Research
Integrative spatial analysis reveals a multi-layered organisation of glioblastoma. In this study, researchers used spatial transcriptomics with spatial proteomics to define the organisation of gliomas. Overall, the researchers found three modes of spatial organisation. They also highlighted the prominent role of hypoxia (lack of oxygen) as an organiser, in both the surrounding cells and at long-range, and the relative disorganisation of regions that lack hypoxia. The researchers commented that their work “adds a spatial dimension to our growing understanding of the glioma ecosystem and may aid the development of novel treatments.”
A novel NFAT1-IL6/JAK/STAT3 signalling pathway related nomogram predicts overall survival in gliomas In this study, researchers discovered that a protein known as NFAT1 (Nuclear factor of activated T cell-1) is expressed differently in various types of cancers and plays a crucial role in malignant progression in glioma patients through the IL6-JAK-STAT3 signalling pathway.
Published in Scientific reports, this study proposed a prognostic model for glioma overall survival (OS) rate based on this NFAT1-IL6-JAK-STAT3 signalling pathway. They concluded that this individualised model can be used to predict the OS rate of patients with glioma at 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10 years and could offer practical clinical decisions for personalised treatment of glioma patients, to a certain extent.
Treatments
Lenalidomide Demonstrates Promising Activity in Paediatric Gliomas/Astrocytomas The immunomodulatory agent lenalidomide (Revlimid) appeared clinically active and tolerable in pilocytic astrocytomas and optic pathway gliomas in a cohort of paediatric patients who progressed following initial therapy, according to findings from a phase 2 trial published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The relevance of the study was stated as “The limited range of acute toxicities and efficacy at the standard dose, make lenalidomide as a potential agent for managing low grade glioma using a chronic disease paradigm.”
A pilot phase 1B study to evaluate tadalafil to overcome immunosuppression during chemoradiotherapy for IDH-wildtype glioblastoma Myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) is a critical regulator of immunosuppression and radioresistance in glioblastoma. In previous studies tadalafil has been shown to lower MDSCs.
In this phase 1b study, patients with newly diagnosed IDH-wildtype glioblastoma received radiation therapy and temozolomide combined with oral tadalafil for two months. The study concluded that concurrent tadalafil is well tolerated during chemoradiotherapy for glioblastoma and was associated with a reduction of peripheral MDSC after chemoradiotherapy, and increased CD8 T-cell (a useful immune cell) proliferation and activation. The tadalafil cohort did not have significantly different progression free survival and overall survival than the historical control.
Opportunities
The Children with Cancer UK Childhood Cancer Conference is to take place in Birmingham 19-20th September 2023. The conference will bring together leading researchers, clinicians, healthcare professionals, early career researchers, representatives from funders across the childhood cancer sector and patient advocates to share their latest findings and discuss the latest trends in the field.
The early bird registration deadline is 27th July 2023.