Researchers from Johns Hopkins University have developed a new gel that cured an aggressive brain cancer in mice.
Glioblastoma is a common and deadly type of brain tumor in humans, and the new treatment provides hope for future treatments. The gel combines an anticancer drug and an antibody that self-assembles into a gel and is applied to the tiny grooves left after a brain tumor is surgically removed. The gel can reach areas surgery might miss and kill lingering cancer cells to suppress tumor growth.
Surgery is still required for this approach, as applying the gel directly into the brain without removing the tumor results in only a 50% survival rate. The gel solution consists of nano-sized filaments made with an FDA-approved drug for breast, lung, and other cancers.
The new gel is a promising development for the treatment of glioblastoma. Its unique combination of anticancer drugs and antibodies provides hope for patients.