Articles tagged with Brain Tumors
Researchers have discovered that NKCC1 protein facilitates the movement of glioblastoma cells, which are notoriously aggressive and deadly. The study also suggests that a cheap FDA-approved drug, bumetanide, could slow cell migration and contain tumor spread.
Researchers have discovered that immune cells in the brain use a two-tier approach to combat infections, sending signals to neighboring cells while focusing their attack on infected cells. This finding may help researchers develop new treatments for brain tumors and autoimmune diseases.
A study suggests that smoking, but not nicotine, may reduce the risk of developing an acoustic neuroma, a rare benign tumor near the brain. Current smokers have a 59% lower risk compared to non-smokers, while snuff users show no protection.
A new non-surgical test has been developed to diagnose and monitor brain tumors without surgery, providing a significant breakthrough in treatment options for patients. The test uses microRNA profiling of cerebrospinal fluid to determine the presence of glioblastoma, the most common and lethal type of brain tumor.
A new brain cancer vaccine tailored to individual patients has proven effective in a multicenter phase 2 clinical trial, extending their lives by several months. The vaccine combined with the drug Avastin showed promise in treating recurrent glioblastoma multiforme, a type of brain cancer that kills thousands of Americans every year.
Researchers at Stanford University developed nanoparticles that can be imaged three ways at once and highlighted brain tumors, precisely delineating their boundaries. The technique could improve prognosis for patients with glioblastomas, the most aggressive form of brain tumor.
A team of researchers has identified a novel transcripitonal cascade that controls gliogenesis, the process by which glial cells are generated from neural stem cells. This discovery provides new insights into how glial cells support neuronal function and are implicated in neurological disorders such as Retts Syndrome, ALS, and Multiple...
Research finds frequent dental X-rays in childhood and young adulthood may increase risk of developing meningioma. Patients who had yearly or more frequent bitewing exams were 1.4-1.9 times more likely to develop meningioma compared to controls.
The University of Arizona has received a $2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop an innovative magnetic resonance imaging method for measuring pH levels in tumors. This technique aims to personalize cancer treatments, such as baking soda therapy, and predict their effectiveness before treatment begins.
A study led by experts at the University of Nottingham has discovered a link between chromosomal abnormalities and survival rates in children with brain cancer. The research identified increased copies of chromosome 1q25 as associated with poorer outcomes, paving the way for a new diagnostic test.
Princeton University researchers created a cellular automation model to investigate complex tumor-host interactions in cancer, revealing diverse growth dynamics and morphologies under varying pressures.
Researchers developed a noninvasive imaging technique using magnetic resonance spectroscopy to detect 2-hydroxyglutarate, a chemical produced by some brain tumors' warped metabolism. The technique can predict the presence of IDH1/2 mutations with 98% accuracy and may help doctors tailor treatment plans.
Researchers have developed a method to deliver nanoparticle radiation directly to brain tumors, reducing side effects by sparing surrounding healthy tissue. The treatment uses fat-enclosed nanoparticles to irradiate the tumor with up to 20 times the current dose of radiation therapy.
A study published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine found that persistent protein expression may explain why brain tumors return after therapy. The research suggests blocking an active VEGF receptor could represent a new treatment option for glioblastoma cases where traditional therapies have failed.
Imaging amino acid transporters with PET/CT has significantly altered management plans for 41% of patients with brain tumors, according to research. The imaging modality has improved detection of primary and recurrent high- and low-grade brain tumors, leading to changes in treatment from 'watch and wait' to chemotherapy or vice versa.
The USP15 protein has been identified as a critical regulator of cancer progression and immune response, accelerating drug development against glioblastoma and other types of cancer. USP15 promotes tumor growth by activating the TGFβ pathway, but its inhibition can lead to decreased TGFβ activity and reduced tumor development.
Researchers developed a new mouse model to study medulloblastoma, a devastating childhood brain cancer. The model suggests a potential strategy to inhibit tumor growth using PI3-kinase inhibitors, which have shown significant increases in mouse survival.
Researchers found that Toca 511 eliminates tumors in most animals after dosing with 5-FC, providing a dramatic survival benefit. The treatment was well-tolerated and did not cause toxicity over the six-month protocol.
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly aggressive brain tumor resistant to current therapies. Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, have identified PDGFR-alpha and SULF2 as potential therapeutic targets for GBM treatment. Knocking down SULF2 expression decreased cell growth in human GBM cell lines.
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have defined a new genetic subtype of lung cancer driven by ROS1 gene rearrangements. Crizotinib treatment has shown promising results in controlling tumors in patients with this subtype, offering a new therapeutic option.
Researchers have discovered nearly 80% of childhood brainstem tumors with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) harbor mutations in genes involved in DNA organization. The mutations may play a unique role in other aggressive pediatric brain tumors, providing hope for new therapeutic targets.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have developed a new imaging technique to diagnose brain tumors, providing a definitive diagnosis based on protein levels associated with a genetic mutation. The test shows promise for precluding the need for surgery in patients whose tumors are too dangerous to biopsy.
A UCSF team has developed methods to reveal a molecular marker in tissue samples from brain tumors that has been linked to better survival odds. Monitoring this marker could provide doctors with a better way to follow their patients after surgery and assess how they respond to recommended treatments.
Researchers found a strong link between an inherited TP53 gene mutation and chromothripsis, a condition where chromosomes shatter and reassemble incorrectly. This discovery has significant implications for diagnosis and treatment, as patients with the mutation may be at high risk of developing certain types of cancer.
A chromosomal abnormality, specifically the absence of chromosomes 1p and 19q, has definitive prognostic value for managing treatment of adult patients with pure and mixed anaplastic oligodendrogliomas. Treatment with combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy showed near-doubling of median survival time compared to radiation therapy ...
The RTOG 0925 study aims to identify early clinical and neurocognitive changes that could precede tumor progression in low-risk glioma patients. The study will compare treatment effects on cognitive function, quality of life, and seizure control in patients with evidence versus no evidence of progression.
Researchers identified a key protein mutation that enables brain tumors to invade healthy brain tissue. Excessive epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signals trigger the production of GBP1, rendering tumors more invasive and allowing them to spread into surrounding tissue.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have developed a radioactive wire that destroys tumors from the inside out, creating an immunity against cancer return. This innovative method, called DARTTM, has shown promising results in pre-clinical trials and is now being commercialized for clinical trials.
Four US clinical centers have begun providing access to Novocure's Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) device for treating recurrent GBM, a deadly brain tumor. The device has shown clinical efficacy comparable to active chemotherapies with better quality of life.
A Massachusetts General Hospital study found that about 5% of glioblastomas contain extra copies of two or three key genes, which may explain the limited success of targeted therapies. The research team identified mosaic subpopulations of cells within tumors, each with its own unique genetic mutations and functions.
A new treatment combination of radiation therapy and LY2109761 blocks TGF-β signaling pathways, slowing down tumor cell self-renewal and growth. This combination therapy improved outcomes in animal models and has the potential to delay glioblastoma progression in patients.
A team of researchers at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center found that pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) has an unexpected role in regulating cell proliferation and tumor formation in brain cancer. PKM2's ability to bind to beta-catenin in the cell nucleus is essential for its function, and its levels are correlated with brain t...
A new technique developed by Johns Hopkins surgeons allows for the removal of skull base tumors without traditional incisions, resulting in faster recovery times and reduced complications. The procedure uses a natural opening above the jawbone and beneath the cheekbone to access the tumor site.
A study published in Cancer Cell reveals that the coupling of proteins FoxM1 and beta-catenin promotes glioblastoma development. The researchers found that this protein connection supports the self-renewal and differentiation of glioma-initiating cells, cancer stem cells thought to drive glioblastoma multiforme.
Researchers found that 2-deoxyglucose reduces tumor size in mice on either diet, while a carbohydrate-free diet led to greater tumor growth. This combination imposes energy stress on tumors and correlates with lower serum glucose levels.
Researchers found a significant reduction in glioma risk among people with borderline elevated IgE levels. However, the protective effect couldn't be measured in people with higher IgE levels. The study suggests an immune response to allergies may affect brain tumors.
Researchers at Duke University propose harnessing gold nanoparticles' unique optical properties to flag brain tumors. The team synthesized rod-shaped nanoparticles with varying sizes, which displayed different optical properties and could be tuned to scatter specific light frequencies.
Researchers developed a mouse model to track bone marrow cell migration to tumors and found that these cells can slow tumor growth. The study suggests that targeting bone marrow cells may lead to more effective cancer treatments.
Researchers at UCSF Brain Tumor Research Center discovered a protein called NG2 that controls the switch from asymmetric to symmetric cell division in normal cells. This abnormal cell division pattern is associated with oligodendroglioma brain tumors, which may respond to chemotherapy but often recur in resistant forms.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have found that treating common Cytomegalovirus (CMV) can reduce tumour growth and size. CMV is found in 70-75% of adults and plays a central role in brain tumours, breast cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer.
Researchers identified human cytomegalovirus as a potential target for treating medulloblastoma. The antiviral drug valganciclovir reduced tumor cell growth in both vitro and xenotransplantation in mice.
Researchers used a pioneering approach to speed up drug development for ependymoma, a rare tumor with few treatment options. Dozens of potential new treatments were identified, including 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and other chemotherapy agents.
Researchers discovered that glioblastoma cells depend on large amounts of cholesterol for growth and survival, and that pharmacologically depriving them of cholesterol leads to death. This new strategy may lead to significantly more effective treatments for patients with this lethal form of brain cancer.
Human gliomas implanted in mice were found to release excess levels of glutamate, overstimulating neurons and triggering seizures. Sulfasalazine, an anti-inflammatory drug, was shown to reduce seizures by inhibiting glutamate release from the tumor.
A team of medical engineers at TUM has developed a sensor chip that measures oxygen levels in tumors and transmits data wirelessly to doctors. This technology aims to make cancer therapies more targeted and less aggressive for patients.
Researchers have classified brain tumors into two distinct subgroups based on genetic analysis, revealing that one subgroup has a favorable prognosis while the other is more aggressive. The study provides valuable insights for better treatment options and could lead to targeted therapies for patients with ependymoma.
Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center have identified a mutant gene STAG2 that is commonly mutated in human cancers and causes aneuploidy, an abnormal number of chromosomes. The study found that 20% of brain, skin, and bone cancer samples lacked the STAG2 protein, leading to increased risk of cancer.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center have created a comprehensive map of genetic mutations in oligodendroglioma, the second-most common form of brain cancer. The study reveals that CIC and FUBP1 genes are critical in tumor development and may hold the key to attacking this cancer.
A study published in Genes & Development reveals a specific RNA cluster, miR-17~92, plays a key role in the growth of retinoblastoma, a rare form of childhood eye cancer. The researchers found that overexpression of this microRNA cluster helps cells proliferate despite the loss of tumor-suppressing protein Rb.
Scientists at Duke University Medical Center and Johns Hopkins University discovered the most likely genetic mutations on chromosomes 1 and 19 involved in oligodendroglioma development. These genes, CIC and FUBP1, are rarely mutated in other cancers, increasing the chances for effective combination drug therapy.
A recent study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that children and adolescent mobile phone users are not at a statistically significant increased risk of brain cancer compared to non-users. The study included data from over 352 brain cancer patients and 646 control subjects, and found no clear exposure-res...
Researchers at Ohio State University discovered that indirubin blocks the migration of glioblastoma cells and endothelial cells, preventing tumor growth and spread. This compound, derived from Indigo plants, may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for treating deadly brain tumors.
Researchers have created a new model to study germ cell tumors in testes by transplanting embryonic stem cells into mouse models. The resulting tumors mimic the early stages of tumor development and offer valuable insights into the genetic regulation of these cancers. This approach has potential applications for developing novel therap...
Researchers have discovered an enzyme in glioblastoma stem cells that allows them to grow and seed tumors. Unlike normal stem cells, these enzymes are not shared, making them a potential target for therapy. The study found that inhibiting this pathway slows the growth of brain tumors in mice, offering hope for improved treatment options.
Researchers have discovered potential regulatory networks in glioblastoma using microRNAs and transcription factors. The study identified 54 feed-forward loops with functions important to carcinogenesis and unique functions specific to each FFL.
A Phase I clinical trial found that the experimental vaccine ICT-107 targets six antigens found on glioblastoma cells and three on cancer stem cells, improving immune responses and progression-free survival rates in patients. The study also showed that targeting these antigens may be a viable strategy for treating glioblastoma.
A new glioblastoma vaccine has demonstrated safety and effectiveness in a Phase 2 clinical trial, extending median survival to 11 months for patients with recurrent brain cancer. The vaccine was found to induce an immune response against tumor-specific targets, suggesting potential for improved treatment outcomes.
Scientists at Penn State College of Medicine have created a new approach to treating brain tumors by targeting the ferritin protein with siRNA. By reducing ferritin levels in cancer cells, the sensitivity to chemotherapy can be increased, allowing for lower doses and potentially fewer side effects.
A study found that a specific gene change can predict which brain cancer patients respond well to treatment, allowing for personalized therapy. The gene MGMT methylation status was associated with improved overall and progression-free survival in patients treated with radiation and chemotherapy.
Researchers found that cancer cells induce oxidative stress in normal connective tissue to extract vital nutrients, accelerating aging and inflammation. This process can identify breast cancer patients at risk of metastasis and offers a potential therapeutic target via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory drugs.