PracticeUpdateLow-Intensity Focused Ultrasound for Liquid Biopsy in Glioblastoma

In this interview, find out if focused ultrasound could be the key to unlocking breakthroughs in the treatment of glioblastoma.

Groundbreaking research led by Dr. Manmeet Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Director, Chief of Medical Oncology and Chief Scientific Officer at the Miami Cancer Institute, investigates the potential of focused ultrasound to breach the blood-brain barrier and thereby improve liquid biopsies for patients with glioblastoma.

Key Points:

• The LIBERATE trial, presented by Dr. Ahluwalia, is evaluating the use of focused ultrasound to disrupt the blood-brain barrier to increase the yield of circulating cell-free DNA in the blood.
• The trial is set to enroll 50 patients across 10 sites.
• The primary endpoint of the study is to double the circulating cell-free DNA yield in blood.
• The ultrasound procedure will be followed by a planned surgical resection, with somatic mutations being matched with liquid biopsy results.

Additional Points:

• Glioblastoma patients typically only survive for about 15 to 16 months post-diagnosis.
• Liquid biopsies have drastically improved patient outcomes in other types of cancer, such as lung cancer.
• The blood-brain barrier has so far limited the efficacy of liquid biopsies for brain tumor patients.
• If successful, this procedure could allow for more personalized treatments using targeted therapies and pave the way for new drug development.

Conclusion:

• The LIBERATE trial could potentially transform the treatment paradigm for glioblastoma patients by optimizing liquid biopsy techniques and enabling personalized therapeutics.

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