'Nano-drug' hits brain-tumor target: Unique triggering device delivers antitumor drugs

'Nano-drug' hits brain-tumor target: Unique triggering device delivers antitumor drugs

Scientists develop nanobioconjugate drug to target brain tumor

Scientists develop nanobioconjugate drug to target brain tumor

Merck wins appeal in its court fight to block Barr Labs from selling generic brain cancer drug | NJ.com

Merck wins appeal in its court fight to block Barr Labs from selling generic brain cancer drug | NJ.com

Vaccine May Help Treat Brain Cancer - Topix

Vaccine May Help Treat Brain Cancer - Topix

How genetic changes make some brain cancers more aggressive - Sci/Tech - DNA

How genetic changes make some brain cancers more aggressive - Sci/Tech - DNA

New tool 'cooks' cancer cells in inoperable brain tumors

New tool 'cooks' cancer cells in inoperable brain tumors

Obama Care already begun to interfere with FDA approval for cancer treatment and future Research - Topix

Obama Care already begun to interfere with FDA approval for cancer treatment and future Research - Topix

Caregivers need more support: Report

Caregivers need more support: Report

Encouraging Data Presented on Oncophage(R) Vaccine at International Conference

Antigenics (NASDAQ: AGEN) today announced that data from a multi-center Phase 1/2 clinical trial of Oncophage (vitespen) for recurrent high-grade glioma (brain cancer) was presented at the International Conference on Brain Tumor Research and Therapy. The study was conducted by the Brain Tumor Research Center at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).

Data from 32 evaluable patients suggest that vaccination with Oncophage may improve overall survival in patients with recurrent high-grade glioma. An overall median survival of 44 weeks after tumor resection was observed. Approximately 70% of the evaluable patients survived beyond 36 weeks, and 41% survived up to or longer than one year. This is considered a significant achievement in the treatment of recurrent high-grade glioma. In addition, Oncophage was well tolerated, with no serious adverse events attributable to the vaccine.

Viruses effective against brain cancer in animals: Human trials set to start

Viruses effective against brain cancer in animals: Human trials set to start

Push to understand basis of childhood brain tumors leads to a new treatment target

Push to understand basis of childhood brain tumors leads to a new treatment target

Generic drug may be potential treatment for deadly brain cancer

Generic drug may be potential treatment for deadly brain cancer

Notch-blocking drugs kill brain cancer stem cells, yet multiple therapies may be needed

February 26, 2010

Working with mice, Johns Hopkins scientists who tested drugs intended to halt growth of brain cancer stem cells - a small population of cells within tumors that perpetuate cancer growth - conclude that blocking these cells may be somewhat effective, but more than one targeted drug attack may be needed to get the job done.

One focus of attack is a chemical pathway within stem cells known as Notch, which scientists have shown is important for cancer stem cell growth. A new study published in the January 28 issue of Stem Cells by Charles Eberhart, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of pathology, ophthalmology, and oncology at Johns Hopkins, now extends these findings to glioblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumor, and ultimately suggests other pathways and treatment with two or more drugs may need to be involved.

Eberhart based his conclusion on experiments in which he coaxed a glioblastoma cell line to form embryolike balls called neurospheres. Unlike most cells that will clump together in a culture dish, neurospheres - more organized groups of neural cells - can only form from stem cells. When Eberhart treated the neurospheres with a drug called GSI-18, which blocks the Notch pathway, the spheres were reduced by 70 percent or more. Eberhart also found that molecular markers typically found on the surface of brain cancer stem cells also plunged.

"This told us that the Notch pathway is a good target for drug development," says Eberhart, but further experiments suggested this approach may not be thorough enough.

In a second set of experiments, Eberhart collected the neurospheres that remained after treatment with the Notch-blocking drug and injected them into the brains of mice. The neurosphere transplants eventually grew into tumors and reignited the Notch pathway.

"This result suggested we didn't get rid of all the stem cells," says Eberhart, "so it's likely we may need to add more therapies or increase the dosage of Notch-blocking drugs."

The study by Eberhart identified additional molecular pathways, including Stat 3 and AKT, which are connected to Notch. He says that a combination of therapies blocking Notch and other pathways such as these could target brain cancer stem cells at several levels and possibly avoid drug resistance.

To test how a Notch-blocking drug worked in an animal model, Eberhart injected tumors into the brains of mice and let the cancer grow for two weeks. Then, at the tumor site, he implanted a polymer bead that was soaked in GSI-18. Five of six mice that received the drug-laden bead survived while all 12 that received a bead with no drug died.

Eberhart notes that Notch-targeting drugs can prove problematic in therapy because the Notch pathway is critically important for cells in the gut, helping cells there alternate between secreting mucus and absorbing nutrients. "A dosing regimen that preserves gut function has been developed, and forthcoming studies in humans will test whether it can kill the cancer stem cells."

Provided by Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions

Study: Brain cancer has four subtypes - Topix

Study: Brain cancer has four subtypes - Topix

Researchers Say Coffee, Caffeine Slow Brain Cancer - Topix

Researchers Say Coffee, Caffeine Slow Brain Cancer - Topix

Researchers Sequence Complete Genome Of Brain Cancer Cell Line - Topix

Researchers Sequence Complete Genome Of Brain Cancer Cell Line - Topix