 |
|
Slipping past the blood brain barrier: Research shows potential treatment for brain cancer
August 23, 2005Saint Louis University findings are published in this week's PNAS online
ST. LOUIS - A compound that kills cancer can sneak past the blood brain barrier, which protects the brain from foreign substances, to do its work in fighting a particularly invasive brain cancer, according to a new Saint Louis University animal study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Online Early Edition the week of Aug. 22.
"The bottom line is, if you can get drugs into the brain, you can cure brain cancer," says William A. Banks, M.D., professor of geriatrics in the department of internal medicine and professor of pharmacological and physiological science at Saint Louis University School of Medicine and a member of the research team.
The compound - JV-1-36 - is an antagonist of the hypothalamic growth hormone- releasing hormone, which has been found to cause cancerous tumors, such as malignant glioblastomas, to grow. The main known purposes of the hypothalamic growth hormone-releasing hormone usually are to trigger the hormone that makes children grow and affect how glucose is used in adults.
Researchers found that the P-gp system, an extra guardian located at the blood brain barrier that usually keeps anticancer drugs out of the brain, intercepted some of the JV-1-36 that was injected into mice but let much of it pass into the brain to treat cancer.
"The blood brain barrier is set up to very carefully patrol what it lets into the brain and what it keeps out. It makes these decisions based on the physicochemical properties," says Dr. Banks, who also is a staff physician at Veterans Affairs Medical Center in St. Louis.
"Most of our drugs that fight cancers are toxic to cancer cells and to other cells, too. That's why the blood brain barrier locks them out of the brain."
The research was done in collaboration with investigators at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, including Nobel Laureate Andrew V. Schally, Ph.D.
Dr. Banks said the findings are promising because they show a way to get drugs into the brain to treat cancer.
"There are times when there's a big difference between an animal model and the human condition. In terms of getting drugs across the blood brain barrier to fight cancer, there's not such a big difference. There's pretty much the same rules in any blood brain barrier - be it in a mouse or human."
Laura Jaeger, the lead author of the study and a doctoral student in the department of pharmacological and physiological science at Saint Louis University, calls the findings "very positive and a good first step."
Saint Louis University
The compound - JV-1-36 - is an antagonist of the hypothalamic growth hormone- releasing hormone, which has been found to cause cancerous tumors, such as malignant glioblastomas, to grow. The main known purposes of the hypothalamic growth hormone-releasing hormone usually are to trigger the hormone that makes children grow and affect how glucose is used in adults.
Researchers found that the P-gp system, an extra guardian located at the blood brain barrier that usually keeps anticancer drugs out of the brain, intercepted some of the JV-1-36 that was injected into mice but let much of it pass into the brain to treat cancer.
"The blood brain barrier is set up to very carefully patrol what it lets into the brain and what it keeps out. It makes these decisions based on the physicochemical properties," says Dr. Banks, who also is a staff physician at Veterans Affairs Medical Center in St. Louis.
"Most of our drugs that fight cancers are toxic to cancer cells and to other cells, too. That's why the blood brain barrier locks them out of the brain."
The research was done in collaboration with investigators at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, including Nobel Laureate Andrew V. Schally, Ph.D.
Dr. Banks said the findings are promising because they show a way to get drugs into the brain to treat cancer.
"There are times when there's a big difference between an animal model and the human condition. In terms of getting drugs across the blood brain barrier to fight cancer, there's not such a big difference. There's pretty much the same rules in any blood brain barrier - be it in a mouse or human."
Laura Jaeger, the lead author of the study and a doctoral student in the department of pharmacological and physiological science at Saint Louis University, calls the findings "very positive and a good first step."
Saint Louis University
Brain Cancer Current Events and Brain Cancer News RSSFamily history of brain tumors linked to increased risk of brain cancer
People with a family history of cancerous brain tumors appear to be at higher risk of developing the same kind of tumors compared to people with no such family history.
Cancer-killing viruses influence tumor blood-vessel growth
Viruses genetically designed to kill cancer cells offer a promising strategy for treating incurable brain tumors such as glioblastoma, but the body's natural defenses often eliminate the viruses before they can eliminate the tumor.
Researchers uncover mechanism of action of antibiotic able to reduce neuronal cell death in brain
Virginia Commonwealth University researchers have discovered how an antibiotic works to modulate the activity of a neurotransmitter that regulates brain functions, which eventually could lead to therapies to treat Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, epilepsy, stroke, dementia and malignant gliomas.
Researchers discover gene for branchio-oculo-facial syndrome
In a collaborative effort, researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have discovered that deletions or mutations within the TFAP2A gene (Activating Enhancer-Binding Protein) result in the distinctive clefting disorder Branchio-Oculo-Facial syndrome (BOFS).
Cancer cells spread by releasing 'bubbles', according to an MUHC study
A new fundamental mechanism of how tumour cells communicate has just been discovered by the team of Dr. Janusz Rak at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) in collaboration with Dr Guha from the University of Toronto.
NovoCure presents results from breast cancer pilot study
NovoCure announced today that it presented the results from a single-arm pilot trial evaluating the Novo-TTF, a non-invasive portable medical device, combined with neo-adjuvant chemotherapy for the treatment of patients with locally advanced breast cancer.
Brain study may lead to improved epilepsy treatments
Using a rodent model of epilepsy, researchers found one of the body's own neurotransmitters released during seizures, glutamate, turns on a signaling pathway in the brain that increases production of a protein that could reduce medication entry into the brain.
Protein protects embryonic stem cells' versatility and self-renewal
A protein known as REST blocks the expression of a microRNA that prevents embryonic stem cells from reproducing themselves and causes them to differentiate into specific cell types, scientists at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center report in the journal Nature.
Tumor-killing virus selectively targets diseased brain cells
New findings show that a specialized virus with the ability to reproduce its tumor-killing genes can selectively target tumors in the brains of mice and eliminate them.
Report identifies research to bolster knowledge of health effects of wireless communication devices
The rapid increase in the use of wireless communication devices in recent years has been accompanied by a significant amount of research into potential health effects from high exposure to radiofrequency (RF) energy emitted by these devices.
More Brain Cancer Current Events and Brain Cancer News Articles
 | Last Trip to Baker 5: Beating Brain Cancer Twice by Diane F Jepsen Last Trip to Baker 5 is a remarkable story about one woman's account of her unending struggle with brain cancer, not once, but twice, the tremendous love and support of family and friends, the moments of a sense of humor and calm in the midst of crisis, and spirituality. My hope is that somehow my words can be an inspiration to other cancer patients, their families, or anyone else facing... |
 | Brain Storms: Surviving Catastrophic Illness by Les Duncan |
 | Surviving Terminal Cancer: Clinical Trials, Drug Cocktails, and Other Treatments Your Oncologist Won't Tell You About by Ben A. Williams Describes how to use the Internet and other sources to learn about experimental drug trials, effective forms of alternative medicine, and other breakthroughs with the potential for dramatically improving the odds of successful... |
 | Princess Khrystle and the Monster Cancer: An Informative Fairytale Version About Brain Cancer in Children by Khrystle Lopez; Yolanda M Lopez Princess Khrystle and the Monster Cancer is an informative fairytale about brain cancer in children. The story revolves around a child who encounters the aggressions of the monster Cancer and how her life is an example on how we can all encounter the monsters of our lives. Princess Khrystle leaves her legacy of love, learns the most difficult life lesson, and keeps her promise to share this... |
 | Brain Metastases (Cancer Treatment and Research) Brain metastases are the most dreaded complication of systemic cancer, affecting approximately 170,000 people a year, a far greater incidence than primary brain tumors. Advances in modern chemotherapy have led to an improved control of system cancers, often with agents that poorly penetrate the central nervous system, resulting in an increasing incidence of brain metastases. Traditional... |
 | Ya Gotta Believe!: My Roller-Coaster Life as a Screwball Pitcher and Part-Time Father, and My Hope-Filled Fight Against Brain Cancer by Tug McGraw, Don Yaeger Tug McGraw's "Ya Gotta Believe!" was the rallying cry of the 1973 New York Mets. But it was also the rallying cry of the screwy left-handed relief pitcher who made millions of fans believe in the impossible, especially when-as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies-he struck out Kansas City's Willie Wilson to win the 1980 World Series. Here is the story of a man who rose to fame, fell from grace,... |
 | Tumors of the Brain and Spine (M.D. Anderson Cancer Care Series) Tumors of the Brain and Spine focuses primarily on the standard approaches to the treatment of benign, primary low-grade to high-grade, and metastatic tumors in the brain and spine used by surgeons and clinicians at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. It is written mainly for the primary care oncologist, general neurologist, and general neurosurgeon. Chapters on treatment focus... |
| Late Effects of Treatment for Brain Tumors (Cancer Treatment and Research) Late Effects of Treatment for Brain Tumors reviews the development of the medical team's awareness of late effects of brain tumor treatment and an overview of brain tumor survivorship. It reviews the late effects by topic and by organ systems, educates, and provides guidelines for follow up and interventions for patient survivorship. Advocacy for survivors and models for the importance of... | |
 | Angiogenesis in Brain Tumors (Cancer Treatment and Research) The mutual relationship between tumor growth and concomitant neovascularization offers important insight into the biology of brain tumors and the development of new treatment strategies. Many of the early findings in the biology of angiogenesis have been investigated using brain tumor models. Angiogenesis in Brain Tumors is part of the Cancer Treatment and Research book series and this volume... |
 | Endovascular and Percutaneous Therapy of the Brain and Spine Stanford Univ., CA. Text provides a comprehensive review of endovascular and percutaneous therapy of the brain and spine. Presents an understanding of diseases for which therapies are used and technical guidance in a 'how to' format. Contains halftone images and illustrations. For neurologists. DNLM: Cerebrovascular... |
| © 2008 BrightSurf.com |