An Evolution in Brain Tumor Therapies?
Scientists are advancing research to create new therapies to treat this wide-ranging condition.
For those diagnosed with this condition, their experiences will vary widely depending upon the type, stage, and size of their tumor. Following are details regarding different types of brain tumors and advancements in research that are leading to new treatment options.
Each year, nearly 300,000 people around the world will be diagnosed with a brain tumor. A brain tumor is a cluster of abnormal cells that grow in the brain or in nearby tissue, such as the nerves or pituitary gland and the leptomeninges – the layers of membrane that cover your brain and spinal cord.
When cancer originates in another part of the body but spreads to the brain, it’s called a secondary – or metastatic – brain tumor. These are five times more likely to occur than primary brain tumors. The types of cancers that are most likely to spread to the brain are lung, breast, skin, colon, and kidney cancers.
Primary Versus Secondary Brain Tumors
When cancer begins in the brain, it’s called a primary brain tumor. There are more than 120 distinct types of primary brain tumors, each with different symptoms, outcomes, and treatment options.
Grades of Primary Brain Tumors
Grades I and II: Non-Cancerous Brain Tumors
Not all brain tumors are cancerous. Tumors may be benign, and when they are, they are unlikely to grow quickly or spread to other organs. A benign brain tumor can still be serious, as the skull creates a finite amount of space in which the tumor can grow. Ultimately, the benign tumor may press against the brain tissue and elicit symptoms that gradually worsen. Those symptoms may include headaches, seizures, weakness, or personality changes. Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are treatment options for grades I and II brain tumors.
Grades III and IV: Cancerous Brain Tumors
A brain tumor that is graded a III or IV is malignant and more likely to grow quickly. The size and the speed of growth usually determine the severity of symptoms in Grade III and IV tumors.
Treatment options may include surgery, chemoradiation, and Tumor Treating Fields (TT Fields), which direct electrical fields into the cells to slow their growth and spread. A treatment plan may include a combination of these therapies; for example, a surgery may remove most of the cancer and a second therapy like radiation therapy or chemotherapy (also called adjuvant therapy) can treat the remaining cells.
What Are Risk Factors for Developing a Brain Tumor and Can They be Prevented?
Most primary brain tumors lack a direct cause, but a few factors may increase the risk of developing one, including:
• An age greater than 50
• Family history of brain tumors
• A history of radiation therapy for other cancers
For people with a family history of brain cancers, screening is vital to early diagnosis when tumors typically are at their most treatable. For those who do not have a family history, common recommendations to help avoid developing a brain tumor include:
• Consuming a healthy diet
• Avoiding carcinogens such as tobacco
• Practicing good sleep hygiene
• Maintaining an active lifestyle and exercising regularly
The Future of Brain Cancer Therapies
For those at risk or who have been diagnosed, researchers are working on new therapies to improve the diagnosis and treatment of primary brain tumors. While standard treatments currently rely on surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, advancements may mean new treatment options for patients in coming years. Some exciting research advancements include:
CAR T-Cell Therapy
One treatment that holds hope for brain cancers – especially glioblastoma, the most common adult brain tumor – is CAR T-cell therapy. In this type of therapy, doctors inject a cancer-fighting gene into a patient’s T-cells. CAR T-cell therapy has already created powerful effects in people who have blood cancers, and clinical trials are testing its potential to treat brain tumors as well.
Targeted Therapies
Some medicines can target specific changes within a tumor cell that cause it to grow. Although these targeted therapies are in their early stages for brain cancers, some are starting to be used alongside or in place of chemotherapy when other therapies haven’t been effective.
Artificial Intelligence
Could computers predict how a brain tumor will respond to radiation therapy? Scientists are studying how they might use artificial intelligence to scan an MRI and determine how a particular tumor may respond to radiation before treatment even begins.
Viruses
Another cutting-edge therapy involves the use of viruses. Oncolytic G207 immunovirotherapy utilizes a genetically modified virus to attack the tumor’s cells. This groundbreaking approach provides a treatment option that can be used with, or in place of, radiation therapy.
For those suffering with a brain tumor, these new therapies, and others that are on the horizon, offer hope for a cure and the promise of a longer, healthier life.