Understanding and disrupting the connection between cancer and the brain's immune system to prevent brain metastases.
Official title: Deconvolution and interruption of the cancer-neuro-immune axis facilitating brain metastases
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-10977543 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking into how cancer spreads to the brain and aims to find better treatments for patients who are affected, so they can have improved survival and quality of life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | September 21, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $144,670 |
| NIH project number | 3U54CA261717-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10977543 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are cancer patients who are at risk of developing brain metastases.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers that do not metastasize to the brain may not receive benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on the development of brain metastases, which affect up to 40% of cancer patients and significantly impact their survival and quality of life. The study aims to improve understanding and treatment of brain metastases by investigating the cancer-neuro-immune axis, which supports tumor growth in the brain. By utilizing human brain specimens and advanced technologies, the research seeks to identify key factors that facilitate brain metastasis and develop targeted therapies. Patients may benefit from new treatment strategies that could arise from this collaborative effort among brain and cancer experts.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies that improve survival and quality of life for patients with brain metastases.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in understanding cancer metastasis, but this specific approach to the cancer-neuro-immune axis is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hayden Gephart, Melanie — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Hayden Gephart, Melanie
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding and interrupting brain metastasis in cancer patients
A national research effort at Stanford aims to understand why cancer spreads to the brain and to develop ways to interrupt it, with the goal of improving survival and quality of life for people with cancer.
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Rational approaches to improve treatment for breast cancer that 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.
-
AI-driven automatic treatment planning for brain metastases radiotherapy
A new AI-based system helps plan precise stereotactic radiosurgery for people with multiple brain metastases.
-
Endocrine therapy and radiation work together to reduce brain metastases
Aims to understand how hormone therapy and radiation together help the body fight breast cancer that has spread to the brain, especially in younger women.
-
Personalized brain metastases risk map to guide radiotherapy
A new approach uses personal MRI data to predict where brain metastases might develop so radiation can target high-risk areas and spare healthy brain tissue.
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.