Breast cancer signals that drive spread to the brain
Official title: Role of breast cancer secreted miRNA in brain metastasis
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11262265 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether tiny RNA messages released by breast tumors change brain cells and appear in blood to help prevent or treat breast cancer that spreads to the brain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | March 4, 2022 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $410,634 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA266486-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11262265 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with breast cancer—especially those at high risk for or already diagnosed with brain metastases—who can provide blood samples or clinical information would be most relevant to this work.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without breast cancer or those who require immediate standard-of-care treatments rather than participation in research are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
Researchers will study how breast cancer cells release small RNA molecules (miRNA) that can reprogram the energy use of brain cells such as neurons and astrocytes. They will test the effects of these tumor-derived miRNAs in laboratory and animal models and try strategies to protect the brain from metastatic growth. The team will also examine patient blood samples to see if these miRNAs can serve as a blood-based biomarker for brain metastasis. If successful, the work could point to ways to detect brain-homing cancer earlier and to therapies that block the tumor–brain communication.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could enable blood tests to detect breast cancers likely to spread to the brain and identify new treatments that protect the brain from metastasis.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown tumor miRNAs can alter nearby cells and sometimes be measured in blood, but using them to predict or block brain metastasis remains largely experimental.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Shizhen Emily — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Wang, Shizhen Emily
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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.