Malignant gliomas are the most common tumors in the brain and are extremely difficult to treat. New research has found evidence of numerous genetic changes in glioma cells. A thorough analysis of these complex changes has enabled scientists to identify tumor subtypes that share the same molecular characteristics. These molecular characteristics can in turn be used to improve diagnosis and the prognosis accuracy and help predict the individual patient’s response to particular types of treatment.

In this collaborative project, the DKTK scientists are establishing new diagnostic methods for malignant gliomas based on molecular markers. These methods are intended to help offer patients personalized treatment plans that present the best chances of success for their molecular tumor subtype. To start with, the scientists are investigating how molecular changes and the associated tumor subtypes have influenced treatment outcomes for glioma patients in the past. For this study they have access to well-documented courses of treatment and tumor samples from large numbers of patients who have previously been treated at the participating university hospitals with the currently available forms of treatment: surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The patients had given their consent for data relating to the outcome of their treatment and biopsy samples from their tumors to be used for research – for the benefit of future cancer patients. The tumor biopsies are analyzed using a range of high-throughput methods (e.g. genome and transcriptome sequencing, and candidate gene analysis) to identify genetic and epigenetic changes in the tumor cells, i.e. in the cancer genome, and deviations in protein composition in the cancer cells. In addition, the experts analyze epigenetic changes that determine how strongly a gene is expressed. They then correlate the new or known molecular changes they have identified with the course of the disease and with the treatment outcome. In the future, oncologists will be able to use these findings to offer their glioma patients the best treatment for their molecular subtype. The plan is for the DKTK physicians and scientists to offer these new diagnostic methods and associated treatments in controlled clinical trials to start with, to validate their findings. For this purpose, they are already developing and installing new infrastructure and the DKTK-wide standardized processes necessary for taking tissue samples, carrying out routine sequencing and diagnosis and making treatment decisions in clinical practice.