A recent study prepared by researchers in Britain revealed promising developments in the field of treating glioblastoma, which is the most dangerous type of brain cancer, through immunotherapy, which would represent a potential turning point in the fight against this disease.
The researchers explained that traditional treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation are no longer sufficient, due to the tumor’s ability to resist them and the difficulty of drugs reaching the brain due to the blood-brain barrier.
In the new study, scientists succeeded in safely delivering immunotherapy to the brain by injecting it with cerebrospinal fluid, in a step considered the first of its kind in treating this type of cancer.
Immunotherapy stimulates the body’s natural immune system to attack cancer cells.
Dr. Matthew Clement, a research fellow at Cardiff University School of Medicine in Britain, confirmed, “Despite the challenges we face in developing an effective treatment for glioblastoma, the initial results of immunotherapy inspire optimism.”
Clement, who has 20 years of experience in studying immune reactions, added, “We are currently working on developing more effective ways to deliver treatment to the tumor while taking care to avoid potential side effects.”
Statistics indicate that the average survival of people with this disease after their diagnosis ranges between 12 and 15 months only, as the survival rate does not exceed 6.9% after 5 years of diagnosis. It is classified by the World Health Organization as a fourth-degree tumor, and it is one of the most aggressive forms of cancer. According to the “Science Alert” website.
Medical centers around the world record about 150,000 new cases annually of this disease, which causes severe symptoms that include headaches, seizures, cognitive and personality changes, in addition to neurological weakness, which greatly affects his daily life and his ability to practice his usual activities.
It is worth noting that immunotherapy has already proven effective in treating other types of cancer, such as melanoma, breast and lung cancer, which raises hopes of its success with brain cancer.