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Glioma invasion may be affected by the parietooccipital fissure and white matter fibers rather than being a random phenomenon

Research reveals that the parietooccipital fissure acts as an obstacle to glioma invasion, with tumor cells making a detour around it. This finding highlights the importance of this fissure in determining the invasion pattern of posterior medial temporal gliomas.

SourceJournal of Neurosurgery Publishing Group·JournalJournal of Neurosurgery·TypeObservational study·DateDec 14, 2021

Asthma may reduce risk of brain tumors -- but how?

Researchers found that asthma causes immune cells to behave in a way that prevents brain tumor growth, suggesting a potential new therapeutic approach. The findings suggest reprogramming T cells to act like those in asthma patients could be a new treatment for brain tumors.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 10, 2021

Researchers identify significant differences in tumor characteristics between younger and older cancer patients

Investigators at Weill Cornell Medicine identified significant age-related differences in tumor characteristics across various cancers, suggesting potential for personalized treatment approaches. They found that tumors from younger patients showed advanced signs of aging and more mutations associated with aggressive disease.

SourceWeill Cornell Medicine·JournalCell Reports·DateDec 7, 2021

Elacestrant may improve outcomes for patients whose metastatic breast cancers progressed on prior endocrine therapy

In a phase III trial, elacestrant showed significant benefits in decreasing death or disease progression and increasing progression-free survival compared to standard of care. The treatment was well-tolerated with manageable side effects, offering hope for patients with ER-positive/HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer.

UCLA research shows why immune checkpoint blockade impedes but does not stop glioblastoma progression

A UCLA research team found that PD-1 blockade initially activates T cells and conventional dendritic cells in glioblastoma, but the immune microenvironment remains dominated by immunosuppressive cells. The study suggests that combining therapies targeting other checkpoint proteins and pathways may improve treatment outcomes.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 29, 2021

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

Under arrest: Using nanofibers to stop brain tumor cells from spreading

A team of researchers from Japan has developed a platform using nanofibers to capture and control the migration of brain tumor cells, including glioblastoma multiforme. The study found that varying fiber densities can slow or speed up cell movement, leading to the creation of 'cell traps' that can restrict tumor cell growth.

SourceUniversity of Fukui·JournalACS Applied Bio Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 21, 2021

World-first clinical trial demonstrates focused ultrasound can deliver antibody therapy to breast cancer metastases in the brain

Researchers at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre have successfully delivered antibody therapy to breast cancer metastases in the brain using focused ultrasound. The treatment, which temporarily opens the blood-brain barrier, has shown promising results with tumor size reductions of up to 21% in patients.

SourceFocused Ultrasound Foundation·JournalScience Translational Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 13, 2021

Common diabetes drug promising against rare childhood brain tumor in laboratory studies

Researchers found that metformin suppressed glucose metabolism and killed cancer cells in group A posterior fossa ependymomas, a type of childhood brain tumor. The study's senior author believes this opens a promising possibility for therapeutic suppression of the epigenetic changes driving these tumors.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalScience Translational Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 6, 2021

Hopkins Med news update

Researchers discovered that new mutations in the BRAF gene can lead to gliomas growing back after treatment, suggesting personalized approaches to therapy. The study also explored potential impacts of COVID-19 vaccines on menstruation.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalClinical Cancer Research·DateSep 23, 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

Nationwide study of 295,000 brain cancer patients examines differences due to age and sex

A nationwide study of 295,000 brain cancer patients reveals significant differences in survival and incidence based on sex and age. The findings suggest that males have higher incidence rates, while females have longer survival rates at almost every age group, except among children aged 0-9 years.

SourceThe Translational Genomics Research Institute·JournalNeuro-Oncology·TypeMeta-analysis·DateSep 22, 2021

New method used to study how cancer cells are organized

Researchers at Uppsala University developed a new method to track individual cancer cells and their offspring over time. The study found that brain tumour cells are hierarchically organised, but with some degree of flexibility, and that drug treatment influences cell organisation. This breakthrough may lead to the development of target...

SourceUppsala University·JournalMolecular Systems Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 20, 2021

Mapping the brain circuitry of spirituality

A new study has identified the periaqueductal gray as a critical hub for changes in spiritual identification, surprising researchers who previously thought it was associated with higher brain regions. The discovery could have significant implications for understanding spirituality's role in managing physical and emotional pain.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 31, 2021

Fighting brain cancer at its root

Researchers at McGill University identified proteins that drive cancer stem cells in brain tumours. Targeting the protein galectin1 may provide a more effective treatment for glioblastoma when combined with radiation therapy. The study found significant improvement in tumour response to radiation therapy, resulting in expanded lifespan.

SourceMcGill University·JournalCell Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 31, 2021

First 3D-bioprinting of entire active tumor

Researchers at Tel Aviv University successfully printed the first entirely active and viable glioblastoma tumor using a 3D printer. The 3D-bioprinted model includes functional blood vessels that simulate a real tumor, making it a promising tool for predicting treatment efficacy and drug development.

SourceTel-Aviv University·JournalScience Advances·DateAug 18, 2021

Looking at tumors through a new lens

A new study reveals similarities between glioblastoma and melanoma, as well as unique immunosuppressive factors specific to glioblastoma microenvironment. This framework can be used to uncover pathophysiological and molecular features that determine the effectiveness of immunotherapies.

SourceInstitute for Systems Biology·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 29, 2021

Simple urine test may help early detection of brain tumors

Researchers at Nagoya University have developed a simple urine test that can detect brain tumors with high accuracy, using microRNAs as biomarkers. The new device can extract more microRNAs from just a milliliter of urine than conventional methods, and shows promise for early diagnosis and treatment.

SourceNagoya University·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateJun 17, 2021

How "paralyzed" immune cells can be reactivated against brain tumors

Scientists discover a way to reactivate paralyzed immune cells against IDH-mutant gliomas, leading to improved vaccine effectiveness. The researchers identified the molecular mechanism behind the 'immune paralysis' caused by cancer-promoting metabolic products and found a substance that deactivates a key immune system regulatory molecule.

XYZeq: A better map of cell diversity

A new method called XYZeq allows researchers to map variation across cells in a tissue or tumor, gaining insight into their spatial location and function. The technique enables the analysis of cellular patterns in complex environments like cancerous tumors and other organs.

SourceGladstone Institutes·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 22, 2021