Treatments:

Researchers Identify Potential Treatment for Gliomas Two independent studies have uncovered a vulnerability in different brain tumours that may make them susceptible to the same treatments. In both studies, published in Cancer Cell ( paper 1, paper 2), a drug called BAY 2402234 penetrated the brains of mice with gliomas and shrank their tumours. Based on the findings, both teams of investigators are planning clinical trials to test the drug in people with diffuse midline glioma (occurs most often in children) or IDH-mutant glioma (more common in adults). 

Study data for glioblastoma treatment confirms safety and tolerability profile The final results of a phase 1/2 study of the drug TLX101 (131I-IPA) administered with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) have been reported. The study demonstrated the safety and tolerability profile of TLX101 at the dosing range tested. It also delivered encouraging preliminary efficacy data for further evaluation. 

Research:

Researchers discover potential therapeutic target for deadly brain tumours. Researchers at VCU Massey Cancer Center have uncovered a previously unknown genetic process that could inform the development of novel treatment options for glioblastoma (GBM). The study, published in Science Advances,  suggests that IncEPAT (separate strand of long non-coding RNA) acts as a genetic moderator allowing for EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) to escape the antitumour role of USP16 and fuel cancer progression.

Novel Technique Reveals Surprising New Way to Suppress Tumour Cells  By analysing key enzymes in a new way, an international team led by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine has discovered how a well-known signalling molecule can either stimulate or suppress tumour growth depending on where it’s produced. The research, published in Cell Reports, reveals a new aspect of tumour cell biology, and points to a promising strategy for treating many types of cancer.

Opportunities:

There are two fantastic opportunities to work in Silvia Marino’s lab at the Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London. Silvia leads the Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence at the Institute, studying glioblastoma multiform (GBM) and some rarer, primarily childhood tumours, such as medulloblastoma. These Cancer Research UK funded positions demonstrate the amazing progress being made by the lab in both GBM and childhood tumour research.

-        Postdoctoral Research Assistant – Research focus: Malignant brain tumours of childhood (closes 21^st October 2022).

-        Postdoctoral Research Assistant – Research focus: Glioblastoma (closes 18^th October 2022).

Related reading:

• What is a diffuse midline glioma?
• What areas of research does our Centre of Excellence at Queen Mary University of London focus on?
  

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