Trailblazing research gives hope for less-invasive tumour treatment

Brain Tumour Research

2 min read

Ground-breaking research at one of our Centres of Excellence has offered hope for a gentler approach to treating low-grade tumours.

Scientists at the Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence at The University of Plymouth have discovered that targeting a protein called MERTK on the surface of tumour cells could be a new means of addressing meningiomas. They are the most common type of brain tumour in adults, previously only treated with invasive surgery and/or radiotherapy. The results also indicate this approach could prove beneficial in the treatment of schwannoma, another type of nervous system tumour.

During the study – which was part-funded by Animal Free Research UK – our Plymouth scientists discovered that using a drug to block MERTK stopped meningioma and schwannoma tumour cells dividing, and the tumour itself growing.

The news was applauded by actor Craig Russell, who earlier this week was announced as our Ambassador. Netflix star, writer and producer Craig, 47, was diagnosed with a meningioma after months of debilitating migraines and brain fog.

After undergoing surgery and having part of his skull replaced, he has experienced firsthand the emotional and physical trauma of such gruelling treatment. “This development is huge,” said Craig, a father of two from Falmouth, Cornwall. “The surgery to remove my meningioma lasted nearly seven hours. I had to have my skull rebuilt and so even though the tumour is now a thing of the past, I’m still, 18 months later, recovering from surgery.

“To think that, hopefully in the not-too-distant future, people with low-grade tumours can be treated in this way, means that sufferers and their families won’t have to go through what we did.”

Dr Sylwia Ammoun, who led the research, said: “There are many drugs being developed to target MERTK, including some going through clinical trials for other cancer types. Thus, this research offers hope to patients with meningioma and schwannoma tumours that a new treatment may be on the horizon. Research presented in this paper was possible due to the hard work and dedication of PhD students, Dr Foram Dave and Kevin Herrera.”

Yesterday, our scientists were able to celebrate the breakthrough with some of our most impactful fundraisers – families of those affected by brain tumours – during a lab tour of our Plymouth Centre of Excellence. During the visit, they placed tiles on our Wall of Hope, in memory of those they have lost.