Understanding how to improve immune therapy for breast cancer that has spread to the brain
Official title: Elucidating resistance mechanisms and enhancing response to immune checkpoint blockade in central nervous system metastases from breast cancer
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-10997794 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how well new immune therapies work for breast cancer that has spread to the brain and spinal cord, and it's for patients who are facing this tough situation, as researchers want to understand how the cancer and the immune system interact to improve treatment options.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | July 12, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $701,408 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA294793-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10997794 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 central nervous system.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with breast cancer that has not spread to the central nervous system may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the challenges of treating breast cancer that has metastasized to the central nervous system (CNS) using immune therapies. It involves conducting Phase II trials to evaluate the effectiveness of new immunotherapy treatments specifically for CNS metastases. Researchers will collect and analyze samples from patients before, during, and after treatment to understand how cancer and the immune system interact over time. By using advanced technologies, they aim to identify why some patients respond to treatment while others do not, and explore new combination therapies to enhance treatment effectiveness.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment options and outcomes for patients with breast cancer that has spread to the brain.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results with immunotherapy in various cancers, but this specific approach for CNS metastases is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brastianos, Priscilla Kaliopi — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Brastianos, Priscilla Kaliopi
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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.