Scientists Unearth Method for Imprisoning Cancer Cells Through Alteration of Their Surroundings

The University of Cambridge has made a groundbreaking discovery in the fight against the deadliest and most common form of brain cancer, Glioblastoma. Researchers have found a new way to stop Glioblastoma cells from invading healthy tissue, offering a potential solution to the persistent challenge of recurrence after surgery.

The approach centres around hyaluronic acid (HA), a long sugar-like polymer found in abundance in the extracellular matrix, the gooey framework that holds brain tissue together. The importance of HA in cancer progression lies in its molecular flexibility, which allows it to bind to CD44, a receptor found on cancer cells.

However, when HA molecules are chemically locked in place (cross-linked), cancer cells stop trying to escape and invade neighbouring tissue. This discovery helps explain why glioblastoma tumours often return at the site of surgery. Artificially stiffening HA using oxidized HA (oxHA) makes even dilute gels hostile to cancer movement.

In high-concentration HA gels, glioblastoma cells become dormant. The new approach, therefore, does not target the cells directly, but freezes the environment they move through. This alteration of the tumor's environment prevents the cells from getting the cues they need to spread.

The team plans to test the technique in animal models to see whether stiffening HA in living brains can prevent recurrence after surgery. They're also exploring how different tumor types might respond to similar manipulation of their extracellular matrices.

Surgical trauma can cause oedema, which dilutes the extracellular matrix and potentially reactivates dormant cancer cells. The discovery of this new approach could, therefore, reduce the risk of cancer cells slipping through the brain like ghosts after surgery, a common occurrence in the treatment of glioblastoma.

The challenges ahead include delivering HA modifiers to the right location in the brain, avoiding unintended effects, and ensuring long-term safety. Despite these challenges, the potential benefits of this new approach make it an exciting development in the ongoing battle against brain cancer.