Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have developed a novel gel that combines an anticancer drug with an antibody to cure glioblastoma brain cancer in 100% of mouse models. This offers new hope for treating one of the deadliest and most common brain tumors in humans. The gel triggers an immune response and, when the cancer was reintroduced, the immune system alone helped beat the cancer without additional medications. The gel consists of nano-sized filaments made with paclitaxel, an FDA-approved drug for breast, lung, and other cancers. The findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The new gel offers hope for future glioblastoma treatment because it integrates anticancer drugs and antibodies, which is difficult to administer simultaneously because of the molecular composition of the ingredients. This new hydrogel combination is implanted at the time of tumor resection, making it possible for chemotherapy and immunotherapy to be applied intracranially. Although the findings are promising, translating the gel’s results in the lab into therapies with substantial clinical impacts remains a significant challenge in the field.
