New approaches to treat HER2-positive breast cancer that has spread to the brain
Official title: Emerging Strategies for Therapy of Metastatic Brain Cancer
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11159806 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Using engineered neural stem cells to carry HER2-targeted antibody drugs directly into the brain to treat HER2-positive breast cancer metastases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $947,808 |
| NIH project number | 5R35CA283939-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11159806 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with HER2-positive breast cancer that has spread to the brain would be the primary candidates for this work or future trials based on it.
✕Less likely to help
People with HER2-negative breast cancer or those without brain metastases are unlikely to benefit from this HER2-focused approach.
What this research studies
Researchers will analyze tumor tissue from patients to learn genetic features that make breast cancer spread to the brain. They will use advanced imaging to watch cancer cells and engineered neural stem cells that target HER2-positive tumors in real time. The team will develop neural stem cells programmed to deliver trastuzumab-like antibodies across the blood–brain barrier to tumor sites. Work will combine laboratory models and patient-derived samples to test whether this targeted delivery can slow or stop tumor growth in the brain.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could enable HER2-targeted antibody therapy to reach brain metastases and improve control of tumors that now respond poorly to standard systemic treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Early preclinical studies have suggested stem-cell delivery can bring drugs into brain tumors, but clinical proof for HER2+ brain metastases is still limited and this approach remains relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lesniak, Maciej S — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Lesniak, Maciej S
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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.