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An Israeli study has eliminated glioblastoma which is a malignant brain tumor destroying the brain cells entirely. It's the most deadly brain tumor found in mice. By identifying the 'power source', the scientists have worked for its eradication.

The Tel Aviv University scientists are now working on identifying drugs which could implicate the same effect on humans. They hope to find an existing drug that may work and then reuse it, which according to them can take a period of two years if things go well.

According to the lead author of the study, Dr. Lior Mayo, the method is basically to 'starve' glioblastoma tumors by removing their source of energy.

Generally, the scientists try tackling with brain tumors directly, for example with chemotherapy. Here, the scientists are working to bring a change in the tumor's environment that could harm it.

Astrocytes which are brain cells which have a similar resemblance to stars have a certain relation with the tumor, revealed as per the studies. It has been seen that Gioblastoma tumors shifts the surrounding asyrocytes to an active state.

Studies have also revealed that when all the astrocytes are removed and repressed for a long time, the tumor vanishes.

In the study, published in the journal Brain, the scientists suggest 'that targeting astrocyte immunometabolic signaling may be useful in treating this uniformly lethal brain tumor.'

The research has concluded that astrocytes help tumor in two main ways:

  • First, they hijack immune cells that normally protect the body so they help tumors.
  • Second, the astrocytes turn cholesterol from the body into an energy source for tumors. It was already known that brain tumors receive energy that originates from cholesterol, but the specifics of how and where this happens were not understood.

Mayo said, "We found that astrocytes supply energy needed for the growth of tumor, by secreting cholesterol. They synthesize the cholesterol into energy and send it to the tumor cells, which then use it as an energy source."

The laboratory now focuses on trying to transform the breakthrough treatment for humans. They are trying to be optimistic in their research work.

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