Has China found a drug for one of the deadliest cancers? – Times of India

The findings of a new study can give a ray of hope in the field of brain cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Researchers from Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University and Yale University have found a plant-based nanoparticle treatment for an aggressive form of brain cancer called glioblastoma. The researchers identified bardoxolone methyl, a phytochemical, that can target tumor cells when injected into mice.
“These nanoparticles are designed to overcome the dual challenges of effectively killing [glioblastoma] cells and efficiently penetrating the brain,” the researchers said in a paper published in peer-reviewed journal, Small Science.

What is glioblastoma?

Glioblastoma is an aggressive and malignant brain tumor characterized by its rapid growth and infiltration into surrounding brain tissue. It is the most common and deadliest form of primary brain cancer, often affecting adults in their 50s and 60s. Glioblastoma is classified as a grade IV astrocytoma, which means it originates from astrocytes, the star-shaped glial cells that support and protect neurons.

Symptoms can vary depending on the tumor’s location but commonly include persistent headaches, seizures, nausea, and changes in cognitive function. Due to its aggressive nature and tendency to invade nearby brain structures, glioblastoma is challenging to treat. Current treatment strategies include a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, though the prognosis remains poor with a median survival rate of about 15 months. Research is ongoing to find more effective treatments and improve patient outcomes.
Currently, conventional treatment procedures like surgical removal of tumor, radiation and chemotherapy. However, this aggressive form of cancer resists the current treatment processes as a result of which the treatment does not have any effect on the disease. Drugs do not function effectively because it is difficult to cross the blood brain barrier and the recent research has a hope because the bardoxolone methyl can increase the permeability of the blood brain barrier and was found to be highly effective in killing the cancerous cells by inducing cell death called pyroptopsis.

“Notably, no significant weight loss was observed in the mice, indicating minimal systemic toxicity, and suggesting potential safety for intravenous administration,” the team wrote, adding that no obvious tissue damage or liver toxicity was observed either.
Globally more than 2,00,000 people are diagnosed with glioblastoma every year.