A $2.5 million award has been granted to the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center by the Department of Defense to develop an innovative treatment for glioblastoma, according to an announcement made on Wednesday.
The Translational Team Science Award was given to a group of investigators from the center who aim to create a personalized therapy for this deadly brain tumor, which currently has limited treatment options.
The team comprises David Nathanson, an associate professor of molecular and medical pharmacology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Benjamin Ellingson, director of the UCLA Brain Tumor Imaging Laboratory and professor of radiological sciences, and Dr. Timothy Cloughesy, a neuro-oncology professor. Their focus is on targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor, a protein that is mutated in approximately 60% of glioblastoma patients, as stated in a release from UCLA.
Previous attempts to improve patient outcomes have yielded limited success due to the drugs’ inability to cross the blood-brain barrier and target the genetic alterations specific to glioblastoma. However, the researchers have developed ERAS-801, a brain-penetrating inhibitor that has shown promising results in preclinical models, overcoming the obstacles faced in previous endeavors.
Currently, they are conducting early clinical trials to test the treatment on patients diagnosed with this type of brain tumor.
“Brain cancer is a significant concern, particularly for military personnel,” commented Nathanson. “We are optimistic that by creating personalized treatments like this and utilizing advanced testing methods, we can not only help individuals with brain cancer but also those with other rare diseases.”
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