Research
There are many reasons to hope for a breakthrough in low-grade brain tumour research within the near future. There were no LGG research projects underway in the UK when Astro Fund was founded in 2001, yet we have been able to fund six laboratory based projects since then, and are still working hard to raise the funds to get more underway.
We have also been greatly encouraged by the increasing number of low-grade glioma research projects successfully completed each year at neuro-oncology research centres around the globe.
"As the mother of a brain tumour patient, I often remind myself that when our day ends and we go to sleep on this side of the world, a new day breaks on the other side of the globe, where people are just waking up to a new day in their laboratories, a new day in their surgeries and a new day in their wards and clinics. Likewise, when those on the other side of the world finish their day, we on this side are just beginning ours.
Who knows what new brain tumour treatments might be discovered when daylight breaks in various corners of the world?
So even while we sleep there is hope."
Kathy Oliver, Co-Director of the International Brain Tumour Alliance
If you are looking for previously published research papers on a particular topic, the comprehensive worldwide database is PubMed. In order to access the full text of most of the papers you have to subscribe to the relevant journal in which they were published. However all University Libraries and main City Libraries have subscriptions to those main journals, which enables you to browse the full articles online and then pay the library to print off copies. Many University libraries have an arrangement whereby you can use their facilities, so you may like to speak to your local one to find out what systems they have in place.
One of the easiest ways to view just brain tumour research papers online is to surf BrainLife. Research papers are reviewed before being published in a categorised format, and you can sign up to their regular newsletter to make sure that you never miss a new discovery.
Other websites which publish regular updates about latest research are the UK based BT Buddies and the American website Clinical Trials and Noteworthy Treatments for Brain Tumors. For regular updates about their Ependymoma research, visit the website of the American based CERN Foundation (Collaborative Ependymoma Research Network).
Please note that all research papers tend to refer to statistics related to prognosis and survival, so please do not download these if you would prefer not to read this type of information.
Astro Fund is currently supporting the following low-grade glioma research project, in which you are invited to participate:
Psychological outcomes in people with low grade brain tumours: The role of illness perceptions
Principal Investigator: Melanie Booth, Trainee Clinical Psychologist.
Research supervised by Dr Jacki Bambrough, Clinical Neuropsychologist, and Dr Jane Simpson, Head of Research, Lancaster University.
If you have been diagnosed with a low grade glioma, you are invited to take part in this current study looking at low grade glioma brain tumours and psychological well being. The researchers aim to learn more about the factors that affect people’s psychological well being after being diagnosed with this tumour type, and hope that the research will guide the way that professionals support people who have been diagnosed with a low-grade glioma in the future. You can find more information about the research and participate in the online survey at: http://www.lancs.ac.uk/shm/dhr/courses/dclinpsy/braintumour.htm. Alternatively, you can contact the researcher, Melanie Booth (Trainee Clinical Psychologist) on: tel: 01524 592970, email: m.booth@lancaster.ac.uk
Astro Fund: contributing to brain tumour research awareness campaigns
Astro Fund has collaborated with the International Brain Tumour Alliance (the IBTA) on a document outlining the issues surrounding brain tissue banking, which is being used as a draft discussion document by the British Neuro-Oncology Society (BNOS) in 2010. You can download a copy here and are welcome to contact us with your comments.
UK Based Clinical Trials for Low-Grade Gliomas
In the UK, one phase III clinical trial for low grade gliomas (Reference: EORTC 22033-26033 Trial/MRC BR13) is currently in progress. Recruitment began in September 2008 and is now complete, with the trial including 700 patients from across Europe. The trial is comparing the use of radiotherapy alone, and temozolomide chemotherapy alone, as the first treatment for low grade gliomas.
The Chief Investigator is Dr.Jeremy Rees of the National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery, London, and the trial is supported by Cancer Research UK, European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), Medical Research Council (MRC), National Cancer Research Network (NCRN), and Schering Plough.
Full details can be found on the CRUK website in their clinical trials – brain cancer listings.
Astro Fund has either completely or majority funded each of the following low-grade glioma research projects:
Translocator Protein Expression and Microglial Activation in Glioma:
A PK11195 PET Study
Principal Investigator: Professor Karl Herholz, Professor of Clinical Neuroscience. Director of the Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre (WMIC), The University of Manchester. Honorary Neurological Consultant at Hope Hospital, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust.
A collaborative project between: The Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre (WMIC), The University of Manchester Hope Hospital, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust and Imperial College, London (Charing Cross Hospital and Hammersmith Hospital)
Click here for a detailed summary of this project
Click here for Poster Presentation of the research undertaken to Spring 2010, accepted for the British Neuro-Oncology Society Annual Conference, 23rd June-25th June 2010
Molecular genetic and epigenetic analysis of paediatric Low-Grade Gliomas.
Principal Investigator: Professor Denise Sheer, Professor of Human Genetics, Institute of Cell and Molecular Science, Queen Mary, University of London
Click here for a detailed summary of this project
Longitudinal study of MRI and Spectroscopy techniques in the evaluation of the natural history of Low-Grade Gliomas.
Principal Investigator: Dr. Jeremy Rees, Senior Lecturer in Medical Neuro-oncology, Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London.
Click here for a detailed summary, the latest research findings from this project and a summary of the preceding research project undertaken by Dr.Rees, which was also funded by SDBTT Astro Fund.
Investigation of the functions of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A and Interleukin-10 in low and high-grade brain tumours, and the potential of these factors as prognostic markers.
Principal Investigators: Dr John Greenman, Reader in Tumour Immunology, Postgraduate Medical Institute, University of Hull and Mr David O'Brien, Consultant Neurosurgeon and Honorary Senior Lecturer, Hull Royal Infirmary.
Click here for a detailed summary of this project
Radiological and Molecular markers of subsequent behaviour in adult low-grade glioma
Principal Investigator: Dr.Tracey Warr, Lecturer in Molecular Tumour Genetics, Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London.
Click here for a detailed summary of this project
Advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Metabolic Studies of Low-Grade Gliomas of Childhood.
A collaborative project between:
Children's Brain Tumour Research Centre, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham
Birmingham Children's Hospital and Institute of Child Health
Royal Marsden Hospital and Institute of Cancer Research, Surrey.
Principal Investigator: Prof.Richard Grundy, Professor of Paediatric Neuro-Oncology and Cancer Biology, Honorary Consultant in Paediatric Oncology, University of Nottingham.
Click here for a detailed summary of this project