Can gene expression predict if a brain tumor is likely to grow back?

 

Researchers from UC San Francisco and Northwestern Medicine have discovered a new accurate method to predict the best treatment for individuals with meningioma with the help of 10 other medical centers. The study shows that screening tumors based on gene expression patterns can change the course of treatment for nearly 1 in 3 people with meningioma. Meningioma is a common brain tumor that affects around 42,000 people in America annually. It is more likely to affect groups of females more than males and elderly patients. It is typically treated with either surgery or radiation depending on what number scale it is on and how severe the tumor is. The new gene expression test indicates that only 1 in 5 patients with low-grade tumors may require radiation, while approximately 2 in 5 with higher-grade tumors may benefit more from avoiding radiation. With the help of the test, researchers could see which gene was active and deactivated and discovered a set of 34 genes whose expression patterns could predict the likelihood of tumor recurrence. 

The discoveries made by this study were exciting as they paved the way for new improvements. The second link also provides more information supporting the first study. Medicine is more effective when it is targeted toward a specific individual’s needs. I hope more treatments are made in the future that are targeted towards one’s needs. The studies from this research help eliminate the guesswork in patients' treatment decisions. The studies are still ongoing, and they are trying to gather more data that can help provide more personalized care in the future. 

Links -

Can gene expression predict if a brain tumor is likely to grow back? | ScienceDaily

Can Gene Expression Predict if a Brain Tumor Is Likely to Grow Back? | UC San Francisco (ucsf.edu)

Early-life stress changes more genes in brain than a head

 

Researchers at The Ohio State University conducted a study to explore early-life stress and childhood head injuries on later-life health and behavior. In an animal experiment involving rats, the researchers found that early-life stress had a more of significant impact on gene activation in the brain than a traumatic head injury. They stated that stress-induced changes in gene expression were greater than those resulting from a concussion-like injury. They also stated that early-life stress may have a lasting influence on brain development, potentially leading to a lifetime of health consequences. 

The researchers set up an experiment with newborn rats where they were simulated adverse childhood experiences and then later caused head injuries as part of the experiment. The results showed that stress and traumatic brain injury affected pathways associated with neural plasticity and oxytocin signaling. This suggests potential vulnerabilities and changes in the brain's response to stress. When adulthood approaches the rats that have experienced early-life stress exhibited riskier behavior. Which includes entering open spaces more frequently also correlating with patterns seen in humans with conditions like ADHD. The study shows the importance of addressing early-life stressors and instituting supportive measures to alleviate enduring impacts on mental health and behavior.

links

Early-life stress changes more genes in brain than a head injury | ScienceDaily

Early-life stress changes more genes in the brain than a head injury (medicalxpress.com)

Pig Pet Cemetary

       This article by the NY times explains how scientists have restored some cellular activity from deceased pigs. While the brain functions did not resemble anything close to consciousness, the results were nevertheless profound. In an experimental treatment, blood vessels did begin to function. Flowing with a blood substitute, certain brain cells regained metabolic activity and even responded to certain drugs. When these treated brain slices were tested they discovered electrical activity in some neurons. This "partly alive" discovery poses many contradictions to what we have always known about life and death. This new research also confirms how little we actually know about the injured brain. Until now society has always believed that brain activity declines rapidly when blood supply is cut off and is irreversible. The research team had developed a system called brain ex which pumps the experimental solution into the brain. The solution was administered over a period of six hours which brought oxygen to the tissue and contained chemicals that let researchers track its flow via ultrasound. The infusions also contained blockers that would prohibit any consciousness from occurring. The scientists also evaluated brains that did not receive the infusions for comparison.
           In conclusion, this is a huge advancement in the medical industry. While we may be years away before brain resuscitation even reaches preliminary testing on humans, researchers have suggested they can see where one day brain resuscitation becomes a standard medical practice.

Neurons (green), astrocytes (red), and cell nuclei (blue) in the brains of pigs. On left, brain tissue left untreated for 10 hours after death; right, brain tissue subjected to the experiment.

Research for halting progression of Alzheimer's

New research has been done using a molecule against APOE in mice, and this study may reduce brain damage by half.  APOE is a gene that encodes for protein called apolipoprotein E, which can dramatically increase the risk of Alzheimer's.  The E4 variant of APOE is expressed in over half the people with the condition, and those with both copies of the gene have a 12-fold higher risk of developing the disease Alzheimer's.  

Dr. Holtzman and a Ph.D. student revealed that molecule called antisense oligonucleotide interferes with the production of the APOE protein, which can lead to less brain damage.  They injected this molecule into newborn mice predisposed to the disease and a control group of newborn mice that were give a placebo of saltwater.  This research that the APOE proteins had halved in the mice given the antisense molecule.  This information suggests that the molecule has successfully staved off neuro-degeneration related to this disease. 

This article provided a lot of information and the possible reasoning behind Alzheimer's.  By discovering the involvement of the APOE gene in this disease may lead to a possible prevention or cure.  This gene needs more research and one day hopefully will lead to a breakthrough and be able to help those with this disease. 

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320279.php

https://www.nature.com/articles/nature24016