Investigating how to overcome resistance of breast cancer that has spread to the brain to a specific treatment
Official title: Understanding and overcoming resistance of breast cancer brain metastases to RET inhibition
Funded at University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston · NIH-10947332 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking into why breast cancer that spreads to the brain often doesn't respond well to a certain treatment, and it's working to find new ways to help patients get better options that can effectively target these tough-to-treat brain tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 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 | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $401,115 |
| NIH project number | 1R21CA286225-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10947332 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with breast cancer that has metastasized to the brain.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with breast cancer that has not spread to the brain may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding why breast cancer that has spread to the brain often does not respond to a treatment called RET inhibition. The team will explore the mechanisms behind this resistance and identify new drug targets that could improve treatment outcomes. By analyzing existing breast cancer data and conducting experiments, they aim to develop effective therapies that can penetrate the blood-brain barrier and treat these challenging brain metastases. Patients may benefit from new treatment options that are specifically designed to overcome the resistance seen in brain metastases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for patients with breast cancer brain metastases, potentially improving survival rates.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that RET inhibitors can reduce brain metastases in other cancers, suggesting potential for success in this area, although this specific application is still being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lo, Hui-Wen — University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
- Study coordinator: Lo, Hui-Wen
Related research
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Understanding how brain metastasis in triple-negative breast cancer is shaped by tumor-immune interactions
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Stopping RET-driven breast cancer spread to the brain
This project looks at whether blocking the RET protein can slow or stop breast cancer that has spread to the brain.
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-
Tracking how neural stem cells move to brain tumors in breast cancer patients
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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.