Wei Li, PhD, distinguished professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and director of the College of Pharmacy’s Drug Discovery Center, has received a $3.24 million grant from the National Cancer Institute. The five-year award will support the development of a new type of therapy for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat forms of the disease.

Li’s research focuses on developing a new kind of drug designed to attack a cancer-driving protein often found at high levels in triple-negative breast cancer. This protein, MDM2, has been linked to faster tumor growth and worse outcomes for patients. Earlier compounds attempted to stop MDM2 by blocking its interaction with p53, a protein that can trigger cancer cell death when freed from MDM2. However, this approach can activate a feedback loop that causes cells to produce even more MDM2, potentially making tumors more aggressive.

Li’s team is taking a different approach. The researchers have discovered a compound that can break down MDM2 directly, stopping it at the source. In early laboratory models, this new compound has already shown the ability to shrink tumors, offering hope for a more effective treatment.

“This work could lead to an entirely new class of therapies for triple-negative breast cancer,” Dr. Li said. “We’re hopeful that by directly removing the MDM2 protein from cancer cells, we can help more patients respond to treatment regardless of their tumor type.”

If successful, the research could lead to a first-in-class therapy that opens new treatment pathways not only for triple-negative breast cancer, but potentially other cancers where MDM2 is a key driver.