Inflammation in the lining around the brain and spinal cord
Inflammatory Signaling in the Leptomeninges
This work will see if blocking a chemical signal called CXCL1 in the spinal fluid can help stop cancer that has spread to the lining around the brain and spinal cord.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11301010 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, researchers are looking at samples of spinal fluid taken during radiation treatment to track a molecule called CXCL1 that rises when cancer grows in the leptomeningeal space. They will use those human samples alongside immune-competent mouse models that mimic the human disease and craniospinal treatment to look at what cells make CXCL1 and how cancer cells respond. Lab methods include single-cell RNA sequencing, immunofluorescence, biochemical fractionation, and coculture experiments to pinpoint the source and action of CXCL1. The team plans to test whether interrupting the CXCL1–CXCR2 signaling loop can reduce tumor growth in those models, with the goal of informing future patient therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with cancer that has spread to the leptomeninges who are undergoing clinical care at the treating center and could provide spinal fluid samples or participate in related follow-up.
Not a fit: Patients without leptomeningeal disease or whose tumors do not use the CXCL1–CXCR2 pathway are unlikely to benefit from findings of this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new treatments that slow or stop cancer growth in the spinal fluid spaces and potentially improve survival or symptoms for patients with leptomeningeal metastasis.
How similar studies have performed: Targeting the CXCL1/CXCR2 pathway has shown promise in other preclinical cancer models, but applying this approach specifically to leptomeningeal metastasis is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Boire, Adrienne a. — Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
- Study coordinator: Boire, Adrienne a.
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.