The fight against glioblastoma, a deadly brain cancer, has been boosted by new research conducted at Washington University that has developed nasal drops which can travel through nerves found in the nose and reach different parts of our central nervous system in order to fight the glioblastoma cells there.
Preliminary results revealed that this novel medication safely reached the intended target and protected the mice against the fatal tumors.
Alexander Stegh, a neurosurgeon at the university, explains that their approach offers hope for more effective and safer treatments for this deadliest brain cancer and possibly other cancers that are resistant to the immune system. He adds that their preliminary study marks a major step towards the clinical application of the treatment.
Glioblastoma is difficult to detect early, very aggressive and deactivates the body’s normal immune system. These attributes make the tumors very difficult to treat using the existing cancer therapies available.
It is also very difficult to reach glioblastoma tumors since they form within the brain as well as in different other locations of the central nervous system, which is delicate. The fact that they spread rapidly in various locations also compounds the task of combating the tumors. When a person develops this brain cancer, their brain function is impaired due to nearby healthy tissue being compressed and inflamed. The tumors also hijack the blood supply of the surrounding brain tissue.
Previously, scientists have made attempts to activate interferon genes (STING genes) to alert patients’ immune systems about glioblastoma’s presence. These genes usually look out for viral infections and prime the immune system to attack those viruses. However, drugs designed to activate interferon genes to identify tumor cells break down rapidly and this makes it necessary to administer the drugs repeatedly, yet the procedure is highly invasive and risky.
The Washington University team sought a simpler way to get these medications to their target sites by leveraging nanotechnology. They aimed at sparing patients from having to undergo the repeated invasive procedures through which drugs are administered into brain tumors.
Their solution involved wrapping the STING-activating genetic material into spheres that were wrapped around gold nanoparticle cores so that the lifespan of the molecules could be extended. Mice with glioblastoma were treated using these carrier nanoparticles and results showed that the cancer’s growth was inhibited.
The findings provide proof of concept regarding the viability of spherical nucleic acids in activating the immune system against this brain cancer and possibly other malignancies that exhibit similar characteristics.
More needs to be done before the approach can be tested in humans, and it is especially important to pair these nanoparticles with other treatments since cancer is notorious for quickly mutating in order to evade any new obstacle that it encounters.
Therapeutics being developed by companies like CNS Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: CNSP) against glioblastoma and other central nervous system cancers could therefore be valuable additional weapons in the toolkit against brain cancer on their own or in combination with other therapies.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to CNS Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: CNSP) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/CNSP
About BioMedWire
BioMedWire (“BMW”) is a specialized communications platform with a focus on the latest developments in the Biotechnology (BioTech), Biomedical Sciences (BioMed) and Life Sciences sectors. It is one of 75+ brands within the Dynamic Brand Portfolio @ IBN that delivers: (1) access to a vast network of wire solutions via InvestorWire to efficiently and effectively reach a myriad of target markets, demographics and diverse industries; (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ outlets; (3) enhanced press release enhancement to ensure maximum impact; (4) social media distribution via IBN to millions of social media followers; and (5) a full array of tailored corporate communications solutions. With broad reach and a seasoned team of contributing journalists and writers, BMW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that want to reach a wide audience of investors, influencers, consumers, journalists and the general public. By cutting through the overload of information in today’s market, BMW brings its clients unparalleled recognition and brand awareness.
BMW is where breaking news, insightful content and actionable information converge.
To receive SMS alerts from BioMedWire, “Biotech” to 888-902-4192 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only)
For more information, please visit https://www.BioMedWire.com
Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the BioMedWire website applicable to all content provided by BMW, wherever published or re-published: https://www.BioMedWire.com/Disclaimer
BioMedWire
San Francisco, CA
www.BioMedWire.com
415.949.5050 Office
Editor@BioMedWire.com
BioMedWire is powered by IBN
A newly published study shows that the fight against cancer could be boosted by considering…
BioMedWire Editorial Coverage: Chronic illnesses and rare disorders among older Americans represent a rapidly intensifying…
The steep cost of healthcare in the U.S. has always been, and is becoming an…
BioMedWire Editorial Coverage: Chronic conditions and rare diseases in the aging population present an urgent…
The enrollment milestone represents a crucial step forward for the FLASH2 study, which builds upon…
For a long time, the scientific community has known that anything that causes harm to…