Scientists achieve breakthrough in treating aggressive brain cancer

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania have made a significant breakthrough in the fight against brain tumors by creating an innovative CAR-T immunotherapy targeting two tumor proteins simultaneously - EGFR and IL13Rα2. The revolutionary approach involves introducing modified cells directly into the cerebrospinal fluid, which substantially increases treatment effectiveness. The research results have been published in the prestigious scientific journal Nature Medicine.

Clinical trials included 18 patients with recurrent glioblastoma - an aggressive brain tumor with an average life expectancy typically not exceeding 6-10 months.

The results exceeded expectations: 62% of participants showed tumor size reduction. The survival rate was particularly impressive - three out of seven patients (43%) surpassed the one-year mark after treatment. One of the study participants has been showing a stable condition for 16 months already.

Scientists made another important discovery: the modified immune cells maintain their anti-tumor activity in the body for up to a year after administration, continuing to fight cancer cells.

The new therapy has been deemed safe, although 56% of patients experienced neurological side effects that were successfully controlled.

The researchers plan to test multiple administrations of therapeutic cells, apply the method to patients with primary diagnosis, and further improve this promising technology.