image: Rice's Han Xiao and Dihua Yu of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have received a $1.5 million grant from the Kleberg Foundation.
Credit: Photo by Rice University
Rice University chemist and director of the university’s Synthesis X Center Han Xiao and cancer biologist Dihua Yu of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have received a three-year, $1.5 million grant from the Robert J. Kleberg Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg Foundation, allowing them to do further research on overcoming the blood-brain barrier (BBB) for the treatment of brain metastasis. This hurdle blocks most cancer therapies from reaching the brain, but the scientists’ innovative approach could transform the treatment of brain metastasis.
The Kleberg Foundation, founded in 1950, seeks groundbreaking medical research proposals from leading institutions, focusing on innovative basic and applied biological research that advances scientific knowledge and human health, according to the organization’s website. Proposals should be novel, challenge existing paradigms and drive progress in the field.
Brain metastasis, the leading form of brain cancer, impacts tens of thousands of patients annually, commonly originating from breast, lung and melanoma cancers. With survival rates plummeting below 20% within a year of diagnosis according to the National Library of Medicine, brain metastasis remains one of the deadliest and most intractable challenges in oncology. The collaboration between SynthX and Yu’s research team aims to rewrite that narrative.
“This collaboration builds on the strengths of both research teams,” Xiao said. “By combining SynthX Center's expertise in chemistry with Dr. Yu's expertise in cancer biology and brain metastases, we aim to create a transformative solution.”
Breaking through the blood-brain barrier
The BBB, a vital defense mechanism that shields the brain from harmful substances, poses a significant challenge in treating brain tumors. This barrier prevents most drugs from reaching the brain with fewer than 2% of Food and Drug Administration-approved small molecule drugs and only a limited number of biological therapies able to cross it. As a result, patients face limited treatment options. While existing therapies like radiotherapy, surgery and systemic treatments such as chemotherapy are available, their effectiveness is often restricted by the BBB’s impermeability.
The inability of most drugs to cross the BBB leads to insufficient drug accumulation at tumor sites, hampering their efficacy, and no widely effective solutions have been developed to date.
Xiao and Yu’s approach involves a cutting-edge light-induced brain delivery (LIBD) platform to address this issue. The advanced system employs nanoparticles embedded with a near-infrared dye to facilitate the transport of therapeutic agents across the BBB.
The researchers aim to evaluate the LIBD’s ability to improve the delivery of small-molecule drugs and biological therapies. Many of these therapies have shown potential for reducing cancer growth in laboratory studies but have struggled to succeed in animal models due to limited BBB penetration.
“Our LIBD platform represents a novel strategy for delivering drugs to the brain with precision and efficiency,” Xiao said. “This technology could not only improve outcomes for brain metastasis patients but also pave the way for treating other neurological diseases.”
A broader impact
The potential applications of the LIBD platform extend beyond cancer treatment. Diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, epilepsy and glioblastoma also include the challenge of crossing the BBB for effective drug delivery. If successful, this research could revolutionize the treatment landscape for these conditions as well.
For now, the focus remains on brain metastasis, which affects up to 20% of breast cancer patients annually, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology. By enhancing drug delivery and improving survival rates, Xiao and Yu’s work could transform the standard of care for one of the deadliest forms of cancer.
“This research is a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation,” Xiao said. “Together, we’re pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in treating brain metastasis and beyond.”