Break through the glioblastoma defenses
New drug may make Glioblastoma vulnerable to immune therapy
The organizers of the clinical trial of a new method of glioblastoma treatment reported that two patients demonstrated a positive reaction to an experimental combination of drugs. In one case, the tumor completely disappeared, although it had previously shown resistance to radiation and chemotherapy.
Glioblastoma is considered the most dangerous type of brain tumors. It is characterized by high resistance to chemotherapy and radiation exposure and a high risk of recurrence. Treatment of glioblastoma is especially complicated by the fact that the brain is separated from the rest of the body by a blood—brain barrier - a special biochemical mechanism that prevents various dangerous substances from entering it, but also prevents the penetration of drugs.
Doctors from the Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden Hospital in London are conducting a clinical trial of the treatment of glioblastoma using the immunotherapeutic agent atezolizumab in combination with ipatasertib, a new drug that can make the tumor vulnerable to the immune system. Among the ten patients who participated in the trial, most had tumors with a defect in the Pten gene, in four cases the Pten gene did not work at all. It was these patients who were treated by two who demonstrated a good response to treatment.
Ipatasertib blocks an intracellular protein called Akt (protein kinase B). The scientists, who presented their findings at the annual conference of the American Association for Cancer Research, say that Akt is used by glioblastoma as a signaling molecule, which explains why patients with Pten defects can benefit most from the drug. Dr. Juanita Lopez, the head of the study, says: "Brain cancer can bypass the immune system in a complex way, and so far immunotherapy has not been effective. However, with the help of a new drug called ipatasertib, we can make some types of brain cancer vulnerable to atezolizumab. We believe this opens the door for further development of treatment for some glioblastoma patients."
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