Multilayer glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive and common brain tumor, affecting approximately 250,000 people worldwide each year.
Despite decades of research, there is no treatment yet. Standard treatments include surgical removal of the tumor, followed by radiation and chemotherapy.
These approaches may temporarily slow tumor growth, but the average life expectancy for patients remains only 15 months after diagnosis.
Given the strength and cost of treatment, the disease places a major strain on not only the patients and their families, but also the healthcare system.
This urgent medical challenge has led researchers to explore new, more accurate ways to combat glioblastoma multiforme.
Nucapcure Project: An Interdisciplinary Breakthrough
The groundbreaking initiative known as the Nucapcure Project aims to revolutionize GBM therapy.
Supported by the European Council for Innovation (EIC) through 5.9 million euros funding, the project brings together seven international organizations in a unique multidisciplinary network.
Nucapcure integrates expertise across nuclear physics, synthetic chemistry, biochemistry, and radiation biology.
By combining these areas, researchers aim to develop treatments that use tumor-specific cellular processes for it.
Two innovative treatment routes
At the heart of Nucapcure’s strategy are two pioneering approaches.
Nucapcure Proton: It combines proton radiation therapy with photoradiation (PS) proton activation with boron proton capture therapy (BPCT). Nucapcure Neutron: This approach uses glioblastoma-specific PS neutron activation along with boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT).
Both methods utilize the biosynthetic activity of tumor cells. Cancer cells essentially prepare compounds within themselves. When activated by proton or neutron irradiation, these compounds act as “silver bullets” and cause self-destruction of cells.
Unlike traditional treatments that harm surrounding tissues, these techniques are designed to accurately target only malignant cells, minimize side effects, and potentially lead to treatment outcomes.
Paths to clinical applications
This project examines treatments in two stages. First, the experiments are performed in glioblastoma polymorphic cell cultures and then tested in preclinical animal models.
The official project timeline is expanded in 2028, and the interim transition phase is expected to set further development stages.
The plan includes applying for EIC transitions and EIC accelerator financing, commercialising the results, and ultimately spinning the company to promote treatment for clinical trials.
Looking further, Nucapcure aims to bring these treatments to brain tumor patients by around 2040.
Potential game changers for GBM patients
If successful, Nucapcure treatments could dramatically change the outlook for GBM patients.
By targeting tumors at a molecular level while saving healthy tissue, treatment can prolong survival time, reduce treatment-related pain, and alleviate the economic burden of the healthcare system.
Although still in its early stages, the project offers a beacon of hope in the fight against glioblastoma multiforme. This is a disease that is stubbornly resistant to traditional treatments.
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