OLIG2 (Oligodendrocyte transcription factor-2) is a transcription factor that is expressed in the pMN domain of the ventral ventricular zone in the embryonic spinal cord. Along with OLIG1, it is responsible for the development of motoneurons and oligodendrocytes. Astrocytes and ependymal cells also originate from the pMN domain. Continue reading
Tag Archives: glioblastoma
New data with temozolomide plus radiation for brain cancers
The results of two studies have demonstrated that the use of temozolomide (TMZ) plus radiation increases disease-free and overall survival in patients with glioblastoma and a low grade glioma called anaplastic glioma. Continue reading
Three Recent Late Stage Disappointments for Lung Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, Sarcoma, and Glioblastoma
In the last several months, three novel drugs that we have been following on this blog failed in late stage clinical trials. The drugs have diverse mechanisms of action:
Glioblastoma Update – Celldex Anti-EGFRvIII Vaccine and Improves Survival; Optune Device Reduces Risk of Death
Celldex’s vaccine against the mutated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFRvIII), reduced the risk of death from the disease by 47% in a 73-patient randomized Phase 2 study called ReACT. In addition, the survival rate at two years was 25% for patients given the vaccine versus none in the control group. It marks the first time an immunotherapy treatment has improved survival in a randomized trial of glioblastoma patients, researchers said. It is also among the first cancer vaccines to show a survival benefit. Continue reading
DNAtrix and Merck Phase II Collaboration of Oncolytic Virus + Keytruda for Glioblastoma
DNAtrix and Merck announced a collaboration to combine oncolytic virus therapy and PD-1 inhibition – the two companies will collaborate in phase II clinical trials on a therapy to treat glioblastoma, an especially deadly cancer for which there is no cure. Continue reading
Inhibitory RNA miR-182 Can Turn-Off Glioblastoma
Researchers examined large-scale genomic datasets and found that patients with higher levels of miR-182 had a better chance of surviving glioblastoma (GBM) longer. This prompted them to perform pre-clinical studies to elucidate the mechanism by which miR-182 acts. Continue reading
New Epidermal Growth Factor Strategies in the Clinic for Glioblastoma & Lung Cancer
Two companies, Celldex and Clovis, reported positive developments with their strategies to target the mutated Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor for patients with glioblastoma and lung cancer. Continue reading
Attacking Brain Cancer in its Hypoxic Environment
As tumors grow and become unresponsive to external cellular signals, the level of oxygen in the masses decreases; mutated cells, those with malfunctioning p53, grow and thrive greater than 0.2 mm from the blood supply. Continue reading
Why more males develop brain tumors than females
It is widely known that brain tumors, in particular glioblastomas and medulloblastomas, affect males more than females. Moreover, given the age of onset and analysis of incidence by age, sex hormones have been ruled-out as the cause. Continue reading