neuro42 Celebrates Brain Cancer Awareness Month
May is Brain Cancer Awareness Month, and we couldn’t think of a better topic to spotlight than this one for the inaugural post on the neuro42 blog. Statistics show that more than 24,000 Americans are expected to be diagnosed with brain cancer and other nervous system cancers this year. On a global level, nearly 300,000 people worldwide received the diagnosis in 2018, the last year the data was published. And to make matters worse, the brain cancer mortality rate has yet to see the same type of dramatic reduction as other cancers have.
It’s true that brain cancer accounts for only a small percentage of overall new cancer cases, but its impact is considerably larger—a statement that is especially poignant in younger populations. With 4.3% of all brain tumor cases each year occurring in children ages 0 to 14, brain tumors are the most common solid cancer in youths of that age. Sadly, it’s also the leading cause of cancer-related death in children under the age of 14.
Still, as a community, we soldier on in hopes of discovering a new breakthrough. In celebration of Brain Cancer Awareness Month, we wanted to recap on some of the brain cancer basics, including what’s currently done on the detection and treatment fronts, and note some innovations that could alter the brain cancer landscape.
Types of brain tumors
Primary and secondary are the two main categories of brain tumors. The difference between the two is that primary tumors start in the brain tissue, while secondary tumors spread from the brain to areas like the lungs or breasts. There are many types of primary tumors, of which the most common are gliomas and meningiomas. Each of these have their own unique characteristics like origination point and growth rate. Whether primary or secondary, all brain tumors are either benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
Current forms of brain cancer detection and treatment
One of the reasons why brain cancer is sometimes missed is that symptoms of the condition are similar to many other diseases. Indications of cancer can include vomiting and nausea, sudden onset of seizures, weakness on one side of the body, loss of coordination and changes in vision, among others.
There are three common means of imaging used to detect brain cancer: Computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) scan. A doctor may also perform imaging of other organs if the cancer is thought to be secondary cancer. In some cases, a spinal tap may even be performed to analyze spinal fluid for cancerous cells.
Treatment will vary based on the size, location and type of the tumor, as well as the patient’s age and the condition of their overall health. In most cases, surgery, radiation or chemotherapy—or a combination of these modalities—is used to treat the cancer.
Exciting findings and explorations underway
One of the biggest proponents of Brain Cancer Awareness Month is the National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR). A nonprofit organization that provides scientists and researchers with the funding for advancements in initiatives like cancer treatment and detection, NFCR has been active in its backing of projects related to brain cancer.
One of those projects, groundbreaking work by Harold Dvorak, M.D., led to the discovery of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In doing so, Dr. Dvorak supplied the research community with a blueprint in developed VEGF inhibitors that can increase the likelihood of survival in different types of brain cancers.
Another growth factor-related project funded by NFCR showed how anti-VEGF drugs worked. That project, helmed by Rakesh Jain, Ph.D., indicated periods when radiation therapy would be more effective due to anti-VEGF therapy normalizing tumor vessels. NFCR reports that Dr. Jain’s team has had promising results thus far.
Immunotherapy is another unique approach researchers and neurological surgeons are beginning to study. This method uses the patient’s own immune system to essentially defend itself against cancer. The problem? The body does such an inherently good job of protecting the brain that it’s been a bit of a challenge.
Humans have what is called the blood-brain barrier, a grouping of specialized cells that guard the brain against toxins floating throughout the bloodstream. The good news is that these cells keep the bad stuff from reaching the brain. The bad news is that these cells can’t necessarily tell the difference between immunotherapy-based cancer treatment and what the cells believe to be an incoming threat, so the treatment is rejected, thus preventing it from reaching the tumor.
In an effort to make accessibility possible, cancer specialists are now evaluating tactics like vaccines made up of the patient’s tumor tissue, manipulating the body’s inflammatory response by using checkpoint inhibitors, and CAR T-cell therapy in an attempt to prompt the patient’s white blood cells to attack tumor cells.
Lastly, one of the more unique innovations is 5-ALA. Taken by mouth prior to a surgery intended to remove a tumor, this drug will actually illuminate the tumor pink under ultraviolet light so that doctors have greater visibility and can better discern tumor tissue from healthy tissue.
neuro42 is changing the way we look at brain tumors (literally)
neuro42 is proud to join the American Association for Cancer Research and the National Foundation for Cancer Research in shining a light on Brain Cancer Awareness Month. Given that our company was formed to exclusively focus on brain imaging for the purpose of triaging, screening, diagnosing and intervening in conditions like brain tumors, it would only be right.
Technology will play a big part in combating these neurological conditions, and our team at neuro42 envisions our portable head and brain MRI and robotics technology will make a big difference in patients' lives. To learn more about our technology and what we can offer to patients with brain conditions, visit neuro42.ai.
