Research:
The Proteins That Help Brain Cancer Cells Migrate. During brain development, neurones have to migrate long distances through complex environments until they reach their final destination. This paper, published in Cell, investigated this neural migration and identified two compounds; Unc5, present in neurones, and GPC3, found in the fibres through which neurones migrate. They demonstrated Unc5-GPC3 interaction enables the migration of neurones on the fibres, and that they work together to guide neurones during both brain formation and the spread of brain-derived cancer cells (neuroblastoma) throughout the brain.
Treatments:
BioMark's Glioblastoma Study Published in Cancers Demonstrates Inhibiting SAT1 Sensitised Cancer Cells Towards Radiation and Chemotherapy. Glioblastoma (GB) cells, in comparison to normal cells, have high metabolic rates and adapt several cell signalling pathways to promote their survival. Hence, identifying and inhibiting these tumour-protecting pathways can be helpful in managing GB therapy better. In this study, Spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase 1 (SAT1), an enzyme known to cause resistance in GB cells, was targeted and inhibited. Lipid nanoparticles were designed and formulated to target and silence the SAT1 gene responsible for making the enzyme. Inhibiting SAT1 in GB cells was toxic to the GB cells and further sensitised them towards radiation and chemotherapy. Click here to read the full journal article.
Pharmacological Landscape of FDA-approved Anticancer Drugs Reveals Sensitivities to Ixabepilone, Romidepsin, Omacetaxine, and Carfilzomib in Aggressive Meningiomas. To date, there are no systemic treatment options for patients with recurrent or refractory meningioma. This study, published in Clinical Cancer Research, aimed to identify effective drugs by performing a large-scale drug screening using FDA-approved drugs on several meningioma cell lines. They identified carfilzomib, omacetaxine, ixabepilone, and romidepsin as novel potent anticancer agents for the treatment of aggressive meningiomas, with ixabepilone demonstrating the most pronounced effects.
Reviews:
Medical Device Advances in the Treatment of Glioblastoma. This review summarises key innovations in the field of medical devices, developed either to improve the delivery of existing treatments, such as chemo-radiotherapy, or provide novel treatments using devices, such as electric field therapy. Potential limitations and current challenges are discussed, to read the review, click here.