Understanding how RANKL affects immune functions in breast cancer with bone metastasis
Official title: Mechanisms and therapeutic targeting of osteoimmune functions of RANKL in breast cancer
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11056692 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a protein called RANKL affects the immune system in people with breast cancer that has spread to the bones, with the goal of finding better treatment options that can help fight both the cancer and its effects on the bones.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $417,719 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA271056-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11056692 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with breast cancer that has metastasized to the bone.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage breast cancer or those without bone metastasis may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of RANKL, a protein involved in bone metabolism, in the context of breast cancer that has spread to the bones. It focuses on how RANKL influences immune cells, particularly promoting a type of immune cell that suppresses the body's ability to fight cancer. By exploring the signaling mechanisms that lead to these changes, the research aims to develop new combination therapies that can better target both the cancer and its supportive environment in the bones. Patients may benefit from insights that could lead to more effective treatments for breast cancer with bone metastasis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies that improve treatment outcomes for patients with breast cancer that has spread to the bones.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in targeting immune pathways in cancer, suggesting that this approach may lead to significant advancements.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ponnazhagan, Selvarangan — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Ponnazhagan, Selvarangan
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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.