A recent breakthrough by researchers at the University of Sydney uncovers the genetic mechanism that allows glioblastoma, a deadly form of brain cancer, to evade chemotherapy and return in nearly all cases. This discovery offers hope for developing new treatments for patients like Mark Norris, who is facing the grim reality of living with this aggressive cancer.
In January, Norris, a 52-year-old executive from Melbourne, experienced severe symptoms that led to a hospital visit. An MRI revealed a large tumour, approximately the size of two mandarins, pressing against his brain. “They put me into surgery within hours, and I wasn’t expected to survive the operation,” said Norris, who faced a heart-wrenching farewell to his family before the procedure.
After undergoing six months of intense radiation and chemotherapy, Norris completed his treatment for glioblastoma. Doctors have informed him there are no further options available, leaving him and his family grappling with the uncertainty of the cancer’s inevitable return. “To have no options and to know that it’s going to come back… it just destroys you,” Norris stated.
The research, published in Nature Communications, highlights the role of a small population of drug-resistant cells, known as “persister cells,” within glioblastoma tumours. These cells remain dormant during chemotherapy but proliferate once treatment concludes. The growth of these persister cells is linked to a fertility gene called PRDM9. This gene, which typically regulates chromosome changes, can be exploited by glioblastoma cells to secure the cholesterol necessary for their survival.
According to Professor Lenka Munoz, the lead author of the study, switching off the PRDM9 gene immediately after chemotherapy can significantly reduce the number of persister cells. “When you turn off that fertility gene… they basically do not have a supply of cholesterol, and they die,” Munoz explained.
While human trials are still years away, the Sydney team is collaborating with the Australian company Syntara to explore potential drug options using animal models. Treatment methods for glioblastoma have seen little change over the past several decades, with a median survival rate of just 15 months. Current Australian trials include an experimental immunotherapy, which was first administered to Richard Scolyer, a former Australian of the Year diagnosed with an aggressive form of glioblastoma in 2023.
For Norris, who is also involved in fundraising with Tour de Cure, the urgency to accelerate research into better treatments is personal. “I’m not going to be here to run it through [to find a cure],” he remarked. “So I hope people hear the message and drive that message forward.”
As scientific understanding advances, the hope remains that these findings could lead to effective interventions, offering better prospects for patients battling glioblastoma.
