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Magnetic seeds used to heat and kill cancer

Scientists at University College London have developed a novel cancer therapy using magnetic seeds guided by an MRI scanner to heat and destroy tumours. The therapy, called MINIMA, has the potential to precisely treat hard-to-reach cancers with minimal side effects.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalAdvanced Science·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 1, 2022

Personalized T cell immunotherapy for pediatric brain tumors is one step closer to becoming a reality

Researchers at Children's National Hospital have successfully developed a personalized T cell immunotherapy that targets and kills unique proteins in individual tumor cells. This approach, combining genetic sequencing and protein identification, offers a promising treatment option for children with hard-to-treat brain tumors.

SourceChildren's National Hospital·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 18, 2021

B.C. researchers develop new test to diagnose aggressive childhood brain tumours

Researchers at UBC and BC Cancer developed a new test to distinguish between high-risk medulloblastoma cases requiring radiation therapy and lower-risk cases. This test has the potential to improve diagnosis and future treatment of childhood brain tumours worldwide, reducing unnecessary side effects and increasing cure rates.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalClinical Cancer Research·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 1, 2021

Immunotherapy may benefit patients with cancer that has spread to tissues around the brain

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have found that immune checkpoint inhibitors can generate promising results in patients with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LMD), a rare complication of cancer. The treatment showed increased activity in cancer-killing immune cells and expression of particular genes within cells.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalNature Communications·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 20, 2021

New study shows that different types of cancers are likely to spread to specific areas of the brain

Researchers analyzed data from over 3,200 brain metastatic tumors and discovered that different types of cancer tend to spread to specific parts of the brain. The study's findings may help predict where a particular cancer will metastasize and inform treatment strategies.

SourceUniversity of Southern California - Health Sciences·JournalJournal of Neurosurgery·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 23, 2021

Decades of radiation-based scientific theory disproven by Ben-Gurion University US-based study

A large-scale study found that people living in areas with high background radiation had a 2.5-year longer life expectancy and lower rates of certain cancers, including lung, pancreatic, colon, and rectal cancer. The researchers suggest re-evaluating the linear no-threshold paradigm for low-dose radiation.

Diagnosing brain tumors with a blood test

A highly sensitive blood test can accurately diagnose and classify different types of brain tumours without the need for tissue samples. This breakthrough has the potential to transform patient care by providing more accurate diagnosis, less invasive methods and better treatment planning.

SourceUniversity Health Network·JournalNature Medicine·DateJun 22, 2020

New treatment could become first targeted therapy designed for 'untreatable' childhood brain cancer

Researchers have discovered a new type of drug that targets the genetic weakness in 'diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma', a devastating childhood brain cancer. The treatment also shows promise for patients with stone man syndrome, a rare genetic disease where muscles and ligaments turn to bone. Clinical trials are expected to begin in 2021.

SourceInstitute of Cancer Research·JournalCommunications Biology·DateMay 9, 2019

Mayo discovery means individualized ovarian, brain cancer therapies

Researchers developed an algorithm to predict treatment effectiveness in individual patients using a molecular communication pathway. The study found that repurposing ruxolitinib, a drug approved for malignant blood disorders, can overcome resistance to measles virotherapy by increasing its effectiveness by a factor of 1,000.

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateMay 16, 2018

Potential cognitive effects of targeted drugs in children may be reversible with therapy

A study found that targeted cancer drugs can cause cognitive and behavioral deficits in young mice, but these effects can be reversed with environmental stimulation and physical exercise. Researchers suggest that pediatric brain cancer patients may experience similar side effects, highlighting the need for remediation efforts.

SourceAmerican Association for Cancer Research·JournalCancer Research·DateMar 20, 2018

What are memories made of?

Researchers have discovered that three distinct varieties of the protein AKT play different roles in brain health, with AKT2 targeting brain cancer and AKT1 promoting memory formation. The study's findings hold promise for developing targeted therapies for conditions like Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia.

An experimental model might shed new light on the development of brain cancer in children

Researchers have developed a novel laboratory model that replicates key hallmarks of pediatric high-grade glioma, a devastating illness and leading cause of death in children. Mutations in histone 3.3 are believed to play a pivotal role in its development, with the new model supporting the concept that cancer starts in utero.