Why some breast cancers in Hispanic/Latino people block the immune system
The role of immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment in Hispanic/Latino patients with breast cancer
This project looks at how breast tumors in Hispanic/Latino adults block immune responses by analyzing blood and tumor samples to find clues that might guide treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11143014 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be asked to provide blood and, when available, tumor tissue and to allow access to your medical records so researchers can combine clinical information with lab data. The team will use multi-omics tests (for example DNA, RNA, and immune cell profiling) to map the tumor microenvironment and identify signals that suppress immunity. The work focuses on Hispanic/Latino patients to find differences in immune response that might affect how well immunotherapies work. Findings could point to markers or strategies to improve treatment choices for under-represented patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21+) of Hispanic/Latino background with breast cancer who can provide blood samples and allow access to tumor tissue and medical records.
Not a fit: People without breast cancer, non-Hispanic/Latino individuals, or patients unwilling or unable to provide samples and records are unlikely to gain direct benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal markers or targets that help clinicians choose or improve immunotherapy for Hispanic/Latino breast cancer patients.
How similar studies have performed: Immune profiling and multi-omics have identified useful biomarkers in other breast cancer populations, but focused research in Hispanic/Latino patients is limited and this project builds on those methods.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, UNITED STATES
- University of Southern California — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Roussos Torres, Evanthia Theodosiou — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Roussos Torres, Evanthia Theodosiou
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.