The latest news:

• UC Irvine opens clinical trial of novel treatment for brain cancer          This is one of my favorite clincial trials (it is being done all over the USA) ... however, the problem is that you need to enter the trial BEFORE your first brain tumor surgery.  Most people do not hear about this until after it is too late  We need to spread word of options such as these.  My pet peeve is that most neurosurgeons will not discuss the fact that by doing the surgery you will be forever excluded from clinical trials that require you to join before the first surgery.   Something to think about if you are about to have that first surgery.
  



• Life's Mountains: What a Brain Tumor Survivor Learned Climbing a Mountain and Battling "Terminal" Cancer         My good friend, and 12 year GBM survivor, Cheryl wrote a book about her experiances.  She is donating 50% of the profits for the rest of the year to the Musella Foundation!  Thanks Cheryl!  
  



• Bevacizumab (Avastin) continuation beyond initial bevacizumab progression among recurrent glioblastoma patients.         Although better than the alternatives tested,  still not good enough and shows the huge need for more research.  They didn't include the Novocure NovoTTF-100A which is the only other approved treatment for recurrent GBMs and they did not include any of the exciting clinical trials.
  



• Impact of extent of resection for recurrent glioblastoma on overall survival.         This articles says that at the second surgery for a GBM, getting a complete resection adds a few months to survival.  We already knew that was true for the initial surgery. This might not sound like much, but it may be enough added time for something else to work.
  



• The addition of temozolomide does not change the pattern of progression of glioblastoma multiforme post-radiotherapy.         Interesting article.  It says that the addition of Temodar at the same time (and after) as radiation (which is now the standard of care) does NOT change the pattern of recurrence.  Most (91%) had recurrence in the same area as the original tumor which is about the same as when they used Temodar only after radiation.  The significance is this may mean widening the area radiated won't make much difference.
  



• IBTA E NEWS OCTOBER 2012         This is the monthly newsletter from our friends at the International Brain Tumor Association.
  



• Effects of Zeng Sheng Ping/ACAPHA on malignant brain tumor growth and Notch signaling.          This is the way alternative treatments need to be tested - starting in the lab. I am sure many alternative treatments have an effect. We need to find the ones that help, and find the best ways to use them - this moves them from the "alternative" realm to the "mainstream" realm!