“These insights underscore the importance of personalised treatment approaches and the need for further research to improve radiotherapy outcomes in cancer patients.”

A new research paper was published in Ageing (Ageing-US) on February 27, 2025, as the cover of Volume 17, Issue 2, titled “Variability in radiotherapy outcomes across cancer types: a comparative study of glioblastoma multiforme and low-grade gliomas.”

An international research team, led by first author Alexander Veviorskiy from Insilico Medicine AI Limited, Abu Dhabi, UAE, and corresponding author Morten Scheibye-Knudsen from the Centre for Healthy Ageing, University of Copenhagen, investigated how radiotherapy affects survival in different types of cancer, with a special focus on glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and low-grade gliomas (LGG).

Their findings reveal that radiotherapy has opposite effects in GBM and LGG patients.

The study highlights key biological differences between these brain cancer types, emphasising the need for personalised treatment strategies.

Radiotherapy is a standard treatment for many tumours, but its effectiveness varies widely depending on the type of cancer.

The researchers began by analysing data from 32 cancer types using information from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA).

They then focused on glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and low-grade gliomas (LGG), two types of brain cancer with distinct biological behaviours.

GBM is an aggressive cancer with poor survival rates, whereas LGG progresses more slowly and often has a better prognosis.

“GBM and LGG are particularly interesting to study together because GBM often originates from a preexisting LGG, representing a progression from a lower-grade to a higher-grade malignancy.”

The results revealed a striking contrast: patients with GBM who received radiotherapy lived longer, whereas those with LGG had shorter survival times after treatment.

To understand the reasons behind this, the researchers analysed gene expression and signalling pathways.

They identify several biological processes that may influence radiotherapy outcomes.

For example, GBM tumours have weaker DNA repair mechanisms, making them more vulnerable to radiation-induced damage, which allows radiotherapy to effectively kill cancer cells.

In contrast, LGG tumours have stronger DNA repair systems, helping cells survive radiation better and potentially reducing the treatment’s effectiveness.

Additionally, differences in immune system activity and genetic mutations—such as EGFR alterations—were linked to worse survival in LGG patients who received radiotherapy.

These findings highlight the need for a more personalised approach to treating brain cancer.

The study proposes that a universal approach to radiotherapy is not appropriate, particularly for patients with LGG.

Instead, personalised treatment strategies based on genetic and molecular characteristics could improve patient survival outcomes.

The research also raises the possibility of combining radiotherapy with targeted therapies, such as immune-boosting therapies or DNA repair inhibitors, to enhance its effectiveness.

In conclusion, this study highlights the complexity of brain cancer treatment and the need for further research to refine therapeutic strategies.

By understanding the molecular and genetic differences between the different types of cancers, more effective and personalised approaches can be developed to improve survival and quality of life for brain cancer patients.

Source: Impact Journals LLC