New ways to deliver drugs for treating breast cancer that has spread to the brain
Official title: Novel drug delivery strategies for treatment of breast cancer brain metastases
Funded at Baltimore VA Medical Center · NIH-10881721 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for better ways to deliver cancer treatments to women with breast cancer that has spread to the brain, especially for those with tougher types like triple negative and HER2-positive, to help improve their treatment outcomes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baltimore VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX005770-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10881721 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are women diagnosed with triple negative or HER2-positive breast cancer who have developed brain metastases.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage breast cancer or those without brain metastases may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing innovative drug delivery methods specifically for women with breast cancer that has metastasized to the brain. It addresses the unique challenges posed by the blood-brain barrier and other obstacles that limit the effectiveness of current treatments. By exploring new strategies to enhance drug penetration and reduce resistance, the research aims to improve outcomes for patients with aggressive forms of breast cancer, such as triple negative and HER2-positive types. The study is particularly relevant for active duty and Veteran women diagnosed with breast cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve survival rates and quality of life for patients with breast cancer brain metastases.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been advancements in drug delivery systems, this approach is exploring novel strategies specifically targeting breast cancer brain metastases, making it a potentially groundbreaking area of research.
Where this research is happening
-
Baltimore VA Medical Center
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kim, Anthony J. — Baltimore VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Kim, Anthony J.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Rational approaches to improve treatment for breast cancer that has spread to the brain
Aimed at boosting how well a HER2-targeted antibody-drug conjugate works for people whose breast cancer has spread to the brain.
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Understanding how brain metastasis in triple-negative breast cancer is shaped by tumor-immune interactions
A patient-focused program aims to learn why TNBC spreads to the brain and how the immune system interacts with those cancer cells, with a focus on women of African ancestry.
-
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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Following neural stem cells that target breast cancer spread in the brain
Researchers will build high-resolution, non-invasive imaging to watch therapeutic neural stem cells move to breast cancer brain metastases to support better-targeted treatments for patients.
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Better drug delivery for breast cancer that has spread to the brain
New methods to deliver cancer-fighting drugs into the brain for people whose breast cancer has spread there.
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Tracking how neural stem cells move to brain tumors in breast cancer patients
This study is looking at how special brain cells called neural stem cells move towards tumors in the brains of breast cancer patients, with the hope of using these cells to deliver better treatments directly to the tumors.
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.