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Researchers have developed a new technique to diagnose medulloblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumor in children, more quickly using MRI scans instead of traditional surgery and tests. This advancement allows doctors to determine the tumor type in minutes rather than weeks, enabling faster and more effective treatment planning.
This technique, co-led by Professor Andrew Peet at the University of Birmingham, leverages MRI scans to detect how different subtypes of medulloblastoma metabolize energy, making it possible to identify the tumor type as soon as the child arrives at the hospital.
The significance of this advancement is illustrated through the case of six-year-old Jack Bourne, whose tumor was removed quickly, but required a month to identify the best treatment. With the new MRI-based method, doctors can start planning treatment immediately after identifying the tumor type, reducing the time cancer has to grow and spread.
Peet emphasizes the importance of this technique in alleviating the uncertainty families face during diagnosis and enabling more precise treatment. The method allows doctors to better prepare for surgery and start organizing subsequent treatments promptly, which is crucial because “we don’t have time to wait.”
The new approach not only improves survival rates but also minimizes treatment side effects by tailoring the intensity of treatment to the specific tumor type. For example, children with the WNT subtype of medulloblastoma, which responds better to treatment, can receive less intense therapy, reducing the risk of damaging the developing brain.
The study also uncovered a potential new target for treating high-risk medulloblastoma involving the chemical glutamate. Tumors with high levels of glutamate correlated with poorer outcomes, suggesting that targeting glutamate could be a promising treatment strategy.
This breakthrough represents a significant step forward in pediatric brain cancer care, providing faster diagnosis, better treatment planning, and potential new treatment avenues that could improve survival rates and quality of life for young patients.