSPG4.
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.