Treating VISTA-positive triple-negative breast cancer
Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic principles of VISTA+ triple-negative breast cancers
Researchers are seeing if blocking both the outside and inside parts of the immune receptor VISTA can restore immune activity and slow growth in people with VISTA-high triple-negative breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11298945 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project focuses on triple-negative breast cancers that strongly express the immune receptor VISTA. Scientists will map how VISTA’s inside tail binds adaptor proteins and disrupts normal receptor trafficking by studying patient tumor samples, laboratory cell models, and animal experiments. They will test strategies that target both VISTA’s external surface and its internal signaling to try to restore immune function and tumor receptor activity. The goal is to translate these molecular findings into new therapeutic approaches that could enter clinical testing.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with triple-negative breast cancer whose tumors show high VISTA expression, particularly those with advanced or metastatic disease.
Not a fit: People whose tumors do not overexpress VISTA or who have other types of breast cancer are unlikely to benefit from VISTA-targeted approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that help the immune system attack VISTA-high TNBC and slow tumor growth.
How similar studies have performed: Antibodies against VISTA’s external domain are already in early clinical trials, but targeting VISTA’s intracellular signaling is a new and largely untested approach.
Where this research is happening
Dallas, United States
- Ut Southwestern Medical Center — Dallas, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gruber, Joshua James — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Gruber, Joshua James
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.