Novel Targeted Therapies in Brain Tumors

A special issue of Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694). This special issue belongs to the section "Cancer Therapy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 4825

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Unit of Neurosurgery, Department of Biomorphology and Dental Sciences, and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, AOU “G. Martino”, Messina, Italy
Interests: neurooncology; brain tumors; glioma; target-therapy; meningioma; neurosurgery
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Guest Editor
Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy
Interests: neuroinflammation; neuromodulation; astrocytes; spinal cord injury; brain trauma; cytokines; neurodegenerative disorders; brain tumors
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Guest Editor
Neuro Oncology Unit, Neuro Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, 20133 Milano, Italy
Interests: neurooncology; brain tumors; gliomas; systemic and target chemotherapy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Brain tumors are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms, the most common being gliomas, that differ in their spectrum of behavior, from those which are relatively benign to the most malignant, glioblastoma multiforme. Due to their micro-environment within the central nervous system, and due to the presence of blood–brain barrier, blood–cerebrospinal fluid barrier, and blood–tumor barrier, brain tumors are well isolated from systemic circulation. For this reason, systemic therapy has been mostly unsuccessful. However, brain tumors no longer carry the same prognosis as they did some years ago. Improvements in surgery can related with this view as well as for the other innovative therapies combined with surgery.

The possibility of targeted therapies, which spare normal tissue and destroy tumor cells, is changing the field of Neuro-Oncology, with significant impact on the treatment of malignant brain tumors in the near future. These treatments do their effect principally with two mechanisms. One group is monoclonal antibodies which block receptors of the cell surface, deliver antineoplastic agents or facilitate the immune response. A second group of agents are small molecules which enter the cells and interrupt signaling pathways that are important for neoplasms growth. Therefore, comprehensive approaches are needed to achieve maximally from promising targeted therapies. Common methods used for crucial evaluation of targeted therapies for brain tumors involve: novel methods for targeted delivery of chemotherapy and strategies for delivery through BBB and blood-tumor barriers; a better understanding of personalized/precision medicine approaches to therapy in clinical trials and translation into practice of neurosurgery and neuro-oncology, suggests optimism for the future management of brain tumors.

We are pleased to invite you collaborate and work with us to send your article, research, trials or review on these above mentioned subjects.

This Special Issue aims to focus about novel aspects of precision medicine in Neuro-oncology, targeted and immunotherapy, clinical research specific open clinical trials and comprensive  reviews.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Current Oncology.

Prof. Dr. Maria Caffo
Prof. Dr. Emanuela Esposito
Dr. Paola Gaviani
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • precision-medicine
  • targeted-therapy
  • brain tumors
  • immunotherapy
  • glioma
  • meningioma

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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13 pages, 3604 KiB  
Article
Enhancing the Efficacy of Radiation Therapy by Photochemical Internalization of Fibrin-Hydrogel-Delivered Bleomycin
by Sophia Renee Laurel, Keya Gupta, Jane Nguyen, Akhil Chandekar, Justin Le, Kristian Berg and Henry Hirschberg
Cancers 2024, 16(23), 4029; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16234029 - 30 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1054
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Although the use of radiation-sensitizing agents has been shown to enhance the effect of radiation on tumor cells, the blood–brain barrier (BBB) impedes these agents from reaching brain tumor sites when provided systemically. Localized methods of sensitizer delivery, utilizing hydrogels, have the [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Although the use of radiation-sensitizing agents has been shown to enhance the effect of radiation on tumor cells, the blood–brain barrier (BBB) impedes these agents from reaching brain tumor sites when provided systemically. Localized methods of sensitizer delivery, utilizing hydrogels, have the potential to bypass the blood–brain barrier. This study examined the ability of photochemical internalization (PCI) of hydrogel-released bleomycin to enhance the growth-inhibiting effects of radiation on multi-cell glioma spheroids in vitro. Methods: Loaded fibrin hydrogel layers were created by combining thrombin, fibrinogen, and bleomycin (BLM). Supernatants from these layers were collected, combined with photosensitizer, and added to F98 glioma spheroid cultures. Following light (PCI) and radiation treatment, at increasing dosages, spheroid growth was monitored for 14 days. Results: PCI of released BLM significantly reduced the radiation dose required to achieve equivalent efficacy compared to radiation or BLM + RT alone. Both immediate and delayed RT delivery post-BLM-PCI resulted in similar degrees of growth inhibition. Conclusions: Non-degraded BLM was released from the fibrin hydrogel. PCI of BLM synergistically increased the growth-inhibiting effects of radiation treatment compared to radiation and BLM, as well as radiation acting as a single treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Targeted Therapies in Brain Tumors)
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17 pages, 333 KiB  
Review
Novel Advances in Treatment of Meningiomas: Prognostic and Therapeutic Implications
by Gerardo Caruso, Rosamaria Ferrarotto, Antonello Curcio, Luisa Metro, Francesco Pasqualetti, Paola Gaviani, Valeria Barresi, Filippo Flavio Angileri and Maria Caffo
Cancers 2023, 15(18), 4521; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15184521 - 12 Sep 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2777
Abstract
Meningiomas are the most frequent histotypes of tumors of the central nervous system. Their incidence is approximately 35% of all primary brain tumors. Although they have the status of benign lesions, meningiomas are often associated with a decreased quality of life due to [...] Read more.
Meningiomas are the most frequent histotypes of tumors of the central nervous system. Their incidence is approximately 35% of all primary brain tumors. Although they have the status of benign lesions, meningiomas are often associated with a decreased quality of life due to focal neurological deficits that may be related. The optimal treatment is total resection. Histological grading is the most important prognostic factor. Recently, molecular alterations have been identified that are specifically related to particular phenotypes and, probably, are also responsible for grading, site, and prognostic trend. Meningiomas recur in 10–25% of cases. In these cases, and in patients with atypical or anaplastic meningiomas, the methods of approach are relatively insufficient. To date, data on the molecular biology, genetics, and epigenetics of meningiomas are insufficient. To achieve an optimal treatment strategy, it is necessary to identify the mechanisms that regulate tumor formation and progression. Combination therapies affecting multiple molecular targets are currently opening up and have significant promise as adjuvant therapeutic options. We review the most recent literature to identify studies investigating recent therapeutic treatments recently used for meningiomas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Targeted Therapies in Brain Tumors)
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