Breakthrough Study Reveals Promising New Treatment for Recurrent Glioblastoma
Anew study from researchers at the University of Manitoba’s Rady Faculty of Health Sciences has identified a possible treatment option and enhanced understanding of recurrent glioblastoma, a fatal form of brain cancer that claimed the life of beloved Canadian musician Gord Downie in 2017.
Metabolic Characteristics Key to New Discoveries
The study, published in Neuro-Oncology, a journal of the Society for Neuro-Oncology, uncovered unique metabolic characteristics of the later-stage version of glioblastoma. This discovery could lead to better survival outcomes for patients suffering from recurrent glioblastoma, according to Dr. Tanveer Sharif, the corresponding author. Dr. Sharif is an associate professor of pathology and a Canadian Cancer Society Emerging Scholar affiliated with the Max Rady College of Medicine.
Multi-Institutional Research Effort
Dr. Sharif led the study, which involved a team of researchers from multiple departments within the University of Manitoba, including pathology, human anatomy and cell science, biochemistry and medical genetics, pharmacology and therapeutics, and the Faculty of Science. The study also included collaborators from McMaster University’s surgery department. Funding was provided by the Canadian Cancer Society, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and the Cancer Research Society.
Troubling Recurrence Rates in Glioblastoma
Sharif highlighted the grim reality of glioblastoma: 95 percent of patients die within five years of diagnosis, most often due to the recurrence of the disease. Initially, treatments can lead to a complete regression of the tumor, but the cancer often returns, becoming resistant to existing therapies. “When a primary diagnosis of glioblastoma is treated, there is usually a complete regression of the tumor. The patient appears fine, but within a few months the cancer comes back and is deadly. It becomes unresponsive to the current standard care of therapy,” he explained.
Testing in Mice Shows Promising Results
The study analyzed tumor cells from 10 glioblastoma patients and tested treatments in mice. The researchers targeted the unique properties of recurrent glioblastoma, extending survival in mice and potentially leading to more effective human treatments. Sharif’s team examined whether targeting metabolic traits could offer a novel approach. “There are not many therapeutic interventions or treatments available for the recurrent disease, so these findings offer new insight. Identifying the compound MSDC-0160 provides a great edge. The drug has already passed many clinical testing stages, so it has the potential to be quick-to-clinic,” Sharif commented.
Broader Implications and Future Research
Sharif emphasized the broader impact of their findings. The research provides a wealth of knowledge on genetic, protein, and metabolic levels, which can serve as a foundation for future studies. “Our findings are bringing a breadth of knowledge generated by analysis at the level of genes, proteins, and metabolites that many other researchers can use to drive their studies,” he noted.
Published in a Prestigious Journal
Sharif expressed pride in the study’s publication in Neuro-Oncology, a journal with a low acceptance rate and an impact factor of 16.4. “This publication is a testament to our team’s competitiveness at the national level and our inspiring long-term vision to make impactful research discoveries and be the leading research group in the field of brain cancer in Canada,” he added.
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