Why in news
Recent trials have shown that immunotherapy, which harnesses the immune system to target cancer cells, could be a turning point in the treatment of glioblastoma
Glioblastoma
It is a type of cancer that starts as a growth of cells in the brain or spinal cord.
Like all cancers, glioblastoma is caused by DNA mutations that result in uncontrolled cell growth.
The underlying causes for these genetic cell mutations are largely unknown.
Glioblastoma forms from cells called astrocytes that support nerve cells.
Astrocytes help give your brain the nutrients it needs.
Glioblastoma tumors make their own blood supply, which helps them grow. It's easy for them to invade normal brain tissue.
It grows quickly and can invade and destroy healthy tissue.
It can happen at any age. But it tends to happen more often in older adults.
It accounts for almost half of all cancerous brain tumors in adults.
Symptoms:
Glioblastoma symptoms may include headaches that keep getting worse, nausea and vomiting, blurred or double vision, trouble speaking, altered sense of touch, and seizures.
There also may be trouble with balance, coordination, and moving parts of the face or body.
Treatment:
There's no cure for glioblastoma. Treatments might slow cancer growth and reduce symptoms.
The main treatments for glioblastomas are surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy.
Immunotherapy as a Potential Solution
Immunotherapy uses the body’s immune system to target and destroy cancer cells.
It has been effective in treating other cancers, like melanoma, lung cancer and has been used in autoimmune diseases and infectious diseases.
Researchers are exploring immunotherapy for glioblastoma, despite the challenge of its complex and adaptable nature.
Early trials have shown that immunotherapy can be delivered via injections into the cerebrospinal fluid, which could potentially penetrate the brain tumour more effectively.
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