Using focused ultrasound to enhance CAR T cell therapy for breast cancer that has spread to the brain
Official title: Breast Cancer Brain Metastasis Therapy by Focused Ultrasound-Guided Control of HER2 CAR T cells
Funded at Georgia Institute of Technology · NIH-11110308 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring a new way to help people with HER2-positive breast cancer that has spread to the brain by using focused ultrasound to make CAR T cell therapy work better, aiming to improve treatment success while reducing side effects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Georgia Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | June 8, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $670,977 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA273878-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11110308 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with HER2-positive breast cancer who have developed brain metastases.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with breast cancer that has not metastasized to the brain or those with other types of cancer may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a novel approach to treat breast cancer that has metastasized to the brain by using focused ultrasound to improve the effectiveness of CAR T cell therapy. The study aims to overcome challenges such as limited CAR T cell infiltration and tumor heterogeneity, which often lead to treatment failure. By utilizing Magnetic Resonance guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS), the researchers hope to enhance the delivery and efficacy of CAR T cells directly to brain tumors while minimizing side effects. This innovative method could provide a new avenue for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer who develop brain metastases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve survival rates and quality of life for patients with breast cancer brain metastasis.
How similar studies have gone: While CAR T cell therapy has shown success in treating certain blood cancers, this specific approach using focused ultrasound for brain metastases is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Arvanitis, Konstantinos-Costas — Georgia Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Arvanitis, Konstantinos-Costas
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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.