VII FERO-MANGO Project – Dr. Mafalda Oliveira

The VII FERO-MANGO Grant in breast cancer, led by Dr. Mafalda Oliveira from VHIO, aims to develop a new digital tool to help determine the most appropriate treatment for patients with early triple-negative breast cancer (eTNBC).

Currently, the combination of pembrolizumab and neoadjuvant immunotherapy (before surgery) has been shown to improve outcomes in these patients, achieving complete tumor responses, increased event-free survival, and better overall survival. However, not all patients respond equally, and some may suffer significant side effects.

This project focuses on identifying immunological biomarkers that can predict treatment response. To do this, changes in immune cells, especially T lymphocytes, will be studied throughout the therapy. Researchers will track the evolution of T-cell receptor (TCR) clonotypes in blood and tumor tissue samples, analyzing how these changes relate to treatment success.

The ultimate goal is to create a digital clinical support tool that allows for the selection of the optimal neoadjuvant treatment for each eTNBC patient. This initiative seeks not only to improve clinical outcomes but also to enhance patients’ quality of life, reduce unnecessary side effects, and alleviate the burden on the healthcare system.