The impact of our brain cancer research
Brain cancers can be complex, aggressive, and evade treatment. At QIMR Berghofer, we’re researching multiple approaches to understand how and why brain cancers resist treatment that’s effective for other types of cancer. This will help us develop more effective treatments.
We’ve developed a new-generation immunotherapy for the deadly brain cancer glioblastoma. This will soon advance to a phase 1 clinical trial.
We’ve invented a breakthrough vaccine to improve immunity against CMV, a common virus that plays a role in glioblastomas.
Our large brain tumour bank contains more than 350 samples, allowing global researchers to test new therapies.
We’re testing immunotherapies that ‘turbocharge’ T cells – a crucial part of the immune system – to destroy CMV and improve survival rates.
About brain cancer
Brain cancers are classified by the type of cells they start in, and how these cells are likely to behave. There are more than 40 types of brain and spinal cord tumours, including:
- Gliomas: The most common type of brain cancer, gliomas start in the neuroglia cells of the brain. Grade four gliomas, also known as glioblastomas, are the most aggressive type;
- Medulloblastomas start in the cerebellum;
- Meningiomas start in the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord;
- Pituitary tumours start in the pituitary gland;
- Schwannoma start in the cells surrounding nerves in the brain;
- Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), is the most common malignant brain cancer. Fewer than 5% of Australians with glioblastoma survive beyond five years.
GBM is one of our key focus areas at QIMR Berghofer because there is an urgent clinical need for new treatments. As Professor Rajiv Khanna AO says: "Survival rates for this aggressive cancer have barely changed in decades. We are trying to buy patients more time."
GBM can develop at any age but occurs more often in men and older adults. Symptoms include headaches that get worse, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, and seizures.
There's no cure and the exact cause of GBM is often unknown.
Despite treatments such as surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the average survival time is just 12–18 months.
While brain cancer can occur in people of all ages, it’s more common in children under 15 and adults over 65. The average age of diagnosis is 59.
More than 1,900 people are diagnosed in Australia with a form of brain cancer each year.
The most common symptoms of brain cancer include:
- loss of balance
- seizures
- weakness or paralysis in part of the body
- nausea and vomiting.
Brain tumours are treated with surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, steroid therapy, or a combination of these.
Exact treatment plans vary depending on the type of tumour, where it is, and the patient’s general health.