Groundbreaking News in the Fight Against Brain Cancer

Researchers at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse have discovered a world-first method to detect a deadly and common form of brain cancer with a simple urine test.
This breakthrough could mean faster detection and diagnosis, especially if tumours return after treatment.
Nigel Lokan was 49 when he suffered his first seizure. Invasive neurosurgery was needed to identify the cause: Glioblastoma (GBM).
GBM is the most common and aggressive type of adult brain cancer, requiring neurosurgery for diagnosis.
Our Head of Brain Cancer Research, Dr Kimberley Alexander, and her team at COBL have been searching for a non-invasive way to detect and sub-type brain tumours, and they believe they are a step closer.
“We have been able to detect brain cancer molecules in urine that accurately indicate the presence of a Glioblastoma tumour,” says Dr Alexander.
These molecules decrease after treatment but increase again when the tumour reappears.
This method could allow for continuous monitoring during treatment and earlier detection of recurrences.
Dr Alexander and her team are now seeking urgent funding to fast-track this research into clinical trials, with investigations also underway into whether this approach could be used to screen for other types of cancer.