# Therapeutic Targeting of Breast Cancer Tumor Initiating Cells

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · 2021 · $413,297

## Abstract

PROJECT ABSTRACT
Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC), if considered its own disease type, would rank as the 5th leading cause
of cancer deaths in women in the USA. The main systemic treatment option for these patients in the adjuvant
setting is multi-agent chemotherapy, and now since early 2019, immunotherapy plus chemotherapy is an option
for PDL1-positive metastatic patients. TNBC is also known to be biologically heterogeneous, with multiple
genomically-defined subtypes present. We hypothesize that much of this heterogeneity actually represents
cellular plasticity, and that some TNBC subtypes can actually morph from one subtype into another. We
hypothesize that this plasticity is a key determinant of chemotherapy responsiveness, immune checkpoint
inhibitor sensitivity, and metastatic potential. Furthermore, we hypothesize that if we are able to keep, or promote,
a tumor into the basal-like state, there may be both a change in the immune microenvironment and increased
therapy sensitivity. We will test these hypotheses by using novel combinations of drugs, in vitro screens, and in
vivo testing of metastasis vs primary tumor sensitivity using Genetically Engineered Mouse models and human
tumor specimens.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10122086
- **Project number:** 2R01CA148761-11
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- **Principal Investigator:** CHARLES M PEROU
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $413,297
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2010-03-17 → 2026-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10122086

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10122086, Therapeutic Targeting of Breast Cancer Tumor Initiating Cells (2R01CA148761-11). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10122086. Licensed CC0.

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