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READ MOREPublished on May 31, 2018 in Research, Our Impact, Clinical Trials
Over the years, NBTS has given nearly $40 million to brain tumor research projects. We’re very proud of the impact this funding has made in advancing the neuro-oncology field closer to better treatments and ultimately a cure. And while NBTS is currently focused on driving our flagship research projects – like the Defeat GBM (glioblastoma) Research Collaborative – forward, there also continues to be great scientific research efforts happening in the neuro-oncology field, en masse. This is critical, as no one researcher, one lab, or one institution can cure this disease alone. Below are highlights of some newly published research from the brain tumor scientific and medical community, compiled by NBTS Research Programs Manager, Amanda Bates:
Discordant inheritance of chromosomal and extrachromosomal DNA elements contributes to dynamic disease evolution in glioblastoma
deCarvalho AC, Kim H, Verhaak RGW, et al (2018) Nature Genetics DOI: 10.1038/s41588-018-0105-0 – > View the paper
Abstract
To understand how genomic heterogeneity of glioblastoma (GBM) contributes to poor therapy response, we performed DNA and RNA sequencing on GBM samples and the neurospheres and orthotopic xenograft models derived from them. We used the resulting dataset to show that somatic driver alterations including single-nucleotide variants, focal DNA alterations and oncogene amplification on extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) elements were in majority propagated from tumor to model systems. In several instances, ecDNAs and chromosomal alterations demonstrated divergent inheritance patterns and clonal selection dynamics during cell culture and xenografting. We infer that ecDNA was unevenly inherited by offspring cells, a characteristic that affects the oncogenic potential of cells with more or fewer ecDNAs. Longitudinal patient tumor profiling found that oncogenic ecDNAs are frequently retained throughout the course of disease. Our analysis shows that extrachromosomal elements allow rapid increase of genomic heterogeneity during GBM evolution, independently of chromosomal DNA alterations.
Significance: NBTS funded this study through multiple grants to Dr. Roel Verhaak. This work is also a complement to previous work published by Defeat GBM researcher, Dr. Paul Mischel (see here) that was called “paradigm-shifting” for the field to now consider in research efforts moving forward. On how this study validates and relates to Dr. Mischel’s previous discovery:
The utility of our work is that it highlights a mechanism that glioma cells use to circumvent environmental stresses such as from therapy, and thereby make the tumor more therapy resistant and more lethal. Paul’s work demonstrated how common this mechanism is across cancer and glioma in particular.
Attribution: Dr. Verhak
Ibrutinib inactivates BMX-STAT3 in glioma stem cells to impair malignant growth and radioresistance
Shi Y, Guryanova OA, Bao S, et al (2018) Science Translational Medicine DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aah6816
> View the paper
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most lethal primary brain tumor and is highly resistant to current treatments. GBM harbors glioma stem cells (GSCs) that not only initiate and maintain malignant growth but also promote therapeutic resistance including radioresistance. Thus, targeting GSCs is critical for overcoming the resistance to improve GBM treatment. Because the bone marrow and X-linked (BMX) nonreceptor tyrosine kinase is preferentially up-regulated in GSCs relative to nonstem tumor cells and the BMX-mediated activation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is required for maintaining GSC self-renewal and tumorigenic potential, pharmacological inhibition of BMX may suppress GBM growth and reduce therapeutic resistance. We demonstrate that BMX inhibition by ibrutinib potently disrupts GSCs, suppresses GBM malignant growth, and effectively combines with radiotherapy. Ibrutinib markedly disrupts the BMX-mediated STAT3 activation in GSCs but shows minimal effect on neural progenitor cells (NPCs) lacking BMX expression. Mechanistically, BMX bypasses the suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3)–mediated inhibition of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), whereas NPCs dampen the JAK2-mediated STAT3 activation via the negative regulation by SOCS3, providing a molecular basis for targeting BMX by ibrutinib to specifically eliminate GSCs while preserving NPCs. Our preclinical data suggest that repurposing ibrutinib for targeting GSCs could effectively control GBM tumor growth both as monotherapy and as an adjuvant with conventional therapies
Minimally Invasive Resection of Deep-seated High-grade Gliomas Using Tubular Retractors and Exoscopic Visualization
Iyer R, Chaichana KL (2018) Journal of Neurological Surgery Part A DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1641738
> View the paper
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS/OBJECTIVE: Deep-seated high-grade gliomas (HGGs) represent a unique surgical challenge because they reside deep to critical cortical and subcortical structures and infiltrate functional areas of the brain. Therefore, accessing and resecting these tumors can often be challenging and associated with significant morbidity. We describe the use of minimally invasive approaches to access deep-seated HGGs to achieve extensive resections while minimizing surgical morbidity.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients who underwent resection of a deep-seated intraparenchymal HGG with the use of a tubular retractor with exoscopic visualization from January 2016 to May 2017 were identified prospectively at a single institution. Variables evaluated included tumor location, pre- and postoperative neurologic function, extent of resection, and length of hospital stay.
RESULTS: Overall, 14 patients underwent resection of an HGG (11 glioblastomas, 3 anaplastic astrocytomas) with a tubular retractor under exoscopic visualization. Seven tumors (50%) involved the thalamus, three (21%) the motor corticospinal tract, two (14%) the inferior frontal occipital fasciculus, one (7%) each the basal ganglia and optic pathway. The median preoperative Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS) was 70 (interquartile range: 55-80), where the major presenting symptom was motor weakness in seven (50%). The average plus or minus the standard error of the mean percentage resection was 97.0 ± 1.2%. The median hospital stay was 4 days (range: 2-7). At 1 month postoperatively, median postoperative KPS (within 30 days) was 87 (range: 77-90), where eight (57%) were improved, five (36%) were stable, and one (7%) was worse postoperatively.
CONCLUSIONS: Deep-seated HGGs can be accessed, visualized, and resected using tubular retractors and exoscopic visualization with minimal morbidity.
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TAGGED WITH: brain cancer, brain tumor, GBM, glioblastoma, glioblastoma multiforme, high-grade glioma, Treatment, precision medicine, glioma, Defeat GBM