# Investigating serum exosomal annexin A2 in promoting aggressive TNBC in African American women

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR · 2020 · $367,118

## Abstract

Project Abstract
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) affects women of African descent three times more than women of
European descent. African American women with TNBC have poor survival and high mortality rates.
Metastasis to distant vital organs such as bone, lung, and brain is the most devastating feature of TNBC. It is
critical to investigate the molecular mechanism(s) that lead to aggressive disease in patients with TNBC so that
improved therapeutic options can be developed. Emerging evidence suggests that tumor-derived exosomes
are mediators of tumorigenesis and tissue-specific metastasis by contributing to the establishment of a pre-
metastatic niche. Annexin A2 (AnxA2) is an often identified exosomal protein whose elevated levels are seen
in TNBC patient sera and cell lines. Exosomal AnxA2 (exo-AnxA2) is more highly expressed in African
American (AA) TNBC patients than in Caucasian TNBC patients resulting in reduced survival. Our recent data
suggest a role for exo-AnxA2 in establishing a pre-metastatic niche which subsequently promotes breast
cancer metastasis. The long-term goal of our research is to develop improved therapeutic options for
aggressive TNBC that disproportionately affects AA patients. Our hypothesis for the proposed studies is that
exo-AnxA2 is a determinant of the aggressiveness of TNBC metastasis and contributes to poor prognosis in
AA patients with TNBC. The premise for this hypothesis stems from the literature (2, 6-9,11) and our published
data indicating that exo-AnxA2 creates a pre-metastatic niche that may drive aggressive TNBC metastasis.
We will address this hypothesis by the following three specific aims: Aim 1: Evaluate differences in the
association of exo-AnxA2 expression with measures of disease aggressiveness among racially distinct
populations. Aim 2: Determine whether exo-AnxA2 promotes aggressive TNBC metastasis. Aim 3: Determine
the mechanism(s) that drives exo-AnxA2-mediated metastatic niche formation and aggressive tumors in
TNBC. The impact of the proposed studies is the likely identification of a novel secreted and exosomal protein
as a functional regulator of long-range communications between metastatic tumors and the target stromal
microenvironment. Moreover, due to their extracellular location, secreted AnxA2 and partner proteins represent
potential prognostic agents and therapeutic targets. Thus, we expect this research to open up exciting new
avenues of clinical translation in metastasis detection, prognosis, and therapy for TNBC patients.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10001985
- **Project number:** 5R01CA220273-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** JAMBOOR K. VISHWANATHA
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $367,118
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-07-01 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10001985

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10001985, Investigating serum exosomal annexin A2 in promoting aggressive TNBC in African American women (5R01CA220273-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10001985. Licensed CC0.

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