Miami Cancer Institute Study Will Further Understanding of Glioblastoma

Researchers at Miami Cancer Institute recently received a boost in their fight against brain cancer. NICO Corporation has awarded a $250,000 investigator-initiated grant to neuro-oncologist Manmeet Ahluwalia, M.D., MBA, FASCO deputy director, Fernandez Family Foundation Endowed Chair in Cancer Research, chief of medical oncology, and chief scientific officer of the Institute, part of Baptist Health. Funds will be used to study glioblastoma, which is the most common and deadliest type of brain cancer.

In the PRESERVE GBM study, neurosurgeons will procure samples of brain tissue from multiple zones in one tumor while still in the operating room with NICO’s novel technology. Scientists will then use gene panel sequencing, RNA-sequencing, long non-coding RNA and DNA methylation results to compare and assess three tumor regions for diagnostic differences.

Neuro-oncologist Manmeet Ahluwalia, M.D., MBA, FASCO deputy director, Fernandez Family Foundation Endowed Chair in Cancer Research, chief of medical oncology, and chief scientific officer at Miami Cancer Institute

The ability to have a more detailed molecular and genetic profile of these tumors will have a significant impact on understanding why these tumors are so resistant to treatment and result in therapeutic failure, according to Dr. Ahluwalia, a leading brain cancer researcher. The PRESERVE GBM study (Improving Understanding of Glioblastoma Through Preservation of Biologically Active Brain Tissue) builds upon the foundation of his previous work that he performed at Cleveland Clinic.

“Recent technological advances in genomics and transcriptomics have improved our understanding of glioblastoma,” Dr. Ahluwalia said. “We still need more data but obtaining multiple samples of the tumor from various regions during surgery will help us better understand these differential changes to devise more efficient treatment of Glioblastoma.”

Approximately 15,000 Americans are diagnosed with glioblastoma each year. There has been growing awareness of GBM, as the disease has claimed the lives of prominent individuals, including Sen. Edward Kennedy, Sen. John McCain, singer Tom Parker, and Beau Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden. Even with advances in cancer care, the prognosis for glioblastoma patients has not changed significantly and patients typically survive just 15-18 months beyond diagnosis.

Neurosurgeon Michael McDermott, M.D., chief medical executive of Miami Neuroscience Institute and co-director of the Radiosurgery Program at Miami Cancer Institute

Teams from Miami Cancer Institute and Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute work together to care for patients with glioblastoma. “We are hopeful that the information gleaned from this study will ultimately help us develop more tailored therapies for each patient,” said neurosurgeon Michael McDermott, M.D., chief medical executive of Miami Neuroscience Institute and co-director of the Radiosurgery Program at Miami Cancer Institute. 

This study will also assess radiomics and compare it to genomics to build better models for imaging to predict pathological differences and will be one of the largest multi-institutional, histopathological / imaging research projects to date and will ensure that non-invasive decision support is accurate.

Learn more about Miami Cancer Institute clinical trials here.