Aggressive brain tumours can mimic normal brain repair processes

Tumour cells ( green ) invading through white matter tracts ( purple ) - Scientists at the UCL have made a 'surprising' discovery that glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, mimics normal brain repair in white matter, which leads to the tumour becoming less malignant. In the study on mice to harness this response (feature) and treat the cancer. Using the pre-clinical mouse models, the researchers found that Pranlukast, a drug clinically approved for treating asthma in people, suppressed glioblastoma growth. Explaining the research, lead author, Professor Simona Parrinello ( UCL Cancer Institute), said: "We know glioblastoma often develops and spreads in the brain's white matter but it has been unclear why this happens or what molecules are involved in this process.  "In this experimental study, we wanted to understand what impact white matter has on cancerous tumour cells." Glioblastomas are the most aggressive type of cancer that begins within the brain. One of the main reasons that glioblastomas are so difficult to treat is that they spread into different regions of the brain. Approximately half the brain is grey matter, made up of cell bodies including neurons, the other half, referred to as white matter is composed of neuronal projections which are insulated by fatty membranes and therefore appear white. Tumour cells use the white matter as a route to spread to other brain regions.