# Project 1-Immunogenomic diversity in triple negative breast cancer health disparities

> **NIH NIH P20** · LSU HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER · 2020 · $222,876

## Abstract

ABSTRACT- Project 1
The incidence of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) in Louisiana is among the highest in the nation,
particularly among African American (AA) women. AA women are also at high risk of obesity compared to
European-American (EA). These apparently separate conditions may be linked by genetics, epigenetics and
chronic inflammation. TNBC is a genetically heterogeneous group of diseases that includes multiple molecular
subtypes based on transcript expression and somatic mutations. These subtypes respond differently to
standard chemotherapy but are not yet routinely in clinical practice and it is unknown how well they apply to AA
patients. Our preliminary data and the literature show that molecular signatures as well as inflammatory cells
and T cells infiltrating TNBC may provide important prognostic information. As a part of this P20 Planning
Grant project, we will explore the relationships between race, ancestry, tumor molecular portraits and
immunological biomarkers in TNBC patients from Louisiana, as well as the possible role of obesity in modifying
tumor immunity. Specifically, we wish to: 1) Retrospectively determine whether the molecular portraits of
TNBC and/or the expression of immunological biomarkers differ between EA and AA patients, and
whether obesity is associated with unfavorable immunological biomarkers irrespective of race and 2)
Prospectively characterize and compare genomic and immunological portraits and response to
neoadjuvant treatment of stage II/II TNBC tumors from EA versus AA patients, obese versus non-
obese, and pre- versus post-treatment samples in cases that do not achieve pCR. These data will
provide the basis for the development of novel clinically actionable biomarkers applicable to AA patients with
TNBC and common comorbidities such as obesity. Additionally, this data can be used to inform decisions
regarding prevention strategies, and to optimize treatment for underserved patients. As novel treatments such
as immunotherapy become part of the therapeutic arsenal, our data will form the basis for hypothesis-driven
studies of clinically informative biomarkers in our patient population.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10005253
- **Project number:** 5P20CA233374-03
- **Recipient organization:** LSU HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Lucio Miele
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $222,876
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-19 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10005253

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10005253, Project 1-Immunogenomic diversity in triple negative breast cancer health disparities (5P20CA233374-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10005253. Licensed CC0.

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