Posts by Bakhos A. Tannous, PhD
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Noninvasive Techniques in Brain Tumor Treatment
Noninvasive techniques are useful for indicating whether or not a drug is delivered to the tumor and effective. In this video, Bakhos Tannous, PhD, discusses research in molecular imaging that investigates how secreted luciferase could act as a probe to indicate the drug's efficacy.
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Olfactory Ensheathing Cells Facilitate Successful Gene Therapy for Glioma in Animal Models
In the first study of olfactory ensheathing cells for cancer treatment, neuro-oncologists demonstrated that the cells can act as a "Trojan horse" to deliver a therapeutic transgene to brain tumors in mice—reducing tumor size and improving survival after just one intranasal administration.
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New Therapies for Brain Tumors
Brain tumors are difficult to treat because the brain has natural barriers that can resist therapy. In this video, Bakhos Tannous, PhD, discusses his research on the effects of using stem-like cells to treat brain tumors in hopes to deliver more effective treatment.
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Research Advances from Mass General Neurology
Researchers from the Department of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital discuss their collaborative and individual work in clinical and translational research.
Biography
Glioblastomas (GBMs) comprise >50% of all primary brain tumors and are the most malignant type, with a median survival of 14 months and 90% of patients dying within 5 years. Effective treatment is hindered by our limited understanding of disease progression as well as complications such as resistance to existing drugs. The goal of the Tannous lab is therefore to understand the mechanisms underlying GBM progression and therapeutic resistance and to develop novel diagnostics and therapeutics. Specifically, the group is developing ways to better target GBM stem cells, the subpopulation of GBM cells that is largely responsible for tumor resistance and recurrence; it is studying the signals that tumor cells can send to their surrounding to promote tumor expansion; and it is developing blood-based tests and biomarkers to detect brain tumors and monitor disease progression. The resulting technologies and therapies can also be extended to other cancer types, and the Tannous lab is exploring such applications in collaboration with other groups.
Neuroscience Care at Mass General
Through a combination of unmatched expertise, creativity and compassion, Mass General Neuroscience relentlessly advances the fields of Neurosurgery, Neurology and Psychiatry to unleash our patients’ potential.