Learn about the latest treatments for advanced brain cancer. We’ve got it covered, from new FDA approvals to emerging approaches in immunotherapy, targeted therapy, cancer vaccines, modified viruses, and more.

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    A Better Way to Keep an Eye on Glioblastoma Tumors

    With: Michael Schmainda, MBA

    For people with glioblastoma brain tumors, it can be vital yet challenging to determine the precise size, location, and extent of the tumor. A company called Imaging Biometrics, LLC, has developed novel imaging strategies to address this issue. Here, our Curious Dr. George asks its president and CEO Michael Schmainda about these innovations. Curious Dr. George: Determining the extent of an intracranial neoplasm can be… Read more »

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    How an Expert Would Treat His Own Glioblastoma: An Update

    With: Al Musella, DPM

    When facing a new cancer diagnosis, some people ask their doctors, “What would you do if you were me?” Here, our Curious Dr. George asks Al Musella, DPM, how he would handle his own case of glioblastoma, a type of brain tumor. Dr. Musella is President of the Musella Foundation For Brain Tumor Research & Information, Inc., a partner of Cancer Commons (Note: This… Read more »

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    High-Energy Blue Light Powers a Promising New Treatment to Destroy Cancer Cells

    With: Stuart L. Marcus, MD, PhD

    A perennial challenge in cancer treatment is figuring out how to kill tumor cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed. Our Curious Dr. George asks Stuart L. Marcus, MD, PhD, founder and Chief Science Officer at SonALAsense, how his company’s light-activated drug treatment addresses this challenge, holding potential promise for people with brain, bladder, and possibly other cancers. Curious Dr. George: Your flagship treatment employs… Read more »

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    Learnings from Pilot Study: Creating Treatment Templates to Serve More Glioblastoma Patients

    With: Adrienne Nugent, PhD

    A recent pilot study between Cancer Commons and the Musella Foundation for Brain Tumor Research & Information is identifying patterns that are being translated into treatment templates to better serve a larger group of GBM patients. Our Curious Dr. George asks Cancer Commons Scientist Adrienne Nugent, PhD, to discuss key factors that point to the best courses of action a patient might take, and about the clinical… Read more »

  •   George Lundberg, MD

    Do molecular biomarkers have any role in treating glioblastoma (GBM)? As outlined in this scientific research report from the academic journal Neuro-Oncology Research Advances, a recent study found that 3 biomarkers were correlated with very great outcome differences for people treated with tumor-treating (electrical) fields.

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Cancer Commons is an organization with heart. From the top down, personalizing care for people facing cancer is every team member’s focus. Connecting with people going through cancer reminds me daily of how precious life is.

Deb Christensen, MSN, APRN, AG-CNS, AOCNS, OCN
 Nurse Navigator, Cancer Commons

Molecular tests help match patients to the personalized treatments that are most likely to work for them. Keep up with new developments in genetic tests, key tumor mutations, methylation patterns, other biomarkers, and precision medicine.

Some of the most promising new treatments for advanced brain cancer are currently being tested in patients enrolled in clinical trials. We help you stay up to date on the latest results from these studies.

  •   George Lundberg, MD

    Do molecular biomarkers have any role in treating glioblastoma (GBM)? As outlined in this scientific research report from the academic journal Neuro-Oncology Research Advances, a recent study found that 3 biomarkers were correlated with very great outcome differences for people treated with tumor-treating (electrical) fields.

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  •   George Lundberg, MD

    This scientific report from Neuro-Oncology outlines findings from a large, randomized clinical trial showing that the drug veliparib (a kind of drug known as a PARP inhibitor) added to radiotherapy and temozolomide did not improve progression-free survival in unmethylated glioblastoma.

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It has been extremely gratifying to see how Cancer Commons has brought clarity and greater access to this expertise through its convening and curation.

Keith Flaherty, MD
Cancer Commons Advisor

Cancer affects many aspects of life, whether you’re newly diagnosed, in the midst of treatment, or in follow-up care. Learn about ways to maintain quality of life, such as palliative care and managing side effects.

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    Pediatric Palliative Care: A Specialty Comes of Age

    Sarah Friebert, MD

    For a child with cancer, palliative care can provide much-needed relief from stress and symptoms—for the patient and their family alike. Palliative care is given alongside cancer treatment, and is not synonymous with “end-of-life” care. In fact, anyone with a serious illness can benefit from palliative care, no matter their long-term outlook. Because of its importance for children with cancer, we are honored to… Read more »

  •   Lola Rahib, PhD

    Article from Let’s Win! Pancreatic Cancer: Pancreatic cancer patients share their experiences with pre-chemo anxiety and their personal strategies for overcoming it.

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  •   George Lundberg, MD

    NCI-CONNECT shares insights from patients, caregivers, doctors, and advocates with the aim to help you manage your life—regardless of your brain cancer diagnosis.

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You’re not alone. Read how other patients and caregivers navigated diagnosis, treatment, and life with cancer. We hope their stories provide insights and hope for your own cancer journey.

More patient stories

Learn more about what’s new in advanced cancer research and treatment, including screening and statistics, using artificial intelligence to improve treatment, and other new horizons in cancer care.

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    The Personalized Power of the “N-of-1” Approach

    With: Glenn Sabin

    Randomized, controlled clinical trials with a large N—number of participants—are the recognized “gold standard” of evidence-based medicine. Even so, the results of large-N trials can only reveal population averages, and are not predictive of any individual’s response to a given treatment. On the other hand, one can consider every patient with cancer as the sole participant in their own clinical trial with an Nof1, even if the trial is not… Read more »

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    A Powerful Knowledge Base for Precision Oncology

    With: Hongxin Zhang

    Genetic mutations found in a tumor can be important clues to the patient’s best treatment options. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) in New York has developed a product called OncoKB™, which enables anyone to access and navigate key clinical information about the various genetic abnormalities that may be found in tumors. Here, Curious Dr. George asks MSK Lead Software Engineer Hongxin Zhang about… Read more »

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    Harnessing Each Patient’s Data to Help Many More

    With: Kaumudi Bhawe, PhD

    At Cancer Commons, we don’t just help people navigate cancer treatment; we learn from everyone we help. Here, our Curious Dr. George asks Cancer Commons Clinical Scientist Kaumudi Bhawe, PhD, to share how new knowledge can be captured from every patient to help many more. Curious Dr. George: Cancer Commons has accumulated in-depth data on many hundreds of patients with various cancers. Because of the… Read more »

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The coronavirus pandemic presents unprecedented challenges to cancer patients. We can help you understand how COVID-19 might impact your treatment and other aspects of your cancer care.