Stopping RET-driven breast cancer spread to the brain
Understanding and overcoming resistance of breast cancer brain metastases to RET inhibition
This project looks at whether blocking the RET protein can slow or stop breast cancer that has spread to the brain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Station, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11333968 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have breast cancer that has spread to the brain, this project aims to find why RET-targeting drugs sometimes stop working. Researchers will analyze public breast cancer data and use lab models, including mouse models, to identify genes and pathways that remain active when RET is blocked. They will test whether combining RET inhibitors with other treatments can overcome resistance and reach tumors behind the blood–brain barrier. Although preclinical, the findings could point to new drug combinations to try in people with brain metastases from breast cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with breast cancer that has metastasized to the brain, particularly those whose tumors show RET activation or who might be considered for RET-directed therapy, would be most relevant.
Not a fit: Patients without brain metastases or whose tumors do not show RET activation are unlikely to benefit directly from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify new drug targets or combinations that make RET-directed therapies more effective against breast cancer brain metastases.
How similar studies have performed: RET inhibitors have been effective in thyroid and lung cancers and reduced brain metastases in lung cancer trials, but applying RET-targeting approaches to breast cancer brain metastases is relatively new and largely untested.
Where this research is happening
College Station, United States
- Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr — College Station, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lo, Hui-Wen — Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr
- Study coordinator: Lo, Hui-Wen
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.