# Reprogramming Exosomes for Novel Immunotherapy of Triple Negative Breast Cancer

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · 2024 · $487,588

## Abstract

Abstract
 Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for approximately 15-20% of breast cancers and is the most
aggressive subtype of breast cancer. Given little efficacy for existing therapeutic regimens against a significant
number of TNBC patients and continuously developed resistance of TNBC cells to chemotherapy, novel
treatment strategies with significantly enhanced potency and safety are still urgently required to address unmet
medical needs. Exosomes are natural membranous vesicles secreted by many types of cells and possess many
important and invaluable features for drug development. By harnessing these unique biological and
pharmacological properties of exosomes, we are aimed to develop innovative synthetic exosomes as a highly
potent form of therapeutics with excellent safety profiles for treatment of TNBC. Aim 1 will be design, generation,
and characterization of engineered exosomes that can potently activate TNBC-specific antitumor immunity. Aim
2 will be creation and evaluation of reprogrammed exosomes that can specifically induce immune responses
toward TNBC tumors. Aim 3 will be elucidation of mechanism(s) of action for identified lead immunotherapeutic
exosomes. Successful completion of this project will result in a new class of immunotherapeutics with excellent
pharmacological properties, leading to rapid translation into clinical applications and a paradigm shift in TNBC
therapy.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10899640
- **Project number:** 5R01CA276240-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Yong Zhang
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $487,588
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-08-04 → 2028-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10899640

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10899640, Reprogramming Exosomes for Novel Immunotherapy of Triple Negative Breast Cancer (5R01CA276240-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10899640. Licensed CC0.

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