This federal Project Grant award from the National Cancer Institute (CFDA 93.395 - Cancer Treatment Research) provides $516,114 to The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to conduct a clinical trial investigating the impact of immediate lymphatic reconstruction (ILR) surgery on preventing lymphedema development in patients with inflammatory breast cancer (IBC).
The key products and services to be delivered under this grant include:
Conducting near-infrared fluorescent lymphatic imaging (NIRF-LI) to longitudinally assess changes in lymphatic vessel anatomy and function in IBC patients who undergo ILR surgery.
Analyzing blood samples from study participants to identify an inflammation-related biomarker signature associated with lymphedema development.
Preparing manuscripts to publish the results of this research evaluating ILR as a preventative strategy for lymphedema in high-risk IBC patients.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston is serving as a sub-awardee, responsible for various tasks such as NIRF-LI imaging data analysis, blood sample processing and cytokine/chemokine assays, and manuscript preparation. This 5-year project is expected to provide critical insights into using ILR to mitigate the development of this debilitating condition in IBC survivors.