Researchers are at work to find effective treatments to help young patients with brain tumours.

Hundreds of brain organoids have been developed in the laboratories of the University of Trento to understand the genetic mechanisms responsible for these hard to treat diseases.

In this way, the research team coordinated by Luca Tiberi of the Armenise-Harvard Laboratory of Brain Disorders and Cancer of Cibio Department of the University of Trento developed a new strategy to study brain tumours of childhood.

The University of Trento led the research study, coordinating a research team involving Sapienza University of Rome, Ospedale pediatrico Bambino Gesù in Rome, and Irccs Neuromed-Istituto neurologico mediterraneo in Pozzilli (Isernia), with support from the Armenise-Harvard Foundation, the Italian Association for Cancer Research-Airc, and Fondazione Caritro in Trento.

The organoids were used to create in vitro tumour models.

The results achieved will make it possible to advance brain cancer research, as in the near future the large-scale production of in vitro tumours could provide a low-cost method for the screening of new drugs compared with previous technologies.

"Creating brain tumour organoids is very difficult - underlined Tiberi, the research team coordinator - and requires specific scientific capabilities that Cibio department managed to attract and develop in its research laboratories".

"Organoids, generated from skin or blood cells, shaped like irregular spheres the size of a small peanut, were grown by the University of Trento and examined and characterised with Sapienza University of Rome and Ospedale pediatrico Bambino Gesù in Rome. They can show signs of disease and provide a model of the tumours affecting young patients - he added. This work demonstrates how important it is to collaborate for universities and research institutes to initiate innovative projects".

"We also have grown organoids from the cells of healthy donors - explained Tiberi - and these gave us the opportunity to understand some of the genetic mechanisms responsible for the onset and development of brain tumours. In particular, the study confirmed the key role of two proteins (Otx2 and c-Myc) and investigated the efficacy of a number of therapeutic options (based on the drug Tazemetostat)".

Tiberi continued: "These in vitro tumours will help us fine-tune research on the genes that cause cancer and on possible prevention and treatment strategies. Organoids give us the opportunity to study brain tumours without using experimental animals in a context that is similar to a real-patient scenario. They can be a reliable tool for developing personalised therapies".

Brain tumours are the first cause of death due to cancer in children.

They are very aggressive and require a multidisciplinary and integrated approach.

While significant progress has been made in treating these tumours, surviving patients may suffer long-term side effects that significantly compromise their quality of life.

When the tumour reappears after some time, therapies are usually ineffective.

Medulloblastoma, the focus of this study, is the most common malignant brain tumour in children affecting the central nervous system.

The survival rate at five years from the diagnosis of medulloblastoma is around 70%.

Source: University of Trento