European Commission-research targets way, brain tumor to stop cell invasion

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Gliomas are brain invaders. A type of malignant tumor cell, gliomas branch out like tendrils from a central tumor spread cancer in the brain. Traditional therapies, such as cutting the tumour surgery, can not, if the cells have already spread. Researchers at the University of Alabama, at can Birmingham in a way, a glioma invasion in its title, to stop came with a drug for use in Europe already approved.

Gliomas spread similar to how early explorers of the old West offer rivers and streams, according to them water and food, followed by the brain through the path of the blood vessels, tap ships for the nutrients they need to survive. The glioma of the blood supply cut off, and it hungers.

"An Explorer lost soon succumbs in the wilderness without food and water and dies", said author on the paper biology in medicine and the senior Harald Sontheimer, PhD., Director of the UAB Center for glial cells. "A glioma that find and open a blood vessel will die also."

In a paper 30 published March 2011 in the journal of neuroscience, Sontheimer and Vedrana Montana, PhD., author discovered that bradykinin, a peptide that increases the blood vessels, the glioma is mechanism, with the cells for blood vessels. Glioma cells by acting bear a receptor for bradykinin, called the B2R receptor. By using this bradykinin receptor, the cell is to a Navigator, it lead to blood vessels to win. Blocking the receptor interact with bradykinin and the cell at the end is lost in the wilderness.

The researchers introduced a B2R inhibitor known as HOE 140, called a laboratory version of a drug for use in Europe for hereditary angioedema Icatibant. HOE 140 bound to the receptor B2R on glioma cells by acting, the receptor disturbing opportunity to binding to bradykinin. The results have been impressive.

"We found that 77 percent of glioma cells by acting could with bradykinin find a blood vessel and tap its nutrients," Montana said. "However, if we blocked the B2R with bradykinin receptors of interaction, only 19 percent of glioma cells by acting could find a blood vessel."

The researchers of used human glioma cells transplanted in a mouse model and with time lapse techniques on a laser-scanning microscope, traced to navigate the ability of the cells, blood vessels of fluorescence markers on the cell attached.

"The B2R receptors is an elegant and so far unexplored approach to the treatment of gliomas, one of the most devastating types of brain tumors," said Sontheimer. "Icatibant, which is already in use in Europe, and its ability to B2R blocking receptors could be as much promising target for further investigation."

The American Brain Tumor Association provided funding for this research through a well-kept postdoctoral fellowship to Montana.

About 18,000 Americans develop gliomas, the period of 12 months after diagnosis, each year and about half is according to the society for Neuroscience.

Source: University of Alabama at Birmingham