Why Is Pancreatic Cancer So Deadly?
Despite Brain Tumor, Michael Bolton 'ain't Going Down Without A Fight'
Battling back from emergency brain surgery may have inspired Michael Bolton's next hit tune.
"I got a title for a song: 'Ain't Going Down Without a Fight,'" the Grammy-winning crooner told People.
Nearly seventeen months after an operation to remove an aggressive tumor, the 72-year-old singer continues struggling with short-term memory, speech and mobility issues. But Bolton said in his first interview since treatment that he considers the challenge of recovery to be a test of character.
Bolton was diagnosed with glioblastoma in December 2023. Doctors were able to fully remove his tumor, which happens in up to 40% of such cases, according to People. He reportedly underwent a second brain surgery a month later due to an infection.
Glioblastoma has a very high chance or returning, but a test earlier this month by his doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering showed the "When a Man Loves a Woman" performer to be in relatively good shape. A report published by the National Institutes of Health says the median survival rate for his cancer is 14 months.
Michael Bolton performs onstage during the 49th Daytime Emmy Awards at Pasadena Convention Center on June 24, 2022 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) Bolton's 47-year-old daughter Holly said her dad's singing voice began wowing listeners once more while he was still hospitalized.
"Do you know he sings like this?" she recalled being asked by a nurse who was unfamiliar with her dad's work.
Bolton reportedly takes voice lessons and practices voice therapy with a coach. He also mediates daily and golfs. The Connecticut native told People he's focused on spending time with loved ones and making the most of however much time he has left.
"You have to be a cheerleader for yourself," he said.
Larger Tumor Size Linked To Higher Mortality Risk In Brain Cancer
Investigators shared real-world data showing a clear and consistent association between increased tumor size and mortality for patients with brain cancer.
A retrospective study found that earlier diagnosis of brain tumors is tied to reduced mortality, shorter hospital stays and better one- and three-year survival rates.
For the first time in patients with brain cancer, investigators are sharing real-world data showing a clear and consistent association between increased tumor size and mortality for patients, according to a news release from Dxcover Limited.
Investigators evaluated a retrospective cohort study of 1,196 patients to generate these initial findings. The data highlight that a diagnosis given up to just one month earlier, through interventions such as Dxcover's proprietary PANAROMIC liquid biopsy platform, reduces the risk of mortality in patients with brain cancer by 18% to 28%. This, in turn, would be expected to improve survival rates and reduce healthcare expenditures related to brain cancer.
Notably, investigators will share additional data on this topic during two upcoming conferences: at Ca-PRI, taking place in Manchester, UK, April 29 and 30, as well as at the 2025 AACR Annual Meeting, taking place in Chicago April 25 to 30.
"Prioritizing people with symptoms of a possible brain tumor for urgent brain imaging does matter," said Dr. Paul Brennan, professor of Clinical and Experimental Neurosurgery at the University of Edinburgh and an author on the study. "These new data make it clear that identifying tumors when they are smaller benefits patients, reducing the duration of time in hospital, and increasing survival times. I hope these findings will encourage clinicians and health care organizations to implement strategies to help diagnose brain tumors at the earliest stages, so that appropriate therapy can be initiated as quickly as possible."
A retrospective study, according to the National Library of Medicine, is an observational review and/or reassessment of information from database records. By reviewing this information from an existing registry database, investigators found that there is a clear and consistent association between tumor size and patient outcomes.
The news release breaks down these findings by stating that a brain tumor measuring approximately 60 millimeters at diagnosis would be expected to have measured 31 millimeters to 45.5 millimeters based on previously reported growth rates of 1.2% to 2.1% per day. Therefore, this implies that, by detecting the tumor earlier, this would decrease the hazard of brain cancer mortality by 18% to 28%. In turn, this reduction would translate to survival at one-year increasing to 37% to 42% from 30%; long-term survival of three years or more increasing to 5% to 8% from 3%; and inpatient hospital stays being reduces from 35.1 days to 30.6 to 32.5 days, thus also reducing healthcare costs.
Additionally, findings from the news release state that 30-day mortality saw a statistically significant reduction for patients with glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive and rapidly progressing type of brain cancer.
The PANAROMIC platform from Dxcover is a differentiated, multiomic technology which includes the complete spectrum of signals from a blood sample that genetic tests may miss by reaching beyond tumor DNA. It combines novel hardware and infrared spectroscopy with artificial intelligence algorithms, making it a unique platform. Furthermore, it is able to detect the presence or absence of disease earlier by analyzing a patient's blood.
"There are 130 different types of brain tumors, and treatment can vary depending on where they are situated and on whether the tumor is high grade or low grade, and within those different forms of brain tumors," Cameron Miller, director of External Affairs and Strategy at The Brain Tumor Charity explained.
"Diagnosing a brain tumor and its status early in the development of the disease is essential for ensuring patients receive timely care that is optimized for their specific tumor type. This Real- World Evidence study is timely, because if we can demonstrate that faster diagnosis will save the NHS money by reducing the number of inpatient bed days, while also potentially reducing mortality, we can build a clear case for investment in new approaches to diagnosis," Miller continued.
Using infrared light, the PANAROMIC platform has demonstrated sensitivity using light to vibrate the molecules and produce a spectrum which characterizes the whole sample. This is important because the earlier diagnosis of cancer means improved survival. These data, therefore, reinforce the potential of the of liquid biopsy platforms like PANAROMIC in improving cancer outcomes.
"The data presented today underscore the potential of our PANAROMIC liquid biopsy platform to improve outcomes for patients with brain cancer," Professor Matthew J. Baker, co-founder, CEO and President of Dxcover, said. "The ability to detect tumors earlier can enable the development of novel treatments that would not be feasible with current diagnostic paradigms. Our approach provides a timely and affordable test for the detection of brain cancer earlier, when tumors are smaller, and the data presented today suggest that it could be a game-changer for improving brain cancer outcomes."
Additional prospective trials or research should be conducted in order to continue to inform the understanding of how earlier diagnosis and intervention impacts patient outcomes for those with brain cancer, the news release concludes.
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FDA Approves Initiation Of A New Trial In Recurrent Glioblastoma
The FDA has approved an application to initiate a pilot study with Alpha DaRT for patients with recurrent glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer.
The FDA has approved an application to initiate a pilot study with Alpha DaRT for patients with recurrent glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer.
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an Investigational Device Exemption application to initiate a pilot study with Alpha DaRT for the treatment of patients with recurrent glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer.
According to a news release from the developer of the innovative alpha-radiation cancer therapy, Alpha DaRT, Alpha Tau Medical Ltd., the clinical trial is expected to enroll up to ten patients in the United States who have glioblastoma and are not amenable for surgical resection and have undergone a prior course of central nervous system radiation. The primary objective of the clinical study is to evaluate the feasibility and safety of the treatment following results from pre-clinical studies, the news release says.
"This is very exciting news for patients suffering from glioblastoma, a highly aggressive form of brain cancer with an extremely poor prognosis and survival rate. In this trial, we will introduce a completely novel approach, which is specifically designed to deliver Alpha DaRT sources into brain tumors that are not amenable to surgery," Dr. Robert B. Den, Alpha Tau chief medical officer, said in the news release. "According to the National Brain Tumor Society, glioblastoma is one of the most complex, deadly and treatment-resistant cancers, with an estimated average survival rate of only eight months."
Alpha DaRT — which stands for Diffusing Alpha-emitters Radiation Therapy — is a treatment designed to target solid tumors with effective radiation while protecting nearby healthy tissue. It works by placing tiny sources containing radium-224 directly into the tumor, and as the radium breaks down, it releases short-lived particles. These particles then spread within the tumor and give off high-energy radiation aimed at destroying cancer cells. Because these particles travel only a short distance, the treatment is focused on the tumor itself, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
"This Investigational Device Exemption approval follows the FDA's continued recognition of the huge promise that this technology holds for patients with recurrent glioblastoma; after having already received the FDA's Breakthrough Device Designation, followed by acceptance into the FDA's prestigious Total Product Life Cycle Advisory Program to accelerate the Alpha DaRT treatment to market and to the patients with glioblastoma who may stand to benefit greatly," Alpha Tau CEO, Uzi Sofer, added in the news release.
The Moffit Cancer Center website cites memory loss, seizures, difficulty seeing or speaking, weakness on one side of the body, temperament changes and other neurological deficits as symptoms of glioblastoma. However, the region of the brain in which the tumor originates can cause these symptoms to vary.
Glioblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor and is often associated with a poor prognosis, according to an article from the National Library of Medicine, which went on to explain that, in 2023, 14 months was the expected median survival for patients with the disease, and the five-year survival rate is just 5% to 10%.
According to the Moffit Cancer Center, recurrent glioblastoma can appear anywhere in the brain or spinal cord; however, most sites of recurrence are found near the original tumor.
There is currently no standard treatment option for the disease, and recurrence of glioblastoma is the usual way of progression, according to the National Library of Medicine, and although there is no current standard of care treatments for the disease, surgical procedure, radiotherapy and systemic chemotherapy, or targeted drugs are commonly used treatment methods.
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