Important Discovery Eliminates Brain Cancer in Mice

Glioblastoma is one of the most common and dangerous forms of brain cancer, making it one of the most challenging types to treat. However, there may be good news on the horizon. The hydrogel evenly covers the cancer cavity and the thin voids left by tumor removal, releasing an antibody called aCD47 over several weeks. The treatment appears to reach areas of the tumor site that other drugs may miss. Betty Tyler, a professor of neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins University, states, "We do not usually see 100% survival rates in mouse models for this disease. The idea that there is potential for this new combination of hydrogel to change the survival curve for glioblastoma patients is extremely exciting. This ability to deliver drugs and antibodies together is another aspect that makes the hydrogel unique. It is challenging to combine the two because they have different molecular structures." Researchers describe the strategy as "drug through drug." In tests, it seemed to enhance the immune system in the animals. When glioblastoma tumors reappeared, the mice were able to fight them off on their own, without further treatment. However, surgery is still necessary to remove the original tumor. When the gel was applied without first removing the tumor, the survival rate dropped to 50%. Chemical and biomedical engineer Hongjiang Kui from Johns Hopkins University notes, "Surgery is likely alleviating some of this pressure and allowing more time for the gel to activate the immune system to fight the cancer cells."