Washington, D.C. – Researchers in the United States have announced a potentially groundbreaking non-invasive strategy for treating Glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. A team from the University of Washington and Northwestern University in Illinois has developed a novel nasal spray designed to stimulate the body’s immune system to target and fight the cancer cells.
The research team reports that the nasal spray contains a specific type of amino acid that acts as an immune system booster. In pre-clinical trials using mice, the treatment successfully activated the immune system to target brain tumors. The findings offer a glimmer of hope for patients diagnosed with this devastating disease.
Glioblastoma is one of the most common and aggressive types of brain tumors, affecting approximately three in 100,000 people. The cancer is characterized by its rapid spread throughout the brain, often leading to a poor prognosis. One of the major challenges in treating Glioblastoma is effectively delivering therapeutic agents to the brain.
Dr. Alexander Stegh, a neurologist at the University of Washington and research director of brain tumor research at the Siteman Cancer Center, explained the motivation behind the research. “We wanted to change this reality and create non-invasive treatment methods to activate the immune system to attack the cancer,” he stated.
“Through this study, we have successfully created nanoscale structures of nucleic acids through genetic engineering. These structures can stimulate a powerful immune response within the brain, potentially redefining the approach to immunotherapy for brain cancers.” The team is optimistic about the potential of this new approach and is pursuing further research to evaluate its safety and efficacy in human clinical trials. Further updates will be provided as they become available.
