Understanding New Ways to Fight Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Official title: Mechanistic Evaluation of Macrocyclic Diterpenoids with Selective Triple Negative Breast Cancer Activity
Funded at University of the Incarnate Word · NIH-11193439 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks for new ways to treat triple-negative breast cancer, especially for patients who don't respond well to current chemotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of the Incarnate Word NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Antonio, United States) |
| Project start | September 16, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $166,711 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM154622-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11193439 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research is focused on understanding disease mechanisms and is not currently recruiting patients for direct participation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose breast cancer is not triple-negative would likely not benefit from this specific line of research.
What this research studies
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a challenging disease because it lacks common targets for therapy, making chemotherapy the main treatment. Many patients find that chemotherapy alone isn't enough, especially in later stages. Our project explores natural compounds, specifically yuanhuacine, to see if they can specifically target certain types of TNBC cells. We want to understand exactly how yuanhuacine works at a molecular level to kill these cancer cells, focusing on a specific protein pathway. This knowledge could help us develop more effective and targeted treatments for TNBC.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new, more targeted treatment options for patients with triple-negative breast cancer, especially those who don't respond to current chemotherapy.
How similar studies have gone: This project builds on preliminary findings that identified yuanhuacine as a potential agent, but its specific mechanisms of action are novel and currently being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fermaintt, Charles Steven — University of the Incarnate Word
- Study coordinator: Fermaintt, Charles Steven
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Genomic study to understand how genetics and epigenetics shape triple-negative breast cancer in African ancestry
This study looks at how inherited genes and gene activity affect triple-negative breast cancer in people of African ancestry to better understand why outcomes can be worse.
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Co-Targeting IL-6 and CDK4/6 to Prevent TNBC in Women Veterans
A study aims to block two cancer-promoting pathways (IL-6 and CDK4/6) to prevent or reduce progression of triple-negative breast cancer in women veterans.
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Linking heavy metal exposure to a tougher breast cancer type (TNBC)
Aimed at understanding how heavy metals like cadmium might trigger a dangerous breast cancer type (TNBC) in people, especially those with BRCA1 risk, to identify possible future treatment strategies.
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Dormancy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: How Liver and Skin Metastases Go Quiet or Reactivate
Researchers will study how dormant cancer cells in liver and skin metastases of triple-negative breast cancer become quiescent or wake up, using organ-on-chip models and single-cell analysis to map chromatin states.
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Rac-enhanced CAR-Macrophages against TNBC
A new cell therapy approach uses engineered macrophages with a CAR and Rac2 activation to target and kill triple-negative breast cancer cells expressing CSPG4.
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A new peptide therapy to help treat metastatic triple-negative breast cancer
A new peptide therapy called PEG-FUD is being tested to help treat metastatic triple-negative breast cancer by normalizing the tumor environment to improve treatment delivery.
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.