How an immune signal in brain support cells helps breast cancer spread to the brain
Official title: Interrogating Type I Interferon signaling in breast cancer brain metastasis
Funded at Research Inst of Fox Chase Can Ctr · NIH-11415817 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether a specific immune signal in brain support cells (astrocytes) helps breast cancer cells grow in the brain, aiming to help people with breast cancer that has spread to the brain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Research Inst of Fox Chase Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $546,142 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA279117-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11415817 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with breast cancer brain metastases, or those willing to donate tumor tissue or blood samples for research, would be most relevant.
✕Less likely to help
People without breast cancer or without brain metastases are unlikely to gain direct benefit from participation in this preclinical-focused project.
What this research studies
Researchers will use animal models and cell studies to study Type I interferon signaling in astrocytes, the brain cells that surround tumors. They will test how activated interferon in astrocytes may attract immune cells and change the tumor environment to help cancer grow. The team will measure interferon activity at different stages of brain metastasis and use experimental interventions to see if blocking this signal reduces tumor growth in the brain. Findings will be compared with human tumor or tissue samples when available to make results more relevant to patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new targets to prevent or slow breast cancer growth in the brain.
How similar studies have gone: While Type I interferon is known to fight tumors in some settings, the idea that interferon-active astrocytes help brain metastases is relatively new and not yet proven in patients.
Where this research is happening
-
Research Inst of Fox Chase Can Ctr
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Qing — Research Inst of Fox Chase Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Chen, Qing
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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.