Hrvoje Miletic is hoping to solve the mystery of malignant brain tumors

Physical connections discovered

Now, Professor Hrvoje Miletic and his colleagues at UiB, in collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic (external link) in the USA, have made discoveries that could potentially have great significance. In short, the discoveries show how cancer cells communicate with support cells in the brain (astrocytes (external link)).

Miletic has found, among other things, that there is a physical connection through a structure called "microtubes".

– We have been able to show that this physical connection affects the energy supply and increases tumor growth. The cancer cells divide themselves in a high number, which leads to aggressive growth in the tumor, Miletic points out.

Specifically, it has been found that astrocytes transfer mitochondria to cancer cells, but exactly which mechanisms cause them to be physically connected through the microtubes is still unknown.

– We have an idea of ​​how this happens, and we would like to block this mechanism. Mainly because this affects the tumor's resistance to chemotherapy, Miletic explains.

May affect the immune-response

If the researchers are able to find out how to block these mechanisms, the "highways" into the tumor, this could also affect the immune response locally in the tumor.

– Cancer cells suppress an immune response, but we first have to find out why this happens and how we can remove the blockade, says the professor.

In other words, the research is still exploratory, but the potential is great if the researchers were to "crack the code" when it comes to the mechanisms behind what causes tumor growth.

Miletic currently works as a consultant in neuropathology at Haukeland University Hospital and holds a 20% professorship at the Department of Biomedicine, UiB.

New therapies

In addition to improving survival, the researchers are hoping to develop a form of gene therapy that will "disrupt" communication between cells and activate the immune response.

Gene therapy is a form of medical treatment in which genetic material is transferred to body cells or cancer cells, to correct a gene defect or, in the case of cancer, to either directly kill cancer cells, to block communication with the microenvironment or to make the body's own immune cells better at fighting disease.

Hvroje Miletic emphasizes the need to have a breakthrough in brain cancer research.

– Groundbreaking discoveries are needed to advance treatment. Much has already been tried in brain cancer, especially when it comes to targeted treatment, but no breakthrough has been achieved so far, says Miletic.