Brain cancer cells and brain cells talk to each other to spread to the brain
Official title: Project I: Systems analysis of tumor-stroma interactions in brain metastasis
Funded at Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research · NIH-11415150 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project uses computer and mouse studies to understand how cancer cells that spread from breast or lung tumors grow in the brain and interact with brain support cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 16, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $681,950 |
| NIH project number | 5U54CA274492-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11415150 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with breast or lung cancer at risk for brain metastases or who have brain metastases may be eligible to benefit from advances stemming from this research.
✕Less likely to help
Some patients may not experience direct benefit if their cancer type or stage differs from those studied, or if findings do not translate into new therapies.
What this research studies
Researchers combine big-picture computer analyses with actual brain tumor samples and animal models to map how metastatic cancer cells colonize the brain. They compare different types of breast and lung cancers, looking at how cancer cells interact with astrocytes, microglia, and the brain’s surrounding tissue. The study aims to uncover the signaling networks and tissue environments that enable brain metastases to take hold. This could reveal targets to disrupt tumor spread and improve brain cancer care. Results will come from integrated analyses of tissue samples and well-characterized mouse models.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new strategies to prevent or slow brain metastases and improve outcomes for patients with breast or lung cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have shown that tumor-stroma interactions influence metastasis and immune responses, supporting this approach as promising but needing further validation.
Where this research is happening
-
Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Massague, Joan — Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
- Study coordinator: Massague, Joan
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.