Cells being taught to fight brain cancer

Australian scientists are teaching cells in the body to fight brain cancer on their own, and hope to slash rates of recurrence in one of the most aggressive types of tumour.

Glioblastoma is the most ­common brain cancer in adults, and there is no available cure, despite decades of ­developments in its treatment. Picture: iStock

Australian scientists are teaching cells in the body to fight brain cancer on their own, and hope to slash rates of recurrence in one of the most aggressive types of tumour.

Queensland’s QIMR Berghofer Research Institute announced its new glioblastoma immunotherapy treatment on Thursday, CAR T cell therapy, which uses ­genetically engineered immune cells that track and kill brain cancer cells upon entering the body.

Developed by QIMR Berghofer’s professor Rajiv Khanna, the treatment is intended to be used during someone’s cancer battle, or following major surgery to prevent later recurrence.

By destroying any lingering cancer cells that may have ­survived a debulking surgery, these engineered immune cells can help keep patients cancer-free in the long term.

Glioblastoma is the most ­common brain cancer in adults, and there is no available cure, despite decades of ­developments in its treatment.

The CAR T cell therapy study will soon enter clinical trials for glioblastoma patients, to be run in ­conjunction with the Newro Foundation.

“Our long-term goal is to take this cell therapy from early phase development right through to the clinic, helping to save lives,” Professor Khanna said.

If successful, the immunotherapy could eventually be sold as an off-the-shelf medication.

Andrew Hamilton, 56, has been living with glioblastoma for 16 years, and said a new treatment would be “life changing”.

“I had three major surgeries over three years to get to this point,” Mr Hamilton said.

“They call me stable, but the last one did pretty serious damage … I’ve now got this little issue that presents like a stroke.”

Damage to his brain during surgery and radiotherapy left him with motor issues and aphasia.

Mr Hamilton, who used to work as a theme park announcer, said losing much of his speech had been difficult.

“If there was something that hit it first go and stopped it, then life would be much more productive; I probably would not have the same deficits that I have now …” he said.

“I’ve heard the term false hope, but I don’t think there’s such a thing. I think hope is hope.”

QIMR Berghofer’s research, which was published in the Journal of Immunotherapy for Cancer, was partially funded by the Medical Research Future Fund.