New brain cancer therapy options explored
University researcher, Theo Mantamadiotis, leads the study for this important paper.
Congratulations to Theo Mantamadiotis, PhD, of the Department of Microbiology & Immunology, who led the study and team behind this paper to be published in Neuro-Oncology.
Featuring in the October edition, the paper outlines how the group discovered a way to slow tumour growth in the most aggressive type of brain cancer – glioblastoma.
Researchers found PI3K hyperactivity initiates glioma-like tumours, which can be switched to a less malignant state by deletion of CREB.
This raises the possibility that CREB is a useful anticancer target.
Backed by a CASS Foundation grant and with funding from the School of Biomedical Sciences, the research included:
- The development of a novel mouse model mimicking mutations seen in glioblastoma;
- The mutant mice developed aggressive fast-growing brain tumours, recapitulating key genetic and cellular characteristics of aggressive human brain tumours;
- How deleting the gene, CREB, slows tumour growth; and
- Evidence that CREB may be a useful target for brain cancer therapy.
Neuro-Oncology is the peak journal in the field and is published by the Society for Neuro-Oncology (USA / International).