How brain support cells' recycling affects breast cancer spread to the brain
Official title: Roles of Glial Autophagy in Breast Cancer Brain Metastasis
Funded at Ohio State University · NIH-11409057 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether blocking a cell-recycling process in brain support cells can prevent or slow breast cancer that spreads to the brain in people with breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $392,322 |
| NIH project number | 7R01CA273586-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11409057 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is most relevant to people with breast cancer who have brain metastases or are at high risk for cancer spreading to the brain.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers that are not breast cancer, or those with widespread illness unlikely to be helped by brain-directed strategies, may not benefit from this work.
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers are studying how brain support cells called astrocytes use a recycling process (autophagy) when breast cancer cells reach the brain. They use mouse models that mimic breast cancer brain metastases and genetic tools to turn off autophagy specifically in those brain cells, then watch how tumors start and grow. The team also studies a cancer signaling pathway called Stat3 to see how cancer cells and astrocytes interact. Findings are compared to human-relevant samples and cells to help connect the mouse work to human disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent or slow breast cancer brain metastases and improve outcomes for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show autophagy can influence cancer behavior, but targeting astrocyte autophagy for breast cancer brain metastasis is a relatively new approach with limited prior clinical success.
Where this research is happening
-
Ohio State University
Columbus, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Chenran — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Wang, Chenran
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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.