Improving viral immunotherapy for breast cancer that has spread to the brain
Official title: Enhanced Viro-Immunotherapy for Breast Cancer Brain Metastasis
Funded at University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston · NIH-11184335 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tries to improve a cancer-killing herpes virus plus immune therapy 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 | University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 22, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $494,886 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA276942-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11184335 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be adults with breast cancer that has metastasized to the brain and who might be eligible for trials of oncolytic virus-based or related immunotherapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without brain metastases or those who cannot receive viral or immune-based treatments are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this work.
What this research studies
Researchers are studying why oncolytic herpes simplex virus (oHSV) treatments often fail in breast cancer brain metastases and how the tumor environment blocks the immune response. They will examine how insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) and neutrophils, including neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), interfere with virus spread and anti-tumor immunity using tumor models and laboratory experiments. Based on those findings, the team will test strategies to counteract neutrophil-driven resistance to boost viral replication and strengthen the immune attack in preclinical models. The project is led at UTHealth Houston and aims to support future clinical trials combining oHSV with treatments that modify neutrophils or IGF2 signaling.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could make oncolytic virus therapy more effective against breast cancer brain metastases, potentially slowing tumor growth and improving survival.
How similar studies have gone: Oncolytic herpes viruses have shown benefit in some cancers (for example FDA-approved use in melanoma and trials in brain tumors), but combining oHSV with approaches to block neutrophil-driven resistance is a newer and less-tested strategy.
Where this research is happening
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University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yoo, Ji Young — University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
- Study coordinator: Yoo, Ji Young
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Enhanced Viro-Immunotherapy for Breast Cancer Brain Metastasis
A study testing a virus-based cancer therapy to help treat breast cancer that has spread to the brain, with focus on boosting the body’s immune response to fight the tumors.
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Enhanced virus-based immunotherapy for breast cancer that has spread to the brain
This project explores a modified herpes virus treatment designed to help the immune system fight breast cancer that has spread to the brain.
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Improving treatment for breast cancer that has spread to the brain
This study is looking for ways to make a promising new treatment for breast cancer that has spread to the brain work better, by helping your immune system fight the cancer more effectively.
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Improving treatment for breast cancer that has spread to the brain
This study is looking at a new way to help breast cancer patients whose cancer has spread to the brain by using a special virus treatment, and it aims to find better ways to boost the immune system's response to this therapy.
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Prolactin signaling and brain metastasis in HER2-positive breast cancer
Researchers are studying how prolactin signals help HER2-positive breast cancer cells grow in the brain, with the goal of finding new ideas to prevent brain metastases.
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How an immune signal in brain support cells helps breast cancer spread to the brain
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.
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.