A recent study offers new hope for patients with low-grade brain tumors, particularly meningiomas, by suggesting that medications initially designed for blood cancers could significantly enhance the effectiveness of radiation therapy.
Meningiomas, which account for about 36 percent of initial brain tumor diagnoses, are often manageable through surgery. However, for cases where surgery isn’t viable, radiotherapy becomes necessary. Despite its efficacy, radiation therapy can lead to severe side effects and potential tumor growth due to treatment resistance.
Researchers at the Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence at the University of Plymouth have conducted a groundbreaking study on this issue. The team, led by Dr. Juri Na and Professor Oliver Hanemann, investigated how radiation damage impacts tumor cells and explored ways to mitigate this damage. Their findings, published in the journal eBioMedicine, are promising.
The study focused on meningioma cells and uncovered that radiation-induced damage triggers an increase in the enzyme Histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6), which is linked to tumor growth. However, by administering the HDAC6 inhibitor Cay10603 before radiotherapy, researchers were able to inhibit tumor cell growth and enhance cell death.
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Dr. Na, a Senior Research Fellow and the study’s lead author, emphasized the potential of combining Cay10603 with radiotherapy. “Cay10603 was initially developed to target HDAC, a common target for some blood cancer drugs. Our study shows that using it alongside radiotherapy can more effectively kill cancer cells while minimizing the severe side effects associated with high doses of radiation,” Dr. Na explained.
Professor Hanemann, Director of the Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence, highlighted the significance of this approach. While pan-HDAC inhibitors have been approved by regulatory bodies like the FDA and EMA, Cay10603 itself is not yet licensed in the UK, and no similar HDAC inhibitors have been used clinically. “This is a positive step forward, but further progress is needed before this treatment can benefit patients directly,” he noted.
Brain Tumour Research, which funds sustainable research at specialized UK centers, is advocating for increased government and charity investment in brain tumor research. The goal is to accelerate the development of new treatments and ultimately find a cure. The charity supports a call for a national annual spend of £35 million to improve survival rates and patient outcomes, aligning with funding levels for other cancers like breast cancer and leukemia.
Dr. Karen Noble, Director of Research, Policy and Innovation at Brain Tumour Research, expressed enthusiasm about the study’s findings. “We are thrilled to see such promising developments from our Centre of Excellence. Continued funding for early-stage research is crucial for discovering new and improved treatments, and we hope this research leads to clinical trials for meningioma patients.”
Katie Everett, 31, from Romsey, Hampshire, who was diagnosed with a meningioma in July 2021, shared her reaction to the news. After undergoing two surgeries and six weeks of radiotherapy, her latest MRI scan showed stable results. “This development is incredibly exciting and reassuring. It’s heartening to know that advancements like this could help people like me and those who have to endure multiple rounds of radiotherapy,” she said.
As research continues, the potential for combining existing medications with radiation therapy offers a promising new avenue for treating meningiomas and improving outcomes for patients facing these challenging tumors.
(With agency inputs)
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