Search for early diagnostic markers of brain cancer supported with ACRF funding Posted on July 24, 2014February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit ACRF-funded cutting edge technology is helping researchers at Melbourne’s MIMR-PHI Institute move closer to early diagnosis and treatment of Glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive form of brain cancer. More than 1,000 Australians are affected by Glioblastoma each year and most are not expected to live more than two years after diagnosis. Although researchers have come a long way in understanding and managing the disease, diagnosis and treatment remain a challenge. Continue reading “Search for early diagnostic markers of brain cancer supported with ACRF funding”
Promising results in world-first trials for aggressive brain cancer treatment Posted on May 8, 2014February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit A major breakthrough in the treatment of aggressive brain cancer called Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), using immunology has been made by scientists at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute. Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is the most common malignant brain cancer, diagnosed in about 800 Australians every year with, unfortunately very low five year survival rates. The research used immunology to attack the cancer, and found that of the study participants lived much longer than the six-month prognosis normally given to a patient with recurrent GBM. Some patients showed no signs of disease progression at all. Continue reading “Promising results in world-first trials for aggressive brain cancer treatment”
Aggressive brain tumours to be newly targeted with Leukaemia therapy Posted on February 12, 2013February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit A new target for treating aggressive brain tumours has been discovered by researchers at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR), and better still, a therapy for this target is already in the advanced stages of development. Originally, the protein EphA3 was discovered in 1992 for its role in promoting Leukaemia cancer cells. This finding was made by Professor Andrew Boyd at QIMR, and clinical trials have since commenced to test a treatment which targets that particular cancer cell activity. Now, years later, Professor Andrew Boyd together with Dr Bryan Day have found the same protein is implicated in up to 50% of cases of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), particularly in the most aggressive cases. “This protein is something we can directly target with a treatment we’ve already developed,” said Dr Day. “It’s early days, but we know cells which express the protein EphA3 can be eradicated in the laboratory with this treatment, so it’s very encouraging.” Continue reading “Aggressive brain tumours to be newly targeted with Leukaemia therapy”
