Latest news with #glioma
Khaleej Times
08-07-2025
- Health
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: 68-year-old expat undergoes complex 9-hour brain surgery for rare tumour
A 68-year-old British expat in Dubai has successfully undergone a rare and complex nine-hour brain surgery to remove a life-threatening tumour that had invaded deep parts of his brain. The patient, who wished to remain anonymous, was diagnosed with a 'butterfly glioma' — a rare and aggressive type of brain tumour that spreads across both hemispheres of the brain through the corpus callosum, the bundle of nerve fibres connecting the two sides. His health concerns began in April 2025, when he noticed weakness in his right leg and had trouble standing up. He also struggled to swallow and experienced involuntary shaking in his left arm, symptoms that worsened over the following weeks. Eventually, he became unable to walk or lift his right arm. Initially, doctors suspected a spinal issue after an X-ray and MRI showed signs of degeneration in his lower back. But as his symptoms progressed, further tests were done, and brain scans revealed a mass deep inside his brain. He was referred to Dr Gopalakrishnan CV, a consultant neurosurgeon at Medcare Orthopaedics & Spine Hospital, who led the high-risk surgical procedure. Using advanced neuronavigation technology, Dr Gopalakrishnan and his team accessed the tumour through a narrow passage in the frontal lobe. The tumour, located about three centimetres below the surface, was grayish and partly soft, but it had spread to critical areas including the right frontal lobe and the septum pellucidum, a delicate membrane near the brain's centre, which also had to be removed. Several damaged blood vessels and areas of dead tissue were also found. The tests also revealed that his pupils were equal and reactive to light, with full and conjugate eye movements. According to the doctor, the cranial nerve examination was normal, although the fundus could not be assessed. Doctors found that the patient had some weakness in his right arm, particularly when bending and straightening the elbow and when lifting the arm sideways. "His leg was more affected, he had very limited strength in bending his right knee and moderate weakness when trying to straighten it," said Dr Gopalkrishnan, adding that his reflexes were normal, his sense of touch was mostly unaffected, and there were no unusual muscle twitches. 'Treating butterfly gliomas is one of the greatest challenges in neurosurgery,' said Dr Gopalakrishnan. 'These tumours grow aggressively in deep parts of the brain and can change a person's personality and behaviour. Our aim is not just to extend life, but to preserve its quality. With precise surgery and cutting-edge treatments like Tumor Treating Fields and proton beam therapy, we're pushing the boundaries of what's possible.' Butterfly gliomas, or glioblastomas, are among the most aggressive brain tumours. They can cause severe symptoms like headaches, personality changes, seizures, and memory or movement problems. Standard treatment usually involves surgery, followed by radiation and chemotherapy. The average survival time after diagnosis is around 10 to 15 months, but outcomes depend on age, overall health, how much of the tumour can be removed, and certain genetic markers. New approaches such as immunotherapy and targeted treatments are offering fresh hope. Reflecting on his journey, the patient shared that getting this diagnosis was overwhelming at first. 'But I have found strength I didn't know I had. With the care and encouragement from my medical team and loved ones, I am staying hopeful and focusing on living each day with purpose and gratitude.'
Daily Mail
20-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE I was given six months to live after my brain tumor was found...it's a 'miracle' I'm alive a decade later
Los Angeles-based filmmaker Grace Wethor was 13 when she learned of the massive tumor pressing on her brain. She was given six months to live. But a decade later she is living a full and vibrant life - defying the odds in what doctors call a 'miracle' case. In 2015, she began experiencing headaches and seizures, prompting her to go to the hospital. Doctors found a tumor in her brainstem, called a glioma, a typically fatal cancer with minimal treatment options that are often unsuccessful. Doctors said she had about six months to live until the cancer, which has a survival rate of about eight percent, killed her. Wethor said: 'Because my tumor is so difficult to treat, I was able to leave the hospital and spend my "last six months" doing what I love. 'During those first six months, when I thought they might be my last, I made it a mission to do something creative every single day.' She painted, taught herself how to play guitar, and made fashion a form of self-expression. She visited museums with her mother, which she said 'was crucial to keeping my mind off my diagnosis and current health circumstances.' While she never received treatment, her symptoms – headaches, fatigue, and seizures – became manageable with a healthy balance of mindfulness and physical health. 'It's not always perfect, but I've found ways to work with my body rather than against it,' she said. 'Most days, I'm able to live a full and relatively normal life…I don't assume I have time.' Now, an advocate for cancer research, Wethor undergoes MRI scans, fearing all the time that the cancer has grown. But she hasn't let that fear take over her life. A glioma of the brain stem is a tumor that develops in the area connecting the brain to the spinal cord and can come in different varieties based on the specific type of glial cell. The brainstem is crucial in controlling vital functions such as breathing, heart rate, swallowing, and movement. Damage to it can lead to a wide range of devastating effects that Wethor fears are lurking just around the corner, including difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, and cognitive decline. Brainstem gliomas are rare and more common in children than adults. Every year, there are roughly 300 cases in adults and 500 cases in children. It is the same cancer President Joe Biden's son Beau had. He was diagnosed in 2013 and died two years later. 'My doctors can't explain why I have survived,' she said. 'I still have my tumor, but miraculously, it has not grown.' There is no treatment for this form of cancer, leaving her wondering when her regular MRI scan will show that the tumor has grown and pressure on her brain has worsened. Doctors do not know what prompted the tumor to develop, how it might respond to treatment, what the best available treatments are, or whether it will come back if a patient reaches remission. Wethor's expectation-exceeding survival is nothing short of miraculous, given the tiny chance of survival given to her as a teen. She said: 'Because of the complexity of the brain stem, doctors aren't able to biopsy or do surgery on these tumors. 'This means that as soon as these tumors start growing, there isn't much that can be done to help the patient - especially because chemotherapy and radiation also have a slim chance of working.' Radiation's effect is often short-lived, chemotherapy often fails and there are no targeted therapies. When symptoms appear, such as double vision, slurred speech, and imbalance, the cancer has spread beyond help. 'The hope is that one day a trial or new treatment will emerge that can help tumors in this area of the brain,' she said. 'There have been some advancements but we still have a long way to go.' From the outside, she said, nobody would know she has a brain tumor. And while she still gets headaches and other symptoms, she has been able to find creative outlets. The cancer could worsen at any moment, but Wethor doesn't fear death. Social workers would ask her if she was afraid of dying, but she realized it was the wrong question. 'Really what I should have been asked was if I was afraid of living – living with this reality and wondering how long I and others could live under that stress and unknown,' she said. 'I try to live every day as an adventure, because no one is guaranteed any amount of time, brain tumor or no brain tumor, and this experience has made that impossible to ignore.'
Daily Mail
15-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
I thought I was heading for the menopause...but my symptoms were really a sign of brain cancer
A mother-of-one who blamed her brain fog and memory lapses on the menopause has told of her devastation at being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour. Jane Roberts, 46, began experiencing confusion and forgetfulness earlier this year, but assumed it was a harmless symptom of perimenopause. She mentioned the issues during a GP appointment—only for her doctor to raise concerns it could be early-onset dementia. A CT scan soon revealed the real cause: a malignant brain tumour. On March 21, 2025, Jane was diagnosed with a glioma. The standard treatment for this type of cancer is surgery to remove as much of the tumour as possible, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. But in Jane's case, a follow-up scan showed the mass was located in her thalamus—deep in the centre of her brain—making it inoperable. The mother-of-one, from Liverpool, is now awaiting the results of an MRI scan to determine how advanced the cancer is. She has since begun sharing her story on TikTok in a bid to raise awareness, with some videos racking up more than 100,000 views. Jane hopes her experience will encourage others not to dismiss unusual symptoms, no matter how minor they seem. In a video, Jane explained how the ordeal began: 'I went to the GP with what I thought were perimenopause symptoms—part of that was a bit of brain fog and memory loss. 'She jumped on it straight away. The GP was so concerned by what I said about my memory that she thought I had early-onset dementia.' But after referring her for a CT scan, her doctor delivered the devastating news: it wasn't dementia—it was a 'nasty brain tumour'. While Jane is still waiting for an MRI to confirm how advanced the cancer is, the tumour is located deep in the brain's thalamus—described by doctors as the 'central system where everything goes in and out'. Even after seeking a second opinion at the renowned Cleveland Clinic, she was told surgery was not an option. In a more recent update, she told followers: 'I'm waiting for my next scan towards the end of June to see how it's progressing—whether it's grown or stopped. 'All the next steps—biopsy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy—carry a risk because of where the tumour is.' In a more recent update, she told followers: 'I'm waiting for my next scan towards the end of June to see how it's progressing—whether it's grown or stopped Her 10-year-old daughter has even given the tumour a nickname—'Betty'—after the pair had a heartbreaking conversation about her diagnosis. Gliomas are brain tumours that form in the glial cells—supportive cells that surround and protect nerve cells in the brain. Around 2,500 people are diagnosed with gliomas in the UK each year, with about 24,000 cases annually in the US. They make up roughly a quarter of all brain tumours and can range from slow-growing to aggressive, fast-growing forms. Symptoms vary depending on where the tumour is, but can include headaches, memory loss, seizures and changes in mood or behaviour. when a glioma is inoperable—because it's located deep in the brain or near vital structures—doctors may focus on shrinking or slowing its growth instead. This is typically done with targeted radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which can help relieve symptoms and extend survival, but is rarely curative. In some cases, patients may also be offered palliative care to manage symptoms and maintain quality of life. In a video posted last week, Jane shared that 'waiting is the hardest part' as she continues to hope for an update. In an Instagram post, she added: 'Doing nothing is a really tough spot to be in. It's a completely mental game. A weird kind of torture. 'You might die, you might not, but you probably will—but we can't be sure when, it might be soon.' In another video, filmed just days after she was told the tumour was inoperable, she said: 'I've woken up feeling really sad today. 'It is the reality. I don't know enough. I don't know if radio and chemo can fully remove it or if this is just going to be a case of shrinking it. 'Then it is going to grow again, then we're doing this and this is just going to be my life until it gets me. It's just hard to stay really strong.' Despite everything, Jane has been trying to remain positive—sharing her thoughts and feelings in regular updates. In a post from a week ago, she wrote: 'It takes all my energy to keep fighting the negative thoughts and the messages of Mr Doom and Gloom (my surgeon) continually echo in my ears. It's such a battle to stay happy or even neutral.' 'But I do know that whilst Betty (yes we named my tumour) is here to stay at least for now that I am capable of being happy throughout this shit show. So going to try and embrace the lows as they will propel me to the highs.' In her most recent Instagram post, she said she is appreciating the little things like going to a hair appointment. 'I just assumed I'd start treatment and lose my hair and it would all happen so quickly. 'But I'm a few hair appointments in now and brave enough to book another in 6 weeks,' she wrote in the caption.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hemispherian receives positive opinion for Orphan Medicinal Product Designation in the EU for GLIX1 in glioma
OSLO, Norway, June 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hemispherian AS, a pioneering biotech company developing next-generation therapeutics for aggressive cancers, announced today that the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP) has issued a positive opinion recommending Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) for GLIX1, the company's lead molecule, for the treatment of glioma, one of the most devastating and lethal brain cancers. Significant clinical benefit beyond current therapies. The designation marks a major regulatory milestone for Hemispherian, recognizing both the urgent unmet medical need in glioma and the potential of GLIX1 to offer significant clinical benefit beyond current therapies. "We are proud to have received this recommendation for an Orphan Drug Designation from the EMA Committee. This validates our scientific approach and supports our mission to transform treatment for patients with glioma, who currently face extremely limited and ineffective options," said Zeno Albisser, CEO of Hemispherian. About the Designation Following a detailed review, the COMP determined that GLIX1 meets the criteria for orphan designation under Regulation (EC) No 141/2000. In particular: Glioma is a life-threatening and chronically debilitating disease affecting approximately 2.6 in 10,000 people in the EU. Existing therapies for Glioblastoma (a form of Glioma) offer only limited survival benefits, with median overall survival typically less than 15 months. Non-clinical studies with GLIX1 demonstrated significant tumor reduction and extended survival in validated animal models, including cases of complete tumor eradication. These results suggest that GLIX1 offers a clinically relevant advantage over existing treatments, fulfilling the EMA's criteria for "significant benefit." Benefits of Orphan Drug Designation- Faster market Access- 10 Years of market Exclusivity Orphan Drug Designation by the EMA provides Hemispherian with a range of development and commercial incentives, including: 10 years of market exclusivity in the EU upon approval. Protocol assistance and regulatory guidance from EMA during clinical development. Eligibility for fee reductions for regulatory submissions, including marketing authorization. These incentives are designed to encourage the development of innovative treatments for rare diseases with high unmet need. About Hemispherian Hemispherian is an Oslo-based pharmaceutical company focused on the development of a novel class of small-molecule drugs targeting glioblastoma and other aggressive cancers. The company's proprietary GLIX platform is based on unique DNA-targeting technology aimed at improving patient survival and quality of life. So far, the treatment shows impressive effects, with limited to no side effects, and with no damage to healthy tissue. Contact: Zeno Albisser, CEO – zeno@ +47 40603455 View original content: SOURCE Hemispherian AS Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hemispherian receives positive opinion for Orphan Medicinal Product Designation in the EU for GLIX1 in glioma
OSLO, Norway, June 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hemispherian AS, a pioneering biotech company developing next-generation therapeutics for aggressive cancers, announced today that the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP) has issued a positive opinion recommending Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) for GLIX1, the company's lead molecule, for the treatment of glioma, one of the most devastating and lethal brain cancers. Significant clinical benefit beyond current therapies. The designation marks a major regulatory milestone for Hemispherian, recognizing both the urgent unmet medical need in glioma and the potential of GLIX1 to offer significant clinical benefit beyond current therapies. "We are proud to have received this recommendation for an Orphan Drug Designation from the EMA Committee. This validates our scientific approach and supports our mission to transform treatment for patients with glioma, who currently face extremely limited and ineffective options," said Zeno Albisser, CEO of Hemispherian. About the Designation Following a detailed review, the COMP determined that GLIX1 meets the criteria for orphan designation under Regulation (EC) No 141/2000. In particular: Glioma is a life-threatening and chronically debilitating disease affecting approximately 2.6 in 10,000 people in the EU. Existing therapies for Glioblastoma (a form of Glioma) offer only limited survival benefits, with median overall survival typically less than 15 months. Non-clinical studies with GLIX1 demonstrated significant tumor reduction and extended survival in validated animal models, including cases of complete tumor eradication. These results suggest that GLIX1 offers a clinically relevant advantage over existing treatments, fulfilling the EMA's criteria for "significant benefit." Benefits of Orphan Drug Designation- Faster market Access- 10 Years of market Exclusivity Orphan Drug Designation by the EMA provides Hemispherian with a range of development and commercial incentives, including: 10 years of market exclusivity in the EU upon approval. Protocol assistance and regulatory guidance from EMA during clinical development. Eligibility for fee reductions for regulatory submissions, including marketing authorization. These incentives are designed to encourage the development of innovative treatments for rare diseases with high unmet need. About Hemispherian Hemispherian is an Oslo-based pharmaceutical company focused on the development of a novel class of small-molecule drugs targeting glioblastoma and other aggressive cancers. The company's proprietary GLIX platform is based on unique DNA-targeting technology aimed at improving patient survival and quality of life. So far, the treatment shows impressive effects, with limited to no side effects, and with no damage to healthy tissue. Contact: Zeno Albisser, CEO – zeno@ +47 40603455 View original content: SOURCE Hemispherian AS
