Cancerous brain tumours are rare, however it is still important to know the symptoms as the condition is generally easier to treat if caught in an early stage.
While brain tumours can be hard to spot in early stages, people should act quickly when warning signs begin to appear.
It comes as new research has found a potential treatment for aggressive forms of brain cancer, with the drug now in an early trialling stage.
The drug - called SHP656 - is being trialled by the Keck School of Medicine as potential treatment for Glioblastoma, the most common cancerous brain tumour in adults. Glioblastoma is aggressive, with patients surviving an average of just 15 months once they are diagnosed.
Until recently there has been little progress in causes and treatments, however the small molecule drug could prove effective for treating the disease.
That's because the new drug can target body clock proteins - these control our circadian rhythms, helping us wake up and go to sleep.
Researchers previously found that these clock proteins may be the reason behind the growth of glioblastoma. They found that cancer stem cells may spread quickly by taking control of the body’s circadian clock mechanisms.
Researchers have said this hijacking of our body clock proteins may be reason that Glioblastoma often returns after treatment, becoming resistant to chemotherapy and radiation.
The SHP656 drug can target these key proteins, stopping the spread of the disease by reducing the growth of hijacked stem cells without harming the body’s normal stem cells.
"This is a potent molecule that’s very exciting to us in terms of its potential for deployment against glioblastoma," said Steve Kay, PhD, University and Provost Professor of neurology, biomedical engineering and biological sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and director of the USC Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience.
So far in the phase one trials, the molecule appears to be safe in healthy volunteers. They hope to begin phase two trials in glioblastoma patients within two to three years.
"We’re now starting to march down the path of clinical drug development—turning this from a science story into a translational one," said Kay, the study’s senior author.
While this may become significant in years to come, trials could take some time so it is still vital to pick up on warning signs as soon as you spot them.
Brain tumour symptoms
Symptoms can vary by age and depending on the type and location of a brain tumour, however Scotland's NHS Inform have outlined some general symptoms.
Common symptoms include:
- severe, persistent headaches
- seizures (fits)
- persistent nausea, vomiting and drowsiness
- mental or behavioural changes, such as memory problems or changes in personality
- progressive weakness or paralysis on one side of the body, vision problems, or speech problems
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms you should see your GP, who may refer you to a specialist neurologist for further assessments such as a brain scan.
If you have a brain tumour it can be either cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (benign). Your treatment could depend on the type of brain tumour that you have.
While brain tumours are still rare, there are now around 1,000 cases in Scotland each year so you should ensure that you get yourself checked out to rule out the possibility if you are concerned.
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