Using PTPmu to find and treat breast cancer that has spread to the brain
Official title: Detection, Radiosensitization and Theranostic Targeting of Metastatic Breast Cancer by PTPmu
Funded at Case Western Reserve University · NIH-11228392 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are developing PTPmu-targeted imaging and treatment tools to help people with breast cancer that has metastasized to the brain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Case Western Reserve University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $668,144 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA269816-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11228392 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with invasive breast cancer, especially those with known brain metastases or high risk for brain spread, would be the most relevant candidates for this work.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without breast cancer, or whose tumors do not display the PTPmu biomarker or do not involve nerve-associated brain spread, are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
This project focuses on a protein fragment called PTPmu that appears on invasive breast cancer cells as they spread along nerves into the brain. Scientists have created agents that bind this fragment to light up tumor cells for imaging and to deliver therapies that could make radiation work better. In mouse models these agents reach tumor cells within minutes and label nearly all dispersing cells, and the team uses 3D cryo-imaging to map how cancer moves through brain tissue. The work is aimed at translating those imaging and theranostic tools toward use for human breast cancer brain metastases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could allow earlier detection of tumor cells in the brain and deliver targeted treatments that enhance radiation effects while sparing healthy tissue.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical studies have shown PTPmu-targeted agents bind human tumor tissue and reliably label dispersing tumor cells in mouse models, though using them as radiosensitizers in patients remains experimental.
Where this research is happening
-
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brady-Kalnay, Susann M — Case Western Reserve University
- Study coordinator: Brady-Kalnay, Susann M
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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.