Three new subtypes of brain tumour have been discovered by a team of Irish-led researchers. It is hoped these findings could help to identify new and effective therapies for those affected.

The subtypes identified are forms of glioblastoma, which is the most common and aggressive form of adult primary brain cancer. Currently, there is no cure available.

The research led by RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences showed that these tumours can be placed into three categories based on the different kind of non-cancer cells that can be found within the tumour. These so-called tumour microenvironment cells can include immune cells and blood vessel cells.  

Currently, the majority of patients with glioblastoma are treated in the same way. However, it is hoped that further investigation of these newly identified subtypes will mean that different patients could receive treatment specific to the cells in their particular tumour.

This type of targeted treatment is known as precision medicine.  

According to the research’s senior author and lead investigator, Prof Annette Byrne, who is head of the RCSI Precision Cancer Medicine Group, glioblastoma patients currently have a poor prognosis due to limited treatment options, “so it is vital that new treatments be developed”.

“Targeted treatment or precision medicine has the potential to improve outcomes for these patients. We hope further analysis of the tumour subtypes identified in this research will provide the data needed to support future glioblastoma clinical trials in Ireland,” she commented.

Precision medicine approaches could include the use of immunotherapies in patients that have the tumour subtype defined by high levels of immune cells within their tumour microenvironment.

An assessment of glioblastoma clinical trial datasets by this research group provided support for this idea, showing that patients with this subtype of tumour may have an improved outcome when treated with immunotherapies compared to other subtypes. 

This research also involved clinical colleagues from the National Centre of Neurosurgery in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, members of the GLIOTRAIN brain tumour research consortium (www.gliotrain.eu) and several clinical collaborators from leading US brain tumour research centres.

It is published in the journal, Annals of Oncology, and can be viewed here.