Research into brain tumours

Researchers in the UK are looking at better ways to diagnose and treat brain tumours. And managing treatment side effects.

Some of the trials on this page have now stopped recruiting people. It takes time for the results to be available. We have included ongoing research. This is to give examples of the type of research going on for brain tumours.

Go to Cancer Research UK’s clinical trials database to look at trials for brain and spinal cord tumours in the UK. You need to talk to your specialist if there are any trials that you think you might be able to take part in.

Find a clinical trial

Research into treatment for brain tumours

Researchers are looking at how to improve treatment for brain tumours. This includes improving treatments we already use. And seeing if new treatments work better than those we already have.

Targeted drugs

Doctors are looking at a targeted drug called olaparib. Researchers are combining it with radiotherapy and chemotherapy for people with glioblastoma. Olaparib is a targeted drug called a cancer growth blocker. It blocks a protein called PARP that helps cancer cells to repair themselves.

Find out more about olaparib and its possible side effects

Doctors are also looking at other types of targeted and immunotherapy drugs. These include:

• ipilimumab with temozolomide, for people with glioblastoma

• zanubrutinib for primary central nervous system lymphoma

Read about ipilimumab and its possible side effects

Radiotherapy

Doctors are looking at radiotherapy for a type of brain tumour called meningioma. Meningiomas start in the layers of tissue (meninges) that cover the brain and the spinal cord.

Researchers are looking at radiotherapy after surgery. They want to know if this stops meningiomas from coming back. 

Doctors also want to improve how well radiotherapy works for glioblastoma. They are looking at a drug called AZD1390 that you have alongside radiotherapy. AZD1390 stops the cancer cells repairing themselves after radiotherapy. So it makes radiotherapy work better. 

Chemotherapy

Doctors sometimes use chemotherapy to treat brain tumours. They are looking at ways to improve how well chemotherapy works. Research includes:

• combining temozolomide chemotherapy with a drug called Sativex

• finding new ways to help chemotherapy drugs to get though the blood brain barrier

Surgery

During surgery, the surgeon needs to identify normal brain tissue and tumour cells. But sometimes it’s difficult to tell the difference. Surgeons use different tools to help them to see the tumour clearly, and to remove it.

They are researching new ways of looking at (imaging) the tumour before and during surgery. They want to see if new imaging techniques improve the outcome of surgery.

Researchers are looking at imaging techniques including:

• an ultrasound scan during the surgery

• diffusion tensor imaging before the operation 

• hyperspectral and multispectral imaging 

Diffusion tensor imaging before the operation is similar to an MRI scan. It shows up the nerve fibres that control speech and movement.

Hyperspectral and multispectral imaging use a special camera system. It helps the surgeon tell the difference between tumour and normal brain tissue.

Vaccines

Vaccines help the immune system to recognise and kill cancer cells. A trial looked at a vaccine called DCVax-L for people with glioblastomas. This trial is now closed. The results showed the vaccine was safe and alongside chemotherapy, it can help some people with glioblastoma live longer.

The vaccine isn’t widely available in the UK at the moment. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) and National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) need to review the vaccine before it is available on the NHS. It is difficult to know how long this will take.

DCVax-L is available privately in the UK. But there might be limited availability. Talk to your doctor or specialist nurse if you want to know more about this. The Brain Tumour Charity have more information about the trial results and how you might be able to access this drug.

Go the Brain Tumour Charity page about DCVax-L

Tumour treating fields (TTF or Optune)

Researchers are looking at a device called Optune. This uses electrical fields to disrupt tumour cell division and cause tumour cells to die. It is also called Tumour Treating Fields (TTF). Research shows that TTF can help treat people with a brain tumour called glioblastoma. 

You use Optune together with standard treatments, such as surgery or chemotherapy. You shave your head, and stick electronic devices (transducers) to your head using a sticky bandage. The transducers have wires which attach to a battery controlled device. You can carry this device around in a shoulder bag or backpack. You have to wear it for at least 18 hours a day.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) need to review Optune before it is available on the NHS. It is difficult to know how long this will take. Your specialist nurse or doctor can tell you more.

Research into the side effects and quality of life

Researchers are also looking into the side effects of treatment. And the quality of life for people with brain tumours.

BRIAN

BRIAN (the Brain tumouR Information and Analysis Network) is an app. It is a new way for those affected by a brain tumour to learn from each other’s experiences.

The Brain Tumour Charity created the app. It securely and anonymously stores data about:

• people’s treatment

• tumour types

• experiences

• side effects

• decisions

The team behind BRIAN want to learn about what people living with a brain tumour have been through.

Find out more and join BRIAN here