Our tumour studies are split into 7 categories:

• Glioblastoma
• Other glial tumour
• Meningioma
• Metastatic tumour
• Paediatric
• Pituitary
• Other

Please visit each category below to view the individual lay summaries.

Other glial tumour

• BRAIN UK Ref: 24/015 – Investigating the spatial omics of G34R/V gliomas
  Brain tumors are a major cause of death in children and young adults, despite standard-of care treatment. Indeed, the mechanisms by which brain tumors develop are… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 24/014 – Integrated molecular profiling of paediatric-type diffuse high-grade glial tumours
  High grade gliomas (HGG) are a group of tumours that can occur in any location in the central nervous system (CNS). They are associated with a very poor prognosis… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 24/012 – IDH-mutant diffuse glioma with primitive neuronal component
  We are studying rare types of brain cancers, focusing on understanding their unique features and how they behave. By using advanced genetic tools, we aim to improve… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 24/010 – Investigating progression and transformation of IDH1/2 mutant hemispheric astrocytomas in adults
  An astrocytoma is a type of primary brain tumour that usually affects adults younger than 50 and represents one of the major causes of cancer-related disease and death in patients… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 24/004 – P16 expression as a surrogate marker for homozygous deletion of CDKN2A in IDH-mutant astrocytomas
  We want to find out if there is a link between the absence of a protein called P16 and the loss of a gene called CDKN2A/B in some brain tumours. The loss of the CDKN2A gene… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 24/002 – Characterisation of rare neuronal and glial tumour types to increase diagnostic accuracy, identify treatment targets and improve prognostication
  In the past, diagnosing brain tumours involved studying stained tissue samples under a microscope. But in the last decade, DNA methylation profiling, a modern molecular technique… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 23/023 – Understanding microenvironmental determinants of glioblastoma invasion
  Glioblastoma is a highly aggressive type of brain cancer, and current treatments are not very effective, leading to short survival times for patients… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 23/015 – Epidemiologic, Histologic, and Molecular Features of Methylation Class Pleomorphic Xanthoastrocytoma
  We want to make it easier for doctors to recognize a type of brain tumor called pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma. The tumor gets its name because it is made of cells with a variety of… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 23/001 – Investigating the expression of BACE1 in human astrocytoma
  The BACE1 and BACE2 family of proteins have important role in development of several diseases including Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes. Studies have looked at the involvement of BACE1 and BACE2 in cancer… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 22/021 – Multi-modal computational interrogation of the molecular-morphological intersection in brain tumours
  Brain tumours called gliomas are the most common primary tumours, with glioblastoma being the form of glioma with the worst outcomes… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 22/017 – Microglia activation in IDH1 WT glioma is essential for peripheral macrophage recruitment
  Glioma is the most common brain tumour in adults. Gliomas are made up of both tumour cells and non-tumour cells. The majority of non-tumour cells consist of… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 22/015 – Retrospective and prospective analysis of digital images of histology slides of brain tumours using machine learning and deep learning to predict/identify molecular properties
  Molecular markers are important to identify prognosis and potential treatments for brain tumour patients. However, assessing the tissue for these alterations requires costly methods… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 22/011 – Artificial intelligence-based reconstruction of the WHO 2021 diagnostic algorithm for adult-type diffuse gliomas
  The diagnosis of a brain tumour is complex and involves many different people and steps. Since there are several different types of brain tumour, tumour samples collected during surgery… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 22/003 – Role of microglial subtypes in neurodevelopmental brain diseases
  Microglia are the immune cells of the brain. They play an important role in defending the brain against injury and infection. However, it has become apparent that these cells are… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 21/019 – Classification and characterisation of spinal glial tumours
  Tumours can occur in any location within the central nervous system which includes the brain and the spinal cord. They are rarer than those occurring within the brain… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 21/011 – Immunohistochemical study of H3.3 K27M expression in canine glioma: a potential model for human diffuse midline glioma
  Glioma is the most common of brain cancers in people. It is classified into four grades (1 to 4) based on its malignancy. Grade 4 glioma is the deadliest of all brain cancers… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 21/007 – Investigating regional heterogeneity and progression-associated markers in oligodendrogliomas
  Oligodendrogliomas and astrocytomas are brain tumours that mainly affect adults in their 20s to 40s and share some genetic mutations that lead to their development… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 21/002 – Investigating a Surrogate Marker to Distinguish Astrocytomas and Oligodendrogliomas
  Over 12,000 people in the UK develop a tumour that starts in their brain each year. That’s over 30 people every single day. Different brain tumours grow at different rates… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 20/016 – Bithalamic Gliomas in children and adolescents: Clinical, radiological, histopathological, (epi-)genomic, molecular and survival characteristics
  Bithalamic gliomas are rare brain tumours in children. They often present with mood and behaviour changes as a result of where they are in the brain. Research describes these tumours as having… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 20/001 – Relating neuropathological features to clinical outcome in spinal ependymomas
  The spinal cord connects the brain to the rest of the body, passing messages through nerve fibres in the cord to control movement and relaying sensations back to the brain… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 19/010 – Investigating a role for dystrophin in survival outcomes of low grade glioma patients: A pilot study
  Low-grade glioma (LGG) is a type of brain tumour that typically occurs in early adulthood. LGG patients usually survive a decade or more, although there is a high risk of treatment related complications… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 19/001 – Molecular analyses of glial and glioneuronal tumours by DNA methylation profiling and next generation sequencing (NGS)
  We want to improve the way brain tumours are diagnosed. Currently clinicians make a diagnosis by looking at a tumour tissue under a microscope but cannot always identify… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 18/005 – An Investigation of the Clinical Utility of Genetic and Epigenetic Profiling in Glioma
  Genetic tests are becoming increasing important in how we diagnose and treat brain cancer. Currently, tests are done one at a time, using different methods… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 17/002 – Identification of novel therapeutic targets and/or predictive biomarkers in brain gliomas
  Brain gliomas, a class of brain tumours, can be low grade (slow growing) or, more commonly, high grade (fast growing). About half of low grade gliomas progress to a… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 16/015 – The development of a molecular methodology for improved detection of Isocitrate Dehydrogenase mutations in diffuse gliomas
  Changes in our DNA are often found in cancer. In the hospital laboratory we can set up tests to look for these changes, to help diagnose and treat cancer… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 16/002 – Multi-platform analysis of TSC Subependymal Giant Cell Astrocytoma (SEGA) to identify novel therapeutic approaches
  Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC). TSC is a genetic disease which causes multiple tumours within the body. Heart, brain, kidney, skin and lung can be affected… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 15/006 – Identifying Circulating Tumour Cells in the Blood: An Analysis of their Diagnostic and Prognostic Significance in Correlation with Biopsy Findings
  Approximately 7,000 patients in the UK develop primary brain tumours every year, and there are many more that develop metastases within the brain such as lung cancer… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 14/008 – An analysis of PPAR expression in human gliomas: Its use as a novel diagnostic, prognostic and predictive biomarker
  This research project aims to provide direct translational benefit to patients by investigating a novel biomarker (PPAR: Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor) which may better predict prognosis… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 14/004 – Pilot study: Expression analysis of candidate transcripts potentially involved in human brain tumourigenesis
  Within a brain tumour, only a restricted number of cells is able to re-form the whole tumour mass. These so-called brain tumour stem cells (BTSCs) are thought to originate… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 13/002 – Investigating inflammation of the normal appearing brain in patients with low-grade glioma
  A brain tumour can be defined as a mass lesion that is composed mostly of abnormal cells that grow in the brain. The cells can come from the brain itself or from its coverings… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 13/001 – Are neurodegenerative diseases and gliomas inverse comorbidities?
  The study of the association of different diseases and how they influence each other has proved a promising venue to elucidate the mechanisms underlying several common conditions… Read more

Metastatic tumour

• BRAIN UK Ref: 25/005 – Vibrational imaging for brain tumour classification
  Brain tumours are a serious health issue, with around 40,000 new cases diagnosed each year in the UK. Some tumours start in the brain, while others… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 24/018 – Understanding the role of B7-H3 in melanoma brain metastases
  About half of patients with advanced melanoma develop secondary tumors in their brain, called melanoma brain metastases (MBM)… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 23/010 – The role of amyloid-precursor protein processing (APP) in breast cancer; lessons learnt from Alzheimer’s disease
  Cancer and dementia are major causes of death globally. Curiously many of the features that cancer cells show, are also found in Alzheimer’s disease (AD)… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 21/012 – Defining the role of STAT3 in astrocyte adaptation to hypoxia as therapeutic target in brain cancers
  Breast, skin, or lung cancer that has spread to the brain cannot be cured by standard treatment. This cancer is called brain metastases and is associated with terminal diagnosis… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 20/005 – Characterisation of the epigenetic changes induced by targeted radiotherapy for brain metastases
  In approximately 6% of all cancer patients the brain will be involved at some stage in their disease. Targeted radiotherapy is a common and effective treatment for many types of brain tumour… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 17/012 – Defining changes in the tumour microenvironment of melanoma brain metastases following anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4 antibody therapy
  Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that can spread to other parts of the body. Once melanoma has spread, it is known as metastatic melanoma. In recent years new drugs have been approved… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 16/001 – Investigation of the role of the c-MET proto-oncogene and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in brain metastasis
  Breast cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed worldwide. The most severe form occurs when it spreads (metastasis) from the breast tissue to other regions of the body… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 15/006 – Identifying Circulating Tumour Cells in the Blood: An Analysis of their Diagnostic and Prognostic Significance in Correlation with Biopsy Findings
  Approximately 7,000 patients in the UK develop primary brain tumours every year, and there are many more that develop metastases within the brain such as lung cancer… Read more

Pituitary

• BRAIN UK Ref: 20/010 – Pathological and molecular stratification of ACTH-secreting pituitary tumours to predict recurrence after bilateral adrenalectomy
  The pituitary gland is a small organ located at the base of the skull. It produces substances called hormones that regulate most of the body functions. The pituitary gland is the site of tumours that produce… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 19/013 – Analysis of senescence in pituitary adenomas
  Cancers and tumours contain cells that can grow fast (referred to as cancer cells), and others that do not grow at all, which are called senescent cells. Senescent cells have not been studied very much in cancer… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 19/003 – Predicting recurrence/regrowth of non-functioning pituitary adenoma by a combination of patients’ clinical, biochemical, radiological and immunohistochemical outcomes
  The pituitary is a tiny gland, the size of a pea, which lies deep within the base of the brain. It acts as the “master gland” of the body and stimulates other glands to produce hormones. Tumours within… Read more
• BRAIN UK Ref: 15/016 – Molecular neuropathology of posterior pituitary/TTF-1-positive neoplasms
  Tumours arising at the base of the brain can interfere with hormonal function and vision. We want to describe the features of a rare group of such tumours that share a distinct marker, called TTF- 1… Read more