Understanding and treating radiation resistance in aggressive breast cancer

Mechanisms and Therapy of Radiation Resistance in Breast Cancer

NIH-funded research Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester · NIH-11094904

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 typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniv of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Worcester, United States)
Project IDNIH-11094904 on NIH RePORTER

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.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer who are undergoing or considering radiation therapy.

Not a fit: Patients with non-triple negative breast cancer or those not receiving radiation therapy may not benefit from this research.

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 performed: Previous research has shown promise in targeting similar pathways in cancer treatment, suggesting that this approach could be effective.

Where this research is happening

Worcester, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions aggressive breast cancerBreast CancerBreast Cancer Cell
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.