NEW THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES FOR MALIGNANT GLIOMA

The treatment of patients with malignant glioma continues to be a
challenge. The goal of this research program is to develop new
therapeutic approaches for malignant glioma. This program project
consists of three projects and one core unit. One project is designed
to study the effects of variation of radiation dose rates on human glioma
cells and may lead to a better understanding of the optimal radiation
dose rate to use either alone or when combined with chemotherapy. A
second project explores the role of cytokines in producing brain edema
and possible techniques to control brain edema. The third project
investigates the role of peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptors in the
proliferation, differentiation, and cell cycle kinetics of malignant
glioma and their potential interactions with chemotherapy and cytokines.
The core unit will be responsible for establishing and maintaining
malignant glioma cell lines. In addition, the core unit will also
collect brain tumor samples from patients, isolate DNA and RNA from tumor
and obtain molecular genetic data from patients' tumors as well s their
cell lines. Together, these investigations may lead to improvement in
the efficacy in current treatment for malignant glioma while reducing
potential neurotoxicity from therapy. These projects along with the
potential strengths of our Center form the basis for the development of
a Brain Tumor Research Center.