Context
Recent trials have shown that immunotherapy can be used to treat Glioblastoma
About Glioblastoma:
- Glioblastoma is a type of brain or spinal cord cancer originating from astrocytes (cells supporting nerve cells).
- Caused by DNA mutations, leading to uncontrolled cell growth. The exact causes of these mutations are largely unknown.
- Glioblastomas form their own blood supply, aiding growth and invasion into healthy tissue. It grows rapidly and invades normal brain tissue.
- It is most common in older adults but can occur at any age. Accounts for almost 50% of all cancerous brain tumors in adults.
Immunotherapy Research for Glioblastoma:
- Ongoing trials show injection into cerebrospinal fluid for safe delivery of immunotherapy.
- Immunotherapy is a treatment that uses a person’s own immune system to fight cancer.
- Glioblastomas have different mutations in various brain regions, making targeting difficult.
- IISc Research on Immunotherapy:
- Recent IISc research explores methods to make non-responsive cancer cells respond to immunotherapy.
- Researchers focus on overcoming barriers to deliver treatments more effectively to tumors.
- The research is part of a global effort to develop and trial immunotherapy treatments specifically for glioblastoma.
- Challenges and Promising Prospects:
- Glioblastoma is complex and challenging to treat, but immunotherapy offers hope for better patient outcomes.
- Currently, there are no approved clinically available immunotherapies for glioblastoma.
- Not all cancers respond to immunotherapy, and there may be immune-related side effects (e.g., organ inflammation).
- Careful consideration is needed to avoid risks like brain swelling.
Source: TH
Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements:
1. Genetic changes can be introduced in the cells that produce eggs or sperms of a prospective parent.
2. A person’s genome can be edited before birth at the early embryonic stage.
3. Human induced pluripotent stem cells can be injected into the embryo of a pig.
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2020 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d)