NIH-funded research Sbir 2 grant

Using light therapy to treat skin cancer from breast cancer

Official title: An Open-Labeled, Single Arm Phase 2 Efficacy and Safety Study of REM-001 Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) for Treatment of Cutaneous Metastatic Breast Cancer (CMBC)

Funded at Kintara Therapeutics, INC. · NIH-10877852 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at a new way to treat skin cancer from breast cancer using a special light therapy that targets tumors while being gentle on healthy skin, and it's designed for patients who have stable cancer but are dealing with bothersome skin issues.

More Breast Cancer research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeSbir 2 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionKintara Therapeutics, INC.
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (San Diego, UNITED STATES)
Project startJuly 1, 2023
Project endJune 30, 2025
Funding year2024
Award (this year)$745,259
NIH project number5R44CA281615-02
Project IDNIH-10877852 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are patients with symptomatic cutaneous lesions from metastatic breast cancer who have stable systemic disease.

Less likely to help

Patients with aggressive systemic disease or those who do not have cutaneous lesions may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research investigates a new treatment for cutaneous metastatic breast cancer (CMBC) using a method called photodynamic therapy (PDT). In this approach, a special drug is injected into the body, which collects at tumor sites and is then activated by a laser to destroy cancer cells while sparing surrounding healthy tissue. The study aims to test a lower dosage of this drug to minimize side effects, which have been problematic in previous trials. By focusing on patients with stable systemic disease and symptomatic skin lesions, the research seeks to improve treatment outcomes and patient comfort.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a more effective and less harmful treatment option for patients suffering from cutaneous metastatic breast cancer.

How similar studies have gone: Previous studies using photodynamic therapy have shown promising results, indicating that this approach may be effective for treating similar conditions.

Where this research is happening

  • Kintara Therapeutics, INC.
    San Diego, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Brown, Dennis — Kintara Therapeutics, INC.
  • Study coordinator: Brown, Dennis

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.