Endocrine therapy and radiation work together to reduce brain metastases
Official title: Mechanisms of endocrine therapy and radiation synergism to decrease brain metastases
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11398946 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to understand how hormone therapy and radiation together help the body fight breast cancer that has spread to the brain, especially in younger women.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,661,609 |
| NIH project number | 4R01CA290813-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11398946 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients with breast cancer at risk for or with brain metastases, particularly younger women and those with endocrine therapy exposure.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without brain metastases or those not receiving endocrine therapy or radiotherapy may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at how the body's hormones and radiation interact to control cancer cells in the brain. Researchers will study how endocrine therapies used for breast cancer affect brain cells and immune responses when combined with radiation in models that resemble a patient’s condition. The team plans to use immunocompetent models to observe changes in tumor growth, immune cell recruitment, and antigen presentation in the brain tumor microenvironment. The ultimate goal is to translate these findings into better treatment strategies for patients facing brain metastases from breast cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to more effective treatment regimens that reduce brain metastases and improve survival for patients with breast cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data suggest synergy between endocrine therapy and radiotherapy improves anti-tumor responses in brain metastasis models, but this exact combination in immune-competent systems is still being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cittelly, Diana M. — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Cittelly, Diana M.
Related research
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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.