• Glioblastoma (GBM) forms from cells called astrocytes that support nerve cells and scientists have identified the origin and a specific gene needed for GBM growth. They discovered cancer-causing mutations in a gene called PDGFRA which drives cell division and growth when it is activated
• The Ivy Brain Tumour Centre at the Barrow Neurological Institute has announced the opening of a Phase 0 clinical trial for patients with newly diagnosed and recurrent GBM to evaluate Pamiparib, an investigational small molecule PARP inhibitor. The study will assess Pamiparib’s ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier and also marks the first trial to enrol newly diagnosed GBM patients, in addition to recurrent GBM patients
• For those of you on LinkedIn, you might want to keep an eye on TVAX Biomedical – their lead drug candidate (TVI-Brain-1) is being evaluated for the treatment of brain cancer and targets GBM. TVAX have received Fast Track Designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to test TVI-Brain-1 in a Phase 2b clinical study GBM and this designation has been supported by positive Phase 2 clinical data, as well as extensive preclinical and Phase 1 safety studies
• Optune is a specialist non-invasive medical device that sends low intensity, alternating electrical waves – referred to as Tumour Treating Fields (TTF) – through a patient’s head. The TTF are tuned to specific frequencies to disrupt cell division, inhibiting tumour growth and potentially causing cancer cells to die. The device is being developed by Novocure, an international oncology company with operations in the U.S., Europe and Asia. This week Novocure announced that the first patient has been enrolled in its global phase 3 TRIDENT trial, a randomized study in newly diagnosed glioblastoma testing the potential survival benefit of initiating Optune concurrent with radiation therapy. Also, this week the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health has added Optune in combination with temozolomide to the list of remedies and equipment for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma.
• You will need to purchase the full article to read full details however you can access the opening of the abstract by clicking through and finding out more about the treatment of refractory (chronic, unmanageable) insomnia in a brain tumour patient.
• Seizures are one of the most common symptoms and signs of a brain tumour, particularly, for people who do not have a history of seizures. They can be debilitating and really impact on a person’s quality of life.  Here Neurosurgeon Dr Kareem Zaghloul explains how two-stage surgery is helping people with brain tumours by not only removing their tumours but also eliminating the cause of their seizures. Further, Dr Zaghloul is studying the extracted tissue thought to be the cause of the seizures and his team has found metabolic differences in the tissue compared to normal brain tissue
• Click for protocol details of a US-based Phase II trial of Nivolumab for IDH-mutated Gliomas with Hypermutator Phenotype
• Finally, this week some news of a Phase II Study of Dose-Dense Temozolomide and Lapatinib for Recurrent Low-Grade and Anaplastic Supratentorial, Infratentorial, and Spinal Cord Ependymoma
  

Related reading:

• What are the symptoms of a brain tumour?
• Surgery for brain tumours

Our research updates will be back on the 9^th January 2021

If you found this story interesting or helpful, sign up to our weekly e-news and keep up to date with all the latest from Brain Tumour Research.