Brain Cancer Research
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Steroids May Limit the Effectiveness of Immunotherapy for Brain CancerPosted:
In people with glioblastoma and other brain cancers, steroids appear to limit the effectiveness of immunotherapy drugs, a new study shows. The findings should influence how steroids are used to manage brain tumor symptoms, researchers said.
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Liquid Biopsy Detects Brain Cancer and Early-Stage Kidney CancerPosted:
Results from two studies show that a liquid biopsy that analyzes DNA in blood accurately detected kidney cancer at early and more advanced stages and identified and classified different types of brain tumors.
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Artificial Intelligence Expedites Brain Tumor Diagnosis during SurgeryPosted:
A method that combines artificial intelligence with an advanced imaging technology can accurately diagnose brain tumors in fewer than 3 minutes during surgery, a new study shows. The approach can also accurately distinguish tumor from healthy tissue.
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Brain Cancer Cells Hijack Gene “On Switches” to Drive Tumor GrowthPosted:
Glioblastoma cells sneak many copies of a key oncogene into circular pieces of DNA. In a new NCI-funded study, scientists found that the cells also slip several different genetic “on switches” into these DNA circles, helping to fuel the cancer’s growth.
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Glioblastoma Study Highlights Sex Differences in Brain CancerPosted:
Men and women with glioblastoma appear to respond differently to standard treatment. A new study identifies biological factors that might contribute to this sex difference.
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Blood Test Shows Promise for Detecting Genetic Changes in Brain TumorsPosted:
A liquid biopsy blood test can detect DNA from brain tumors called diffuse midline gliomas, researchers have found. This minimally invasive test could be used to identify and follow molecular changes in children with these highly lethal brain tumors.
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Can Immunotherapy Succeed in Glioblastoma?Posted:
Despite continued efforts to develop new therapies for glioblastoma, none have been able to improve how long patients live appreciably. Despite some setbacks, researchers are hopeful that immunotherapy might be able to succeed where other therapies have not.
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Adding Immune-based Treatments to Standard Glioblastoma TherapyPosted:
This phase 2 trial is testing standard therapy (surgery, radiation, and temozolomide) plus the checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab with or without a cancer treatment vaccine for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma, a common and deadly type of brain tumor.
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Glioblastoma—Unraveling the Threads: A Q&A with Drs. Mark Gilbert and Terri Armstrong of the NIH Neuro-Oncology BranchPosted:
Progress against the brain cancer glioblastoma has been slow. Drs. Mark Gilbert and Terri Armstrong of NCI’s Neuro-Oncology Branch discuss why and what’s being done to change that.
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PARP Inhibitors May Be Effective in Brain, Other Cancers with IDH MutationsPosted:
Studies presented at the 2017 AACR annual meeting suggest that therapies which take advantage of the mutations in the IDH gene may be more effective than drugs that block it.
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Brain Cancer’s Cholesterol Addiction May Offer New Treatment StrategyPosted:
Brain cancer cells are heavily dependent on a constant supply of cholesterol to survive, a new study suggests. And in mice with brain tumors, treatment with a cholesterol-depleting drug slowed tumor growth and improved survival.
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Trials Produce Practice-Changing Results for Brain CancerPosted:
Results from two clinical trials show that treating patients with the chemotherapy drug temozolomide in addition to radiation therapy increased overall and progression-free survival.
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Genome Study Links Misfolded DNA to Brain TumorsPosted:
Changes in the packaging of DNA in the cell nucleus may activate growth-promoting genes that cause cancer.
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Patient with Brain Tumor Responds Dramatically to Targeted TherapyPosted:
A patient with a papillary craniopharyngioma saw his tumor shrink more than 80 percent after treatment with a targeted drug that inhibits a mutant form of the BRAF protein.
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Genomic underpinnings of brain tumors expandedPosted:
TCGA researchers analyzed nearly 300 cases of diffuse low- and intermediate-grade gliomas, which together comprise lower-grade gliomas. LGGs occur mainly in adults and include astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas and oligoastrocytomas.
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"Flipping the Switch": An Interview with Dr. Mark Gilbert, Chief of NIH’s Neuro-Oncology BranchPosted:
NCI's Dr. Mark Gilbert discusses new developments in neuro-oncology and the priorities of the Neuro-Oncology Branch.