KORㆍUS Joint Research Team Opens Up a New Path to Metastatic Brain Cancer Targeted Therapy
KORㆍUS Joint Research Team Opens Up a New Path to Metastatic Brain Cancer Targeted Therapy
- Metastatic brain cancer targeted therapy has different genetic mutation than the proto-oncogene
- First material progress from research cooperation with Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)
Research has discovered that metastatic brain cancer and the primary cancers have different genetic characteristics during the genetic mutation processes.
Joint research team comprised of Seoul National University Hospital‘s Professors Sun Ha Paek of Neurosurgery and Sunghye Park of Pathology, Harvard Medical School (MGH)’s Dr. Priscilla Brastianos of Oncology, Dana-Faber Cancer research Institute Dr. Willam Hahn of Oncology, revealed the genetic characteristics that will open a new path for tailored cures on metastatic brain cancer.
This research results were presented in September online edition of ‘Cancer Discovery’, an internationally acclaimed journal. (will publish November).
The research team analyzed 86 metastatic brain cancer patients(primary cancers - 38 lung cancer patients, 21 breast cancer patients, 10 kidney cancer patients, 17 other cancer patients) - on genetic mutation patterns of metastatic brain cancer and primary cancers.
Primary cancers are locations that the tumors first occurred in a patient‘s body. If these tumors transition up to the brain, this becomes metastatic brain cancer. For example, if the tumor first occurred in the lungs, primary cancer is lung cancer; if this tumor transitions to the brain, this becomes metastatic brain cancer.
As a result, 53% (46 patients) of the patients showed different genetic mutation between metastatic brain cancer and primary cancer. Same tumors have different genetic mutations according to primary parts and spread brain parts.
This signifies a very important discovery in targeted therapy of metastatic brain cancer, and urges a targeted therapy plan according to the unique characteristics of metastatic brain cancer.
The research team revealed that metastatic brain cancers have same specific genetic mutations. This mutation is a unique trait to metastatic brain cancers which never occurs not only in primary cancers but also tumors that are spread to lymph nodes and other parts.
Professor Paek stated, “Original targeted therapy of metastatic brain cancer was largely influenced by primary tumor results. This research discovered genetic mutations that are clinically significant and nonexistent in primary tumors. We expect this to significantly influence determination of future metastatic brain cancer research and therapies.”
Metastatic brain cancer is a malignant tumor with rising patients, but with limited therapies.
This research is a result of a cooperation between Seoul National University and MGH Hospital from 2013. Through six video conference calls, these two hospitals have shared patient cases and therapies. Recently they have strengthened research cooperation, and many joint research projects are under way. This research is the first materialized result, and more research is expected to be released.