Why some triple-negative breast cancers resist chemotherapy
Investigating mechanisms of chemoresistance in triple-negative breast cancer
This research explores whether changes in the tumor’s surrounding support tissue (the extracellular matrix) and a protein called Cathepsin B change how chemotherapy works for people with triple-negative breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tufts University Medford NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11251640 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
As someone affected by triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), this project looks at why chemotherapy sometimes fails to kill tumor cells and can even promote later spread. Researchers will use 3-D tumor models and tumor samples to study specific extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and the protease Cathepsin B (CTSB) that breaks them down. They will test how these ECM changes and CTSB levels affect response to the chemotherapy drug paclitaxel and tumor cell movement. The work aims to connect tumor microenvironment changes to chemoresistance and chemotherapy-induced metastasis.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with triple-negative breast cancer or patients willing to donate tumor tissue or participate in related translational studies.
Not a fit: People with non–triple-negative breast cancers or those seeking immediate treatment changes should not expect direct, immediate benefit from this primarily lab-based project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to make chemotherapy more effective for people with TNBC or identify markers that predict who will respond.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have linked ECM remodeling and cell migration to chemoresistance, but targeting ECM components and CTSB in TNBC is a relatively new and mostly preclinical approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, UNITED STATES
- Tufts University Medford — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Oudin, Madeleine Julie — Tufts University Medford
- Study coordinator: Oudin, Madeleine Julie
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.