Decoding the Spatial Immune Microenvironment of Brain Metastases
Brain metastases, which occur when cancer spreads to the brain, affect up to 40% of patients with common cancers such as breast and lung cancer. Even with modern treatments like highly focused radiation and immunotherapy, many patients experience tumor regrowth because current clinical tools cannot fully explain why some tumors respond to treatment while others do not. Our research focuses on the tumor immune microenvironment, the network of immune cells that surround and interact with cancer cells. Our prior research suggests that where immune cells are located and how they interact may play a critical role in long-term tumor control. Using an advanced technology called spatial transcriptomics that allows us to measure thousands of genes in individual cells while preserving their exact location within the tumor, we are studying human brain metastases to understand how radiation therapy reshapes immune cells and their organization within tumors. Our research aims to reveal why some patients achieve durable tumor control while others do not. Ultimately, this work will help guide more precise use of radiation and immunotherapy, improving outcomes and quality of life for patients with brain metastases.
