Research news

Brain Tumour UK research scientist gets university's top research job (25.10.12)

Professor John Darling, a leading figure in the field of brain tumour research and co-director of our Neuro-Oncology Research Centre, has been appointed as the Dean of Research at the University of Wolverhampton. Find out more.

Help design a clinical study into combined treatment approach (15.08.12)

We’ve been approached by a leading hospital to help gather views on a proposed clinical study into a different approach to treatment. Patients, carers and healthcare professional have an opportunity to shape the study before it is formally launched. Find out more.

Take part: Give your views

Drug trial findings show improved progression-free survival (10.08.12)

Preliminary results from a combined treatment trial which included Avastin (bevacizumab) give new hope for the treatment of glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive type of primary brain tumours. Read response from Chief Executive of Brain Tumour UK.

Source: Roche

Help find the cause of brain tumours: new study (26.07.12)

The National Brain Tumour Study is collecting blood samples from patients diagnosed with gliomas in the last three years. It is creating a DNA database in order to identify new hereditary and/or environmental factors that may increase the risk of developing brain tumours. How to take part in the study

Source: Institute of Cancer Research

Genetic markers discovered for brain tumours (15.06.12)

Scientists have found new genetic markers that could be used to help diagnose and combat a type of brain tumour that mainly targets children.

An international collaboration between the University of Nottingham and the Hospital for Sick Kids in Toronto has studied the causes of central nervous system primitive neuroectodermal brain tumours, a disease for which prognoses are typically extremely poor.

Source: Children's Brain Tumour Research Centre, University of Nottingham

Brain Tumour UK welcomes brain cancer vaccine trial (16.05.12)

Jenny Baker OBE, Chief Executive of Brain Tumour UK, has welcomed a pioneering treatment that could double survival times for hundreds of patients with aggressive brain tumours which is being piloted in the UK.

The brain cancer trial uses a patient’s tumour to develop a personalised vaccine that will be injected into the patient’s arm to try to extend his or her life.

King’s College London and King’s College Hospital will be the first in the UK to jointly trial the DCVax® therapy which is already significantly extending life for patients in a US trial.

Source: Brain Tumour UK press release / King's College London news

Scientists develop snapshot of tiny brain tumours (26.03.2012)

Cancer Research UK scientists have developed a technique they believe could be used to detect tiny secondary tumours in the brain, a process that is currently impossible, according to research published in PNAS.

The scientists at Cancer Research UK’s Gray Institute for Radiation Oncology and Biology at the University of Oxford showed that a special dye recognises and sticks to a molecule, which is produced in greater amounts on blood vessels in cancer that has spread to the brain from other parts of the body.

Source: Health News

Eye device to detect brain tumours launched in Edinburgh (19.03.12)

A new device which can detect brain tumours and other serious conditions in vulnerable people has been launched by researchers in Edinburgh. A prototype machine is already in use at Edinburgh Sick Kids hospital.

The device uses infra-red light, similar to that used in remote controls, to measure peripheral vision. Problems with peripheral vision can be an early indicator of brain damage, tumours, strokes and conditions which can lead to blindness.

Source: BBC News

Taking aspirin can cut brain tumour risk (08.11.2011)

People with a genetic brain tumour link could reduce their risk of developing the condition by taking aspirin every day. This is according to the results of a ten-year scientific study, which show that regular doses of aspirin reduce the risk of people with a particular genetic predisposition to brain tumours developing the disease.

The study involved people with Lynch syndrome, a genetic abnormality that predisposes carriers to developing brain tumours and other types of cancer. The condition affects at least one in 1,000 people.

Source: The Lancet

Researchers share stories at brain tumour conference (28.09.2011)

Genetic analysis and molecular biology are starting to play a much more important role in the study of brain tumours, researchers told patients and carers attending Brain Tumour UK’s annual conference.

Read more about the presentations by researchers at the 2011 Annual Conference

New clinical trial for brain tumour patients (07.09.2011)

A trial of a new combination of drugs for the treatment of patients with brain cancer has been launched.
Cancer Research UK’s Drug Development Office is funding the trial, which will take place at The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre in Glasgow, the Christie Hospital in Manchester, the Royal Marsden Hospital and The Institute of Cancer Research in Sutton. Patients with glioblastoma that has returned and requires surgery will receive olaparib alongside temozolomide – standard chemotherapy treatment.

Source: Cancer Research UK

Genetic link to rare brain tumour discovered (04.08.11)

Scientists have conducted the first whole-genome scan of the brain tumour meningioma and revealed a genetic region that increases the risk of developing the disease, according to research published in Nature Genetics. Professor Richard Houlston from The Institute of Cancer Research led the major international study comparing the DNA of 1,633 meningioma patients and 2,464 healthy people.

New Phd student to be appointed at our Research Centre (10.05.11)

A Phd student, who will research childhood tumours, will be recruited to join the team at Brain Tumour UK Neuro-Oncology Research Centre after funding for the post has been received from donors.

Two new researchers join Brain Tumour UK labs (01.03.11)

Two new PhD researchers have joined Brain Tumour UK’s Neuro-Oncology Research Centre at the University of Wolverhampton, to explore the behaviour of astrocytomas in children and low grade gliomas in adults.

Hoda Kardooni MSc joins our team from the genetics labs at Royal Hallam Hospital in Sheffield, while Anushree Singh MSc has a Distinction from her work at Leeds. The two competed against many other students for these important three-year research positions.