Research:
Datar secures FDA Breakthrough Designation for blood test to detect inaccessible brain tumours Datar Cancer Genetics announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted ‘Breakthrough Device Designation’ for its ‘TriNetra-Glio’, a blood test to help in the diagnosis of brain tumours. The test isolates circulating tumour cells in a 15ml blood sample and prepares them for histopathological analysis, accurately identifying the presence of glial-malignancies.
A blinded study conducted at Imperial College, London, involving Brain Tumour Research-funded researchers, Dr Nel Syed and Dr Giulio Anichini, showed that the TriNetra-Glio liquid biopsy detects brain tumours with high accuracy.
Modelling of intracranial tumour treating fields for the treatment of complex high-grade gliomas Researchers in this study postulated the dampening effect the skull plays in the delivery of Tumour Treating Fields (TTFs) to tumours within the brain, reporting that 75% of injected currents do not reach target tissue. They suggest that bypassing the skull with neurosurgically implanted intracranial stimulation systems are an appealing solution to increase field strength within hemispheric tumours, and provide initial proof of concept data which demonstrates the need for further investigations.
Preclinical Study Shows Losartan May Prevent Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor–Induced Cerebral Oedema in Glioblastoma Researchers have demonstrated that the blood pressure drug losartan may prevent immunotherapy-induced oedema and allow patients with glioblastoma to continue receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors without developing adverse effects in the brain, in a new study published by Datta et al in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Treatments:
Australian first clinical trial for fatal childhood brain cancer For the first time outside of the United States, doctors at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, Australia, will use CAR-T cell therapy in a Phase 1 study for children (< 22 years of age) with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG). The study will be of open-label, single ascending dose-escalation design and will assess both manufacture of, and treatment with, Autologous GD2-Specific chimeric antigen receptor-expressing T cells (GD2-iCAR-PBT). More information can be found here.
First Patient Injected With Novel Radiotherapy in Phase 2b Trial for Brain Cancer In Phase 1 studies, rhenium (186Re) obisbemeda – a novel injectable radiotherapy - demonstrated significantly improved overall survival for patients with recurrent glioblastoma. In a progression of this work, the first patient has been dosed in a phase 2b clinical trial designed to assess feasibility, safety, dose ranging and efficacy of the therapy.
Opportunities:
The Queen Square Neurosurgery Review Course 2023 will take place from the 9th - 13th May 2023 at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London, UK.
The course provides a comprehensive and up-to-date review of the neurosurgical curriculum delivered by expert international faculty. There will be 5 days of hybrid didactic lectures and mock vivas for FRCS (SN) preparation. Aimed at neurosurgical trainees and fellows of all grades.
There are very limited face-to-face places, with an early bird discount until 28th February 2023, and a discount for SBNS, EANS, and WFNS members at any time.
Five scholarships are also available to support international delegates from low-middle income countries for the online only course via the Harkness Global Delegate Scholarship. The deadline for application submission is 1st April 2023.
Click here for more information, and here to register your interest.