Translational breast cancer research to improve treatment options
Official title: Translational Research in Breast Cancer
Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-11616352 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A comprehensive program at Baylor College of Medicine is focusing on breast cancer; researchers will advance targeted therapies and biomarkers to help patients with aggressive or hard-to-treat forms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2014 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $748,381 |
| NIH project number | 3P50CA186784-10S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11616352 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include individuals with ER+ breast cancer exhibiting NF1 loss or PTPN12-deficient tumors, and patients with MYC-positive breast cancer.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without these specific genetic or molecular features may see less direct benefit.
What this research studies
This grant supports multiple projects under a SPORE framework to push forward breast cancer therapies, including targeting tumor suppressor loss and exploring new drugs like an IRE1 inhibitor. Researchers will study how NF1 loss and PTPN12 deficiency affect tumor biology and the immune environment, with an eye toward identifying blood biomarkers of NF1 deficiency. The work also aims to develop and test therapeutic strategies for MYC-positive breast cancer and to understand how tumor-associated macrophages influence treatment efficacy. Immunological approaches will be integrated to enhance treatment regimens for patients with metastatic disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive more effective, tailored therapies and better biomarkers to guide treatment decisions.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research in targeted therapies and immunotherapy for breast cancer has shown promise, supporting continued exploration in these areas.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Xiang — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Xiang
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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.