NEWS ABOUT THE CURE

Compassionate Use, Expanded Access, and Off-Trial Use of Treatments for Brain Tumors

When confronting a brain tumor diagnosis, clinical trials are often the first resort beyond or concurrent with radiation for treatment options.  Although these trials may not offer a cure, phase 2 and phase 3 trials do offer a limited measure of comfort from life-threatening side effects.  But if these options don’t work, many patients find themselves weighing other options including phase 1 trials or even compassionate use opportunities where little to nothing may be known about the compound be

Preclinical and clinical evaluation of German-sourced ONC201 for the treatment of H3K27M-mutant diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma

In a study funded by The Cure Starts Now and the DIPG/DMG Collaborative, Dr. Dun discusses the initial effects of differing formulations of ONC201. Background Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is a fatal childhood brainstem tumor for which radiation is the only treatment. Case studies report a clinical response to ONC201 for patients with H3K27M-mutant gliomas. Oncoceutics (ONC201) is only available in the United States and Japan; however, in Germany, DIPG patients can be prescribed and di

The H2A.Z-nuclesome code in mammals: emerging functions

A recent publication in Trends in Genomics highlighted Dr. Valdes-Mora's investigation into the functions and role of histone variations in cancers. This helps to define relevant targets not only in DIPG but also other cancers for the next group of trials. This investigation was funded by the DIPG/DMG Collaborative. Highlights The histone variant H2A.Z has been involved in many diverse and contrasting functions. H2A.Z complex biology, including different post-translational modifications, iso

Pharmaco-proteogenomic profiling of pediatric diffuse midline glioma to inform future treatment strategies

Dr. Dun’s latest research helps to outline key attributes between DIPG and DMGs and how we might best find complementary strategies to attack DMG to improve prognoses.  This, when combined with further genetic analysis, will lead to improved outcomes for children fighting these brain tumors. Abstract Diffuse midline glioma (DMG) is a deadly pediatric and adolescent central nervous system (CNS) tumor localized along the midline structures of the brain atop the spinal cord. With a median overall s

Dosing Optimization of CED Drug Delivery for DIPG

A recent publication in the Journal of Neurosurgery highlighted Dr. Souweidane's efforts to leverage software in order to better predict CED drug delivery in DIPG patients. This may improve researchers' ability to optimize dosing for drugs delivered by CED, such as chemotherapy. CED administration in DIPG patients is largely thanks to research funding by The Cure Starts Now. Abstract With increasing use of convection-enhanced delivery (CED) of drugs, the need for software that can predict infusi

Groundbreaking Brain Cancer Trial Funded by Local Charities Demonstrates 2/3 Survival of Mice and Heads to Human Trials

Every year around 200-400 children die from the incurable brain tumor, Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) in the US and Australia. The average age of diagnosis for DIPG is just seven years old. There are no effective treatments, and average survival is from 12-18 months. A paper published in the prestigious journal, Nature Communications, reveals a revolutionary drug combination that – in animal studies and in world first 3D models of the tumor – is “spectacularly effective in eradicating t

Father Spotlight: David Turner, Sr., Father of David Jr.

Father of David Jr., David Sr. lays out his experience with his son as diagnosis and treatment came around. Despite David Jr.’s unfortunate loss, his father recognizes the impact his son made while on earth, and will continue to make for years to come.  Tell me about David. David continues to bring so much to my life.  David could light up a room no matter the situation.  Doing jiu-jitsu and being pinned he would smile and laugh, in the hospital getting an IV or getting his port accessed he

Father Spotlight: Josh Blom, Father of Aldon

Josh Blom, the father of DIPG Warrior Aldon, details his experience of being a father of a child with DIPG: Aldon was an incredibly smart and outgoing child. He loved doing puzzles and anything that had to do with numbers and the alphabet, which he knew up to 10 and all of the letters. He really enjoyed watching sesame street and anything with a lot of singing, but his favorite was to be outside playing especially basketball. We started to notice a few symptoms such as tremors, slurred speech, a

Father Spotlight: Thomas Barron, Father of Mackenzie

In an open letter to everyone, Thomas Barron, father of DIPG Warrior Mackenzie, details what it's like to be the parents of a child with cancer: A letter to the world: From us parents of children with cancer/terminal cancer. We are childhood cancer parents, and we are not ok and we are very tired. As childhood cancer parents, we receive many labels. “Oh, how strong you are!!”, “Oh, the ability to do hard stuff! Your family is so strong!”, “Keep up the fight!”, “I don’t know how you do it. I coul

Dual targeting of the epigenome via FACT complex and histone deacetylase is a potent treatment strategy for DIPG

In 2019 Dr. Maria Tsoli and Dr. David Ziegler of Children's Cancer Institute proposed developing new epigenetic combination treatments against DIPG. This project was approved for funding by the DIPG/DMG Collaborative and The Cure Starts Now and here are the results: Abstract Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is an aggressive and incurable childhood brain tumor for which new treatments are needed. CBL0137 is an anti-cancer compound developed from quinacrine that targets facilitates chromati