Why some breast cancers in Hispanic/Latino people block the immune system
Official title: The role of immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment in Hispanic/Latino patients with breast cancer
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-11143014 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $267,770 |
| NIH project number | 5P20CA290458-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11143014 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21+) of Hispanic/Latino background with breast cancer who can provide blood samples and allow access to tumor tissue and medical records.
✕Less likely to help
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.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
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
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Combined targeting of DNA repair and macrophage immunosuppression in BRCA-associated breast cancer
A study for people with BRCA-related breast cancer exploring a combination treatment that blocks DNA repair and tampers down immune-suppressing cells to help the body's immune response fight the cancer.
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Stress-related hormonal signals and immune response in a specific breast cancer type
A study in triple-negative breast cancer looks at how stress hormones may weaken the body's immune attack and whether blocking those signals could improve cancer treatment.
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Investigating how stress affects the immune response in aggressive breast cancer.
This study is looking at how stress affects the immune system's ability to fight triple negative breast cancer and hopes to find ways, like using certain medications, to make treatments work better for patients dealing with this type of cancer.
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How the immune environment affects breast cancer in Hispanic/Latino people
This project looks at how immune-suppressing cells and signals in tumors differ in Hispanic/Latino adults with breast cancer to help guide better treatments.
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Immune suppression and social factors in breast cancer
This project looks at how immune-suppressing cells in breast tumors and patients' social conditions relate to outcomes for people with breast cancer.
-
Combining DNA-repair targeting and blocking suppressive immune cells in BRCA1/2 breast cancer
This project combines PARP inhibitor treatment with drugs that block tumor-associated macrophages to help people with BRCA1 or BRCA2 breast cancer generate a stronger immune attack against their tumors and improve cancer control.
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.