Tracing how HER2 levels change in breast cancer
Mapping the origin of HER2 plasticity in breast cancer
Researchers are looking at how breast cancer cells switch HER2 levels to help people with HER2-positive, HER2-low, or triple-negative breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11269180 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my perspective, the team will work with tumor samples and circulating tumor cells taken from patients to see when and how HER2 protein levels rise or fall. They will grow patient-derived cells in the lab and use molecular assays such as ATAC-seq to study changes in the cell’s DNA packaging that turn HER2 on or off. The project will test how these switching behaviors affect response to HER2-targeted antibody-drug conjugates. Ultimately they aim to find ways to increase or exploit HER2 expression so more patients can benefit from targeted therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with primary or metastatic breast cancer that is HER2-positive, HER2-low, or triple-negative who can provide tumor tissue or blood samples (for circulating tumor cells).
Not a fit: Patients with cancers unrelated to HER2 biology or who cannot provide tissue or blood samples are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help expand the number of patients who benefit from HER2-targeted therapies by showing how to make tumors more vulnerable to those drugs.
How similar studies have performed: Prior lab studies have shown that breast cancer cells can switch HER2 status and that antibody-drug conjugates can work against HER2-low tumors, but the precise molecular mechanisms remain novel and are still being worked out.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Spangle, Jennifer Marie — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Spangle, Jennifer Marie
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.