Understanding and treating radiation resistance in aggressive breast cancer
Official title: Mechanisms and Therapy of Radiation Resistance in Breast Cancer
Funded at Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester · NIH-11094904 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for new ways to help breast cancer patients, especially those with triple negative breast cancer, respond better to radiation treatment by understanding how some tumor signals make it harder for the radiation to work, and finding ways to block those signals to improve their treatment results.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Worcester, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $526,484 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA285607-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11094904 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 undergoing or considering radiation therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-triple negative breast cancer or those not receiving radiation therapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing new therapies to help breast cancer patients, particularly those with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), respond better to radiation treatment. The team will investigate how certain signals in tumor cells contribute to resistance against radiation therapy. By using advanced models derived from actual patient tumors, they aim to identify mechanisms that lead to this resistance and explore ways to block these signals using available clinical therapies. This approach could significantly improve treatment outcomes for patients facing this challenging cancer type.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective radiation therapies for patients with triple negative breast cancer, improving their chances of recovery.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in targeting similar pathways in cancer treatment, suggesting that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
Worcester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mercurio, Arthur M — Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
- Study coordinator: Mercurio, Arthur M
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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.