Using dendritic cell therapy to improve treatment for breast cancer with leptomeningeal disease.
Official title: Remodeling the Immune Landscape in Breast Cancer Leptomeningeal Disease Using Dendritic Cell Therapy is an Effective Treatment and Protects Against Disease Recurrence.
Funded at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst · NIH-11046104 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new way to treat leptomeningeal disease in advanced breast cancer patients by using special immune cells to help your body fight the cancer more effectively, and it hopes to improve survival and possibly lead to a cure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tampa, United States) |
| Project start | December 12, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $657,121 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA289387-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11046104 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with advanced stage breast cancer, particularly those with HER2-positive or triple-negative breast cancer who have developed leptomeningeal disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage breast cancer or those without leptomeningeal disease are unlikely to benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a novel treatment approach for leptomeningeal disease (LMD) in advanced breast cancer patients, which currently has limited effective therapies. The study focuses on using polarized conventional Type I dendritic cells that are primed with specific HER2 and HER3 peptides to enhance the immune response against breast cancer cells. By delivering these dendritic cells directly into the cerebrospinal fluid, the research aims to stimulate a robust immune reaction that could prolong survival and potentially cure the disease. The approach is based on promising results from animal models that showed significant survival benefits and the development of immunological memory against the disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a new, effective treatment option for patients suffering from leptomeningeal disease associated with advanced breast cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promising results using similar dendritic cell therapies in other cancer types, indicating potential for success in this novel application.
Where this research is happening
-
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst
Tampa, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Forsyth, Peter Alexander — H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst
- Study coordinator: Forsyth, Peter Alexander
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Gene expression marks high risk for very late breast cancer return
A patient-focused study aims to find gene patterns that identify women with early breast cancer who are most likely to have cancer come back more than a decade later.
-
Using gene expression to identify patients at high risk for late breast cancer recurrence
Researchers are studying breast cancer patients to find gene patterns that predict who might have cancer come back many years later, so doctors can tailor care for those at highest risk.
-
Gene tests to find women at high risk of breast cancer returning many years later
This project looks for patterns in tumor gene activity to spot women with ER-positive breast cancer who are more likely to have the cancer come back more than 10 years after initial treatment.
-
Enhancing pre-surgery therapy to prevent breast cancer recurrence
A new program tests ways to boost chemotherapy given before surgery to lower the chance that breast cancer comes back, especially focusing on groups that have had worse outcomes.
-
FoRtitude: an online program to ease fear of cancer recurrence for breast cancer survivors
A woman who has finished breast cancer treatment uses an online program to learn easy CBT-based steps to feel less worried about cancer coming back.
-
Prognostic staging for recurrent breast cancer to guide care
A Duke University-led project aims to create a prognostic classification system for women whose breast cancer has come back, so clinicians can discuss outcomes and plan treatment more clearly.
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.