Research:
New approach for delivering medication across the blood-brain barrier to treat brain tumours. Researchers demonstrated how a peptide (M13) with the intrinsic ability to cross membranes and penetrate tissues could be modified to be more stable and linked to an anti-cancer drug. In pre-clinical trials, the newly linked compound could pass through the blood-brain barrier and reach the tumour at concentration that was be able to kill glioblastoma cells. The study was published in the Journal of Controlled Release and supports further investigation of this approach to help deliver non-BBB penetrant drugs to the central nervous system.
New Technique Zaps Brain Cancer Cells in Lab Model Published in the Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, researchers at the University of Saskatchewan have developed a new method of killing glioblastoma cells while preserving the delicate tissue around it. The team created 3D models of cells to test the treatment protocols for electrical currents –irreversible electroporation (IRE or NanoKnife) and high-frequency irreversible electroporation (H-FIRE). They discovered tumour cells can be killed with a smaller electrical field than those that would kill surrounding healthy tissue, and the technique temporarily disrupts the blood-brain-barrier.
Treatments:
Sapience Therapeutics Announces Poster Presentation on ST101 Efficacy from Phase 2 Study in Recurrent Glioblastoma (GBM) at Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO) Annual Meeting Sapience Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company, presented Phase 2 clinical results of ST101 in recurrent glioblastoma (GBM) during a poster session at the 27th Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO) Annual Meeting. They detailed the results of ST101 which demonstrated clinical proof-of-concept with a mRANO-confirmed partial response in a patient with recurrent GBM and evidence of long-lasting stable disease in several additional patients in the ongoing Phase 2 study.
Reviews:
Early-career setback and future career impact This review, published in Nature Communications examined the careers of junior scientists applying for National Institutes of Health R01 grants. They found that an early-career setback had powerful, opposing effects. It could lead to a 10% chance of disappearing permanently from the NIH system, or those who had near misses, systematically outperforming those with narrow wins in the longer term.
Opportunities:
NCRI CTRad Proposal Guidance meeting; The National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Clinical and Translational Radiotherapy Research Working Group (CTRad) is inviting investigators who have ideas or proposals for Phase I, II and III radiotherapy studies (including proton beam therapy and molecular radiotherapy) to submit their proposals for open discussion and peer input at the next CTRad Proposal Guidance Meeting on 25th January 2023. There will be opportunities for investigators to present and discuss their concepts with CTRad experts at this meeting, prior to application to funding bodies.
Submit proposals by 9th January 2023 to attend the Proposal Guidance meeting. Please note, it is useful to submit proposals even if you have already attended a cancer site-specific Proposal Guidance session. More information can be found here