Pioneering brain tumour treatment at Vall d'Hebron

Oncology research has made great strides recently. For two years it has been possible to discover which genetic mutations cause certain tumours with a simple blood test. This procedure, known as a 'liquid biopsy', is very useful in cases of metastatic colon, breast and lung cancer, but has been ineffective in brain tumours, which give very low or virtually null readings of tumour DNA in plasma.

Now, the research group Gene Expression and Cancer at Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), led by Dr. Joan Seoane, has discovered that it is in fact possible to do an effective liquid biopsy for brain tumours if, instead of doing it in blood, it is done in cerebrospinal fluid.

The results of the study, published today in the journal Nature Communications, shows that by analysing the fluid around the brain, a DNA sequence is obtained which allows the mutated gene to be detected and the most suitable treatment to be used.

“Brain tumours are very aggressive and so far techniques to identify them have been very invasive,” said Dr. Seoane, who says the discovery opens the door not only to an initial prognosis and specific treatment, but also “later tracking the patient and seeing how they respond.”