Glioma News and Research

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Glioma is a cancer of the brain that begins in glial cells (cells that surround and support nerve cells).

Videos can help overcome communication barriers and influence patients' choices for medical care

Patients with terminal brain cancer who watched a brief video illustrating options for end-of-life care were significantly more likely to indicate a preference for comfort measures only than were patients who listened to a verbal description of treatment choices.

3 Dec 2009

Researchers discover ability of stem cells in brain cancer glioma to resist radiation therapy

Duke University Medical Center researchers have figured out how stem cells in the malignant brain cancer glioma may be better able to resist radiation therapy. And using a drug to block a particular signaling pathway in these cancer stem cells, they were able to kill many more glioma cells with radiation in a laboratory experiment.

2 Dec 2009

Faulty enzyme may contribute to malignant brain tumour formation

Around 70 per cent of people with a type of brain tumour - called a low-grade glioma - have a faulty version of an enzyme called IDH1. The mutation is also found in a significant proportion of patients with acute myeloid leukaemia.

25 Nov 2009

Mutated IDH1 gene linked to the progression of gliomas

23 Nov 2009

Mutated IDH1 gene has novel enzyme activity consistent with cancer-causing gene: Study

Agios Pharmaceuticals today announced that its scientists have established, for the first time, that the mutated IDH1 gene has a novel enzyme activity consistent with a cancer-causing gene, or oncogene. This breakthrough discovery shows that the mutated form of IDH1 produces a metabolite, 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG), which may contribute to the formation and malignant progression of gliomas, the most common type of brain cancers.

23 Nov 2009

Cancer promoting gene identified

Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center and VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine researchers have identified a gene that may play a pivotal role in two processes that are essential for tumor development, growth and progression to metastasis. Scientists hope the finding could lead to an effective therapy to target and inhibit the expression of this gene resulting in inhibition of cancer growth.

21 Nov 2009

Antigenics to withdraw its MAA for Oncophage following CHMP’s negative opinion

Antigenics Inc. today announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), the scientific committee of the European Medicines Agency (EMEA), has formally adopted a negative opinion on the marketing authorization application (MAA) for Oncophage (vitespen) as a treatment in earlier-stage, localized renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer).

20 Nov 2009

New encapsulated system may enable doctors to deliver anti-cancer drugs directly to tumors

An encapsulation breakthrough by researchers at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology may enable doctors to deliver anti-cancer drugs directly to tumors over extended periods of time, while preventing the systemic side effects of chemotherapy and other current cancer treatments.

18 Nov 2009

Exelixis to present 13 abstracts of its development candidates at the 2009 AACR-NCI-EORTC Conference

Exelixis, Inc. announced today that thirteen abstracts related to the company’s development candidates have been accepted for presentation at the 2009 AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics, which is being held November 15-19 in Boston. Interim data from ongoing phase 1 clinical trials of XL147 and XL765 will be reported in four poster presentations.

4 Nov 2009

Third-quarter 2009 financial results of Antigenics announced

Antigenics Inc. reported today its results for the quarter ended September 30, 2009. The company incurred a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $10.8 million, or $0.13 per share, basic and diluted, for the third quarter of 2009, compared with a net loss attributable to common stockholders in the third quarter of 2008 of $11.4 million, or $0.17 per share, basic and diluted.

29 Oct 2009

UCSF presents update of Phase 2 clinical trial of Oncophage cancer vaccine at SNO 2009

Antigenics today announced that the Brain Tumor Research Center at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), has presented an update on a Phase 2 clinical trial of Oncophage (vitespen) for recurrent high grade glioma (brain cancer) at the 2009 Joint Meeting of SNO (Society for Neuro-Oncology) and AANS/CNS Section on Tumors 2009 in New Orleans, LA.

26 Oct 2009

TransMolecular announces final results from its Phase 2 clinical study of 131I-TM601

TransMolecular, Inc., a developer of innovative oncology drugs through targeted delivery technologies, today announced final results from its Phase 2 clinical study comparing the toxicity and overall survival of three versus six intracavitary injections of its anti-cancer compound 131I-TM601 in the treatment of recurrent malignant glioma.

24 Oct 2009

EMEA informs Antigenics on a negative opinion for Oncophage MAA

Antigenics Inc. today announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), of the European Medicines Agency (EMEA), has verbally informed the Company at an oral meeting to anticipate a negative opinion on the marketing authorization application (MAA) for Oncophage (vitespen) in early-stage, localized renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer).

21 Oct 2009

Antisense Pharma's SAPPHIRE Phase III trial evaluating trabedersen approved by Health Canada

The biopharmaceutical company Antisense Pharma GmbH has announced today that it has received the approval by Health Canada for its pivotal Phase III clinical trial SAPPHIRE in patients with recurrent or refractory anaplastic astrocytoma.

19 Oct 2009

Angiochem to announce clinical study results of ANG1005 drug

Angiochem, Inc. a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing drugs that are uniquely capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier to treat brain diseases, announced today that clinical data for its lead drug candidate, ANG1005, for the treatment of brain cancers, as well as data showing how compounds from Angiochem’s Engineered Peptide Compounds (EPiC) platform are capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier will be highlighted at the Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting in Chicago on October 17-21, 2009.

8 Oct 2009

Physical activity during adolescence decreases risk of glioma

While little is known about the causes of glioma, researchers at the National Cancer Institute have found that this rare but often deadly form of brain cancer may be linked to early life physical activity and height.

7 Oct 2009

Research study reveals primary chemotherapy benefits

Initial chemotherapy alone after surgery is just as successful as initial radiation therapy for patients from whom a very malignant brain tumor (anaplastic glioma) was removed. With this treatment, the patients survive on average > 30 months without a recurrence. A study conducted by the Neurooncology Working Group of the German Cancer Society led by researchers from Heidelberg and Z-rich showed that patients in primary therapy benefit to the same extent from chemotherapy alone as from radiation alone.

3 Oct 2009

Burzynski Research Institute and BBSF sign Research Agreement

The Burzynski Research Institute, Inc. (BRI) today announced that it has signed a Research Agreement with the UAB Division of Preventive Medicine, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Shared Facility (BBSF) that will provide biostatistical and data management support for BRI’s ongoing Phase II and Phase III protocol studies of Antineoplaston (ANP) treatment for gliomas.

30 Sep 2009

US Treasury Department clears YM BioSciences' nimotuzumab clinical program extension

YM BioSciences Inc. a life sciences product development company that identifies and advances a diverse portfolio of promising cancer-related products at various stages of development, today reported operational and financial results for its fiscal year end, ended June 30, 2009.

25 Sep 2009

Pharmacyclics announces financial results for fourth quarter and FY 2009

Pharmacyclics, Inc. today reported financial results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended June 30, 2009. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 Pharmacyclics incurred a GAAP net loss of $5.4 million, or $0.20 per share, compared to a net loss of $4.6 million, or $0.18 per share for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008.

18 Sep 2009