How cells in the brain help cancer spread to the brain
Multi-cellular interactions defining the human brain metastatic niche
This work looks at how cancer cells and brain cells interact to cause brain metastases in people with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11310838 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will study tumor and brain metastasis tissue from people with advanced non-small cell lung cancer using single-cell RNA sequencing, T cell receptor profiling, and spatial transcriptomics. They will use a new analysis tool called ContactTracing to map which cells talk to each other in the brain metastatic microenvironment and look for signs of chromosomal instability that might drive spread to the brain. The team will compare these results with public datasets and a larger validation group of patient samples to confirm findings. Their focus includes immune cells, like myeloid cells and T cells, that appear to support tumor growth or become dysfunctional in brain metastases.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with advanced non-small cell lung cancer who have brain metastases or who can provide tumor or brain-metastasis tissue samples would be the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without cancer, those whose cancers are not non-small cell lung cancer, or those without brain metastases are unlikely to get direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal new biological targets or strategies to prevent or better treat brain metastases and improve response to therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Previous single-cell and spatial studies have revealed important immune and microenvironment patterns in tumors, but applying this integrated ContactTracing approach specifically to human brain metastases is largely novel.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Izar, Benjamin — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Izar, Benjamin
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 below.