Research:
Cancer Scientists Develop Powerful AI Algorithm To Help Tackle Deadly Glioblastoma (GBM) Scientists at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine (with others) have developed an AI algorithm that performs advanced computational analysis to identify potential targets for GBM and other cancers. Published in Nature Cancer, the authors suggest that the algorithm could be used to stratify glioblastoma patients based on biological features and predict which targeted therapies could provide the best therapeutic options based on each patient’s GBM subtype.
New insights into the drivers of glioma-related epilepsy A team of researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have unveiled the mechanism behind glioma-related epilepsy which, as well as seizures, promotes tumour growth. The study published in Neuron reveals that the tumours can interfere with the ability of surrounding neurones to handle potassium. The disruption of this normal neural function drives seizures, which favour the progression of the disease.
Small-molecule toosendanin reverses macrophage-mediated immunosuppression to overcome glioblastoma resistance to immunotherapy GBM brain tumours are known to have an immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment (TME), which is resistant to immunotherapy. In order to address this, researchers have identified a small-molecule compound called toosendanin (TSN) which is able to reprogram macrophages (white blood cells) to create an antitumour TME in mouse models. They demonstrated that treated mice had a reduced amount of immunosuppressive macrophages and increased survival in combination with other immunotherapies.
Treatments:
FDA Grants Orphan Drug Designation to BEA-17 for Glioblastoma LSD1 overexpression is involved in the development of a variety of cancers, including glioblastoma. BEA-17 is a small molecule compound which degrades LSD1 and its co-factor CoREST. In preclinical models, BEA-17 has also been shown to potentiate immune-modulating treatments in several cancer types, including standard-of-care temozolomide and radiation, which other LSD1 inhibitors have not.
Opportunities:
NIHR Academic Lecturer in Neurosurgery
The University of Birmingham is inviting applications for the post of NIHR Clinical Lecturer. Candidates from either Neurosurgery or General Surgery or Paediatrics will compete for one post in their chosen speciality, which can be in any of the above three areas.
The main aim of this post is to nurture the academic development of a post-doctoral trainee, enabling the individual to develop into an independent principal investigator capable of securing a Clinician Scientist Fellowship in the future. Alongside this academic development, the individual will also obtain high quality clinical training in their specialty.