Al's Comment:

This article discusses a promising new target and a repurposed treatment for Glioblastomas. The researchers found that HML-2, a protein produced by a virus, plays a role in the development of treatment resistance and recurrence in Glioblastomas. They conducted experiments and demonstrated that an anti-viral drug (specifically abacavir, although other drugs may be effective as well) can effectively reduce the levels of HML-2. However, it is important to note that these findings have not yet been tested in human subjects. Notably, abacavir is commonly used by patients with AIDS, which adds an intriguing dimension to its potential role in Glioblastoma treatment.

 

Interestingly, the article included two footnotes regarding Glioblastomas in AIDS patients, and these footnotes present conflicting information. One footnote suggests that the treatment used for AIDS significantly improves the survival rates of Glioblastoma patients, while the other claims that AIDS reduces the life expectancy of individuals affected by both AIDS and Glioblastoma. It is worth mentioning that, anecdotally, I know of a 21-year GBM survivor who has taken the HIV cocktail.

 

Additionally, antivirals have been tested in small trials against CMV (Cytomegalovirus) with promising results, suggesting a potential avenue for further research in Glioblastoma treatment.

 

The discovery of HML-2's role in Glioblastoma treatment resistance and the potential effectiveness of anti-viral drugs like abacavir present an exciting development in the field. However, it is essential to conduct research and clinical trials to validate these findings and determine the efficacy of such treatments in human patients.

Click: Ancient Virus Awakening: Hidden Culprit in Glioblastoma Brain Cancer Aggressiveness for a simple nontechnical overview and click: Human endogenous retrovirus K contributes to a stem cell niche in glioblastoma for the technical publication.