Breast cancer brain mets: guiding CAR T therapy with focused ultrasound
Official title: Breast Cancer Brain Metastasis Therapy by Focused Ultrasound-Guided Control of HER2 CAR T cells
Funded at Georgia Institute of Technology · NIH-11329071 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new approach uses focused ultrasound guided by MRI to help CAR T cells target HER2-positive breast cancer that has spread to the brain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Georgia Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | June 8, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $655,363 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA273878-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11329071 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with HER2-positive breast cancer that has metastasized to the brain and may be eligible for next-step therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without brain metastases or those unsuitable for CAR T cell therapy may not benefit.
What this research studies
If your breast cancer has spread to the brain, this project tests a method to improve delivery and effectiveness of CAR T cell therapy using MRI-guided focused ultrasound. The goal is to increase CAR T cell infiltration into brain tumors, address tumor heterogeneity, and reduce off-target effects. The study will explore how this combination works in preclinical and early clinical contexts to overcome the unique challenges of brain metastases. The research is led by Konstantinos-Costas Arvanitis at Georgia Tech and aims to translate promising biology into safer, more effective care for patients with brain metastases from HER2-positive breast cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could make CAR T therapy for brain metastases safer and more effective, potentially extending survival and improving quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows some anti-tumor responses with CAR T cells in brain tumors, but challenges with delivery and heterogeneity remain; this study builds on that by combining MR-guided focused ultrasound with CAR T therapy.
Where this research is happening
-
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Arvanitis, Konstantinos-Costas — Georgia Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Arvanitis, Konstantinos-Costas
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Using focused ultrasound to enhance CAR T cell therapy for breast cancer that has spread to the brain
This study is exploring a new way to help people with HER2-positive breast cancer that has spread to the brain by using focused ultrasound to make CAR T cell therapy work better, aiming to improve treatment success while reducing side effects.
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NRG3 and breast cancer brain metastasis: what drives spread to the brain and how to stop it
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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.