Why some HER2-positive breast cancers survive targeted therapy
Molecular ontology of drug tolerant persisters in HER2 positive breast cancer - Resubmission - 1
This project looks for the specific cancer cells that survive HER2-targeted drugs in people with HER2-positive breast cancer to find ways to stop drug resistance.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11251236 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are examining tumor cells from HER2-positive breast cancers and lab-grown cell models to find 'drug-tolerant persisters'—the rare cells that survive HER2-targeted drugs. They use genetic and molecular profiling to group surviving cells into 'luminal' or 'mesenchymal' types and track whether these cells come from dormant (G0) cells. The team also looks at tumor samples from patients treated with HER2 tyrosine kinase inhibitors to see if the same persister cells appear in people. By mapping the molecular features of these persisters, scientists hope to spot weak points that new therapies could target to stop resistance.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with HER2-positive breast cancer, especially those receiving or who have received HER2-targeted drugs (such as TKIs) or showing early drug resistance, would be most relevant.
Not a fit: Patients whose tumors are not HER2-positive or who are not treated with HER2-targeted therapies are unlikely to be helped directly by this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to treatments that prevent relapse by eliminating the cells that survive HER2-targeted therapy.
How similar studies have performed: Related studies in EGFR-mutant lung cancer and BRAF-mutant melanoma have shown drug-tolerant persister cells can drive resistance, but applying these findings to HER2-positive breast cancer is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- New York University School of Medicine — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Skok, Jane Amanda — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Skok, Jane Amanda
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.