The glioblastome is a brain cancer that affects around 3,500 people each year in France. It is more common in men than in women, and affects 70% of cases in people aged 45 to 70. The life expectancy for this disease is approximately 17 months from diagnosis. The various symptoms of glioblastoma are the consequence of increased intracranial pressure due to the growth of the tumor in the brain. They can result in the appearance of unusual headaches, the occurrence of epileptic seizures triggered by the tumor, but also by speech disorders, loss of balance, partial paralysis and cognitive impairment. As indicated by the site specializing in rare diseases Orphanet, the treatment is initially surgical. “The second stage then consists of radiotherapy on the tumor bed combined with chemotherapy.”
Published in review of New England Journal of Medicine, the very promising results of a new treatment against glioblastoma were revealed by the team at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. This therapy, called CAR-T (Cell Engaging Antibody Molecule) is “Cell-engaging antibody molecule” in French, consists of reprogramming a patient’s immune cells so that they recognize and attack the tumor. Three patients suffering from glioblastoma and who received this treatment saw their tumor shrink within a few days.
Glioblastoma: a new treatment could help shrink the tumor
Already previously used in the treatment of blood cancers such as leukemia where the lymphoma, CAR-T therapy had already proven itself. In a press release published by the Massachusetts General Hospital, scientists explain that it is a type immunotherapy in which the patient’s own immune cells are taken, modified and then injected back into the body to recognize and kill cancer cells. The cells were then delivered directly into the brain using a surgically implanted catheter.
Asked by CNN, Tom Fraser, a 72-year-old glioblastoma patient, participated in the CAR-T therapy study. To do this, doctors took immune cells called T cells from him, then genetically modified them in the laboratory so that they recognize and bind to specific proteins on the surface of brain tumor cells. The researchers also added another modification to the CAR-T cells, to help the patient’s body outsmart the cancer. After an infusion of approximately 10 million CAR-T cells, the patient’s tumor began to shrink. On an MRI the next day, the tumor had shrunk by almost 20%, and after a few weeks it was barely detectable. According to his doctors, his cancer has not progressed for about six months. Tom Fraser said he initially suffered side effects from the treatment, but was then able to resume his life. “It gave me hope that this will lead to a cure” he indicated to CNN.
The second patient who participated in the study (a 57-year-old woman) presented almost complete tumor regression only five days after receiving the CAR-T cell infusion. Finally, the third volunteer, a 74-year-old man, also saw the size of his tumor decrease in the hours following the infusion. However, the tumor recurred in both of these patients. The results of the study still remain very promising according to the scientists.
“Dramatic but transient reductions in tumor size” according to researchers
As the study scientists explain, “Radiographic tumor regression was dramatic and rapid, occurring within days of receipt of a single intraventricular infusion, but responses were transient in two of three participants.” According to them, it is the rather rapid disappearance of CAR-T cells which could explain the relapse of the two patients. Therefore, the team of researchers is now working on new strategies to increase the longevity of the treatment, either by giving patients additional doses of CAR-T cells over time or by combining it with other forms of chemotherapy.
Sources :
- Intraventricular CARv3-TEAM-E T Cells in Recurrent Glioblastoma – The New England Journal of Medicine
- New CAR-T Therapy Shows Promise for Glioblastoma: Why Is This Study Important? – Massachusetts General Hospital
- Living drugs that reprogram patients’ immune cells show early promise against hard-to-treat brain tumors – CNN
- Glioblastome – Orphanet
