brain tumour vaccine shows promise for glioma

researchers at the german cancer research center may have developed a vaccine to fight the progression of a notoriously aggressive form of brain tumour.

the brain cancer targeted by this vaccine, called glioma, makes up about 33 per cent of diagnosed brain tumours, according to johns hopkins medicine. an estimated 70 per cent of glioma carry the same genetic mutation, affecting the idh1 enzyme, which contributes to the development of this cancer.

“our idea was to support patients’ immune system and to use a vaccine as a targeted way of alerting it to the tumour…” study director dr. michael platten, medical director of the department of neurology of university medicine mannheim, explained in a news release. “that means that a vaccine against the mutated protein allows us to tackle the problem at the root.”

vaccine tested against aggressive form of brain cancer
gliomas are a common type of brain cancer, making up about 33 per cent of diagnosed brain tumours, according to johns hopkins medicine. glioma affects cells that support the neurons in the brain, called glial cells. there are several types of glial cells, each of which can develop a form of glioma, however the most numerous type of glial cell is a multi-functional support unit called an astrocyte . glioma, or brain cancer, that affects the astrocytes is called astrocytoma.

there are four ‘grades’ of astrocytoma, with grades three (also called anaplastic astrocytoma) and grade four (also called glioblastoma) considered to be more aggressive and pose a greater risk of spreading to other regions of the brain and spinal cord, according to cancer research uk.

about 80 per cent of astrocytomas diagnosed are grade 4 glioblastomas. treatment for glioblastoma is generally considered palliative, which means the aim is to relieve symptoms and give patients a better quality of life but is not expected to cure the cancer. depending on the size and location of the tumour, patients will typically undergo surgery to remove as much of the tumour as possible, then receive chemo or radiation treatment to treat what remains, according to the u.s. national institute of health.

currently, only about 22 percent of patients aged 22-44 years old will survive more than five years after they are diagnosed with grade 4 glioblastoma. this rate drops to six per cent for patients aged 55 and older. overall, the median survival rate for glioblastoma is 12-14 months.

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