Latest News

• 13th Annual Penn Brain Tumor Symposium        

  The Musella Foundation is a proud supporter of Penn Medicine's 13th Annual Neuro-Oncology Brain Tumor Symposium taking place this Friday, January 30th. 
  
  This event will cover the latest advances in state-of-the-art care for treatment of brain tumors. The symposium is designed for neurosurgeons, neurooncologists, radiation oncologists and all healthcare professionals involved in the treatment of patients with brain tumors. Patients, caregivers, patient advocates, and members of the public who may benefit from understanding current innovative approaches to brain tumor care are also invited. 

  If you are interested in attending in-person or virtually, register HERE! 

  
  
• Meningiomas Slowed By Targeted Therapy, Shows NCI Clinical Trials Network Group        

  The Alliance A071401 trial tested abemaciclib, an oral CDK4/6 inhibitor already approved for certain breast cancers, in patients with grade 2 or 3 recurrent or progressive meningiomas whose tumors carried NF2 or CDK pathway mutations. All patients had already been treated with surgery, radiation, or both, and had no standard treatment options remaining.

  In this study, the first 24 treated patients received a median of nine cycles of abemaciclib. At six months, 58% of patients had no tumor progression, a good result when compared with prior studies showing only 0–29% of patients typically remained progression-free at that time point. Median progression-free survival was 10 months, and median overall survival was 29 months. These outcomes suggest meaningful disease stabilization in a population with very limited alternatives.

  
  
• ImmunityBio Reports Median Overall Survival Not Yet Reached and Lymphopenia Reversed in Recurrent Glioblastoma Patients Receiving ANKTIVA Plus CAR-NK, Chemo-Free Therapy        

  ImmunityBio’s combination approach for recurrent glioblastoma (GBM) continues to show early promise. The Phase 2 QUILT-3.078 trial is testing NK-cell immunotherapy with Anktiva (an engineered IL-15 agonist), bevacizumab, and Optune. So far, 19 of 23 patients treated on the trial are still alive, and some have gone 12 months or more from recurrence without disease progression. Patients started the trial with very low lymphocyte counts from prior treatment, but the therapy helped restore immune function, and side effects have been manageable. While these results are still very early, we are watching this trial closely and hope to see further updates over the next few months! 

  
  
• Artwork Needed!        

  Kids and adults living with brain tumors - we invite you to submit original painting/drawings through your unique lens. Selected pieces may be featured in our upcoming 13th edition of the Musella Foundation's Brain Tumor Guide to help raise awareness and inspire others facing similar paths.

  Please submit your high resolution image that will appear in black & white to: Musella@virtualtrials.org.