In a race against time to cure childhood brain cancer, the leading cause of cancer deaths among children, Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital is forming the Mount Sinai Children’s Brain and Spinal Tumor Center.
Tag: Brain Cancer
Dynamic cells linked to brain tumor growth and recurrence
Tumors are made up of many types of cells, both cancerous and benign. The specific complexity of the cells inside brain tumors has been a trademark of the disease, one that makes treatment extremely difficult. While scientists have long known about the variety of cells within a brain tumor, the ways these tumors grow has relied on the understanding that the cells are static, unmoving and relatively fixed.

A nanoparticle and inhibitor trigger the immune system, outsmarting brain cancer
Scientists at the University of Michigan fabricated a nanoparticle to deliver an inhibitor to brain tumor in mouse models, where the drug successfully turned on the immune system to eliminate the cancer. The process also triggered immune memory so that a reintroduced tumor was eliminated—a sign that this potential new approach could not only treat brain tumors but prevent or delay recurrences.
Fast-tracked: First in-human trial for aggressive brain tumours
A novel technology designed to precisely image aggressive brain cancers and guide treatment is being developed by the University of South Australia and Australian cancer diagnostic company, Ferronova, potentially helping thousands of people who are diagnosed with the deadly condition each year.
Hopkins Med News Update
Hopkins Med News Update
NREF and AANS/CNS Tumor Section Announce StacheStrong and NREF Research Grant Recipients
The Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation (NREF) and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) Section on Tumors are pleased to announce Jacob Young, MD, and Daniel Green Eichberg, MD, as the recipients of the StacheStrong and NREF Research Grants on behalf of the AANS/CNS Section on Tumors. These grants were funded by the NREF through a partnership with StacheStrong, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit charity focused on raising funds and awareness for brain cancer research.
Brain Cancer: Hunting What’s Left
Like a mystery detective, Sara G.M. Piccirillo, PhD, is hunting deadly bad actors by studying the crime scene and questioning bystanders one by one. But these bad actors are cells in the brain. She is using two grants to study tumor cells and cells in the surrounding area, one by one.
Could Ketogenic Diet Be Helpful with Brain Cancer?
A modified ketogenic diet may be worth exploring for people with brain tumors, according to a new study published in the July 7, 2021, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The diet is high in fat and low in carbohydrates.
Yale Cancer Center Study Reveals New Pathway for Brain Tumor Therapy
In a new study led by Yale Cancer Center, researchers show the nucleoside transporter ENT2 may offer an unexpected path to circumventing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and enabling targeted treatment of brain tumors with a cell-penetrating anti-DNA autoantibody.
A Heroic Reunion
At just 8 years old, Benjamin Gordon’s life was flipped upside down when his father, Greg, was diagnosed with an aggressive type of brain cancer.

ATRT molecular groups: looking at the biology from the clinic
Scientists at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital are learning more about what the molecular groups of a rare pediatric brain tumor mean for clinical care.

NYU Langone Brings Top Talent to Advance Cancer Care in Brooklyn
To help develop the latest treatment methods and expand cancer care service, Thomas Daniels, MD, has been appointed service chief of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Perlmutter Cancer Center–Sunset Park in Brooklyn.

Chênevert Family Brain Tumor Center Launched at Yale
Yale School of Medicine announces a gift to establish the Chênevert Family Brain Tumor Center at Yale Cancer Center. The Chênevert Family Brain Tumor Center will be a leading center in Neuro-Oncology research worldwide, bringing ground-breaking solutions and hope to patients with brain tumors.

Promising new approach to stop growth of brain cancer cells
Stand Up to Cancer Canada Dream Team is combining strengths of Princess Margaret, SickKids, University of Toronto researchers, and other unique partnerships, to accelerate new cures for hard-to-treat cancers, such as glioblastoma.

Molecular Details Reveal New Clues about Common Brain Tumor
The largest and most detailed molecular analysis yet of an aggressive brain cancer, called glioblastoma, reveals fundamental details that drive its growth. The

Aggressive brain tumor mapped in genetic, molecular detail
A new study led by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has revealed a detailed map of the genes, proteins, infiltrating cells and signaling pathways that play key roles in driving glioblastoma. The study, of 99 tumors from patients, is the largest and most detailed schematic of this deadly brain tumor.

Henry Ford Cancer Institute is First in the World to Activate Two New Treatments in GBM AGILE Trial for Glioblastoma
Henry Ford Cancer Institute is the first site in the world to activate two new treatments for glioblastoma (GBM), the deadliest form of brain cancer, as part of a patient-centered adaptive platform trial known as GBM AGILE (Glioblastoma Adaptive Global Innovative Learning Environment).

From the clinic to the lab, understanding medulloblastoma relies on molecular profiling
A pair of research papers from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital report on a medulloblastoma clinical trial that provides insights to guide treatment and shed light on relapsed disease.

Researchers link cellular transport pathway to aggressive brain cancer
Researchers at McGill University have identified a new cellular pathway that limits the growth and spread of brain tumors by controlling the recycling of cell surface receptor proteins. The study, which will be published January 14 in the Journal of Cell Biology (JCB), suggests that the pathway, which involves a protein called Rab35, is defective in many patients with glioblastoma and that restoring Rab35’s activity could be a new therapeutic strategy for this deadly form of brain cancer.
From Glioblastoma to Endurance Races: A Story of Tenacity
Anyone who sees Colin Clark, 57, running, cycling or swimming around the Big Island of Hawaii, likely notices his athleticism and the smile permanently adorning his face.
New Treatment Approach for a Common Glioma Subtype Shows Promise in Animal Models
A combination approach to treating a common subtype of glioma — which includes metabolic reprogramming and immunotherapy — led to complete tumor regression in 60% of study mice.
Netflix to feature Mayo Clinic neurosurgeon in new documentary series
Netflix, a leading streaming entertainment service featuring TV series, documentaries and feature films across a wide variety of genres and languages, will soon begin airing a new documentary series, “The Surgeon’s Cut,” which features an episode about Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa, M.D., a Mayo Clinic neurosurgeon.

A real life “Superman” celebrates 5 years of survival from one of the deadliest cancers
Story of a man who celebrated his five-year survival with GBM. He received 5-ALA prior to surgery, which helps the surgeon see more of the tumor for removal, and he was in a Phase 1 clinical trial.

New targeted therapy blocks metabolism in brain cancer cells with genetic vulnerability
Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have developed a novel targeted therapy, called POMHEX, which blocks critical metabolic pathways in cancer cells with specific genetic defects. Preclinical studies found the small-molecule enolase inhibitor to be effective in killing brain cancer cells that were missing ENO1, one of two genes encoding the enolase enzyme.

Personalized drug screens could guide treatment for children with brain cancer
Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, University of California San Diego School of Medicine and Hopp Children’s Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ) have demonstrated that personalized drug screens can be used to identify new therapeutic candidates for medulloblastoma. The approach measures the effectiveness of therapeutics using tumor cells obtained from a biopsy and can be performed in a few days—making it one of the quickest sources of information used in clinical decision-making.

New tools to improve care for cancer that has spread to the brain
The tools will help doctors and patients make better-informed treatment decisions, enhance the care of brain metastases, and enable hospitals to improve the coordination and effectiveness of their interdisciplinary treatment programs.
Study Suggests New Potential Approach Against Fatal Childhood Brain Cancer
In mouse models of DIPG, simultaneously attacking two metabolic pathways led to significant improvements in survival.
Prostate Cancer Treatment Might Help Some Glioblastoma Patients
Anti-androgen therapy showed positive results in cell lines and animal models against glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.

Targeted ultrasound for noninvasive diagnosis of brain cancer
Brain tumors are typically diagnosed using MRI imaging, as taking a sample for a tissue biopsy is risky and may not be possible due to tumor location or a patient’s health. Researchers are developing a method to diagnose brain tumors without any incisions.
Study Suggests New Approach to Improve Radiation Therapy Resistance in Glioblastoma
Laboratory research paves the way for a clinical trial to see if an FDA-approved drug used to prevent organ transplant rejection can work against glioblastoma, a type of aggressive brain tumor.

Brain Cancer: UVA IDs Gene Responsible for Deadly Glioblastoma
The discovery of the oncogene responsible for glioblastoma could be the brain tumor’s Achilles’ heel, one researcher says.

St. Jude creates resource for pediatric brain tumor research
Researchers worldwide can access orthotopic patient-derived xenograft models to speed discovery and test novel therapies for childhood brain tumors.
Scientists Discover that Nicotine Promotes Spread of Lung Cancer to the Brain
Among people who have the most common type of lung cancer, up to 40% develop metastatic brain tumors, with an average survival time of less than six months.

Ludwig Lausanne Study Charts the Immune Landscape of Multiple Brain Cancers
A Ludwig Cancer Research study has profiled, in a sweeping comparative analysis, the distinct immune landscapes of tumors that arise in the brain, or gliomas, and those that metastasize to the organ from the lungs, breast and skin.

New chemotherapy drug studied for malignant brain tumor in children
MTX110 is a new formulation of panobinostat, a chemotherapy drug that has shown promise in laboratory models of medulloblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumor in children. Now, MTX110 is the focus of a novel trial that places the therapy directly into the fourth ventricle of the brain to treat patients with recurrent medulloblastoma.

Massive study reveals how “hypermutated” malignant brain tumors with many mutations escape chemotherapy and immunotherapy
An analysis of more than 10,000 gliomas and clinical outcomes reported in Nature by scientists in Boston and Paris found that glioma patients whose tumors were hypermutated actually had no significant benefit when treated with checkpoint blockers.

Inherited mutation can predispose children to a type of brain tumor
Collaboration co-led by researchers at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital discovers a novel predisposition gene in pediatric medulloblastoma.

Study: Despite failures, chemo still promising against dangerous childhood brain cancer, DIPG
Chemotherapy has been so unsuccessful against DIPG that researchers have questioned whether chemotherapy drugs are even able to reach the cancer. University of Colorado Cancer Center study shows, “… medicine does reach DIPG tissue in good quantities that have the potential to be effective against the tumor,” says lead researcher.
Henry Ford Health System Receives $25 Million Gift, Largest Single Donation in its History
Nationally-known developer Chris Jeffries and his wife Lisa have donated $25 million to Henry Ford Health System, the largest single gift from an individual in the health system’s 105-year history. This historic gift will rapidly accelerate the growth and expansion of Henry Ford’s Precision Medicine program, with the ultimate goal of creating a Precision Health Center. The efforts will have a robust focus on the advancement of cancer research and treatment, while also expanding to other medical specialties treating behavioral health, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
Battling Brain Cancer on All Fronts
When you’re facing a cancer diagnosis with an average survival span of 12 to 18 months, every milestone is a victory. That makes each wedding invitation, graduation announcement and birthday photo that UCI neuro-oncologist Dr. Daniela Bota receives from her patients a cherished validation of her 12 years of groundbreaking research on glioblastoma multiforme, the most aggressive form of brain cancer.
Stem Cells, CRISPR and Gene Sequencing Technology are Basis of New Brain Cancer Model
University of California San Diego School of Medicine researchers created a new type of brain cancer model for glioblastoma using stem cells, CRISPR and gene sequencing.

Tiny containers transport targeted treatments
Promising intracellular protein-based therapeutics have been of limited use due to the difficulty of delivery into diseased cells. Now bioengineers have developed nanoparticles that can deliver these therapeutics to their targets—avoiding degradation and toxic interactions with healthy tissues.
University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center treats its first glioblastoma patient with genetically modified poliovirus
University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center treated its first patient in a new clinical trial to validate the groundbreaking effects of the poliovirus on glioblastoma (GBM), a deadly Grade IV cancer of the brain.
UH is the only Midwest site participating in this clinical trial, which was initiated at Duke Cancer Institute in Durham, NC. The original study, which ran from 2012-2017, was published in New England Journal of Medicine in July 2018 as well as highlighted on “60 Minutes” in 2015 and again in 2018. The study found that survival rates were significantly higher in glioblastoma patients who received an intratumoral infusion of a modified viral chimera combining the polio and rhinoviruses (PVSRIPO immunotherapy) compared to patients receiving standard treatment at the same institution.
Study Uncovers Unexpected Connection Between Gliomas, Neurodegenerative Diseases
New basic science and clinical research identifies TAU, the same protein studied in the development of Alzheimer’s, as a biomarker for glioma development.

$150K Pledge from Om Foundation to Support Pediatric Cancer Research at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey
A $150,000 pledge from the Om Foundation will aid investigators at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey in examining a certain type of medication that impacts gene activity in the treatment of a form of pediatric brain cancer.
Marker reveals if benign-appearing meningiomas are perilous
A modified protein in benign-appearing meningiomas can reveal which are truly benign and which are more dangerous and require more aggressive treatment, researchers have discovered.
First Molecular Test in US to Better Detect Brain Tumors Now Available to Patients
NYU Langone Health and its Perlmutter Cancer Center have launched clinical whole genome DNA methylation profiling for patients with brain tumors.
This leading-edge molecular assay utilizes DNA epigenetic signatures and artificial intelligence with machine learning to correctly identify and subtype brain tumors. NYU Langone Health is the first Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-certified laboratory in the United States to receive state approval (New York State Department of Health) for whole genome DNA methylation for diagnosis and classification of brain tumors.

Tulane University student spends summer conducting brain tumor research in Switzerland
Tulane University senior James Rogers has been charting a course in the name of research since he arrived on campus in the fall of 2016. Rogers’ journey has led him from New Orleans to Bethesda, Md., across the Atlantic to Scotland and, most recently, Switzerland, where he spent the summer as a visiting research scholar in the Brain Tumor Center at the University Hospital Zürich (USZ).

Delivering Immunotherapy Directly to Brain Tumors
A new study published this week gives insight into how cancer immunotherapies might one day be delivered directly to the brain in order to treat brain tumors.