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Brain tumour research

The brain is a soft spongy mass of nerve cells and supporting tissue.Around 4,500 people are diagnosed with brain tumours, or cancer of the central nervous system, in the UK every year.

Brain tumours are often hard to treat, so research in this area is vital. For children, the survival rates have doubled since the 1960s.

Cancer Research UK supports a broad programme of research into brain tumours. We want to understand their biology and improve diagnosis and treatment.

We have made great progress in the design and development of drugs. For example, we funded research that led to the development of temozolomide, a drug that is used to treat people with some types of brain tumour. It can be taken orally, which means patients don’t have to attend lots of hospital appointments.

You can find out more about brain tumours on our CancerHelp website.

Below are some of the highlights of our brain tumour research portfolio.

Cancer genes

Dr Stefan Meyer Dr Stefan Meyer

Department of Paediatric Oncology

Christie Hospital NHS Trust, Manchester

Learning more about childhood cancers

Dr Stefan Meyer is a leading childhood cancer specialist at Manchester Children's Hospital and the Christie Hospital NHS Trust. His research focuses on a group of genes, known as the Fanconi Anaemia (FA) genes, some of which are faulty in cancer. Dr Meyer is studying these genes in childhood cancers including leukaemias and brain tumours to find out how they cause cancer cells to grow out of control. This knowledge could lead to ways to improve treatments for a range of childhood cancers.

 

Clinical trials

Prof David Walker Prof David Walker

School of Human Development

University of Nottingham, Nottingham

Testing treatments for childhood brain cancer

Professor David Walker heads a team at the University of Nottingham. The group is investigating the best way to treat certain childhood cancers known as low-grade gliomas (LGGs). 

 

Radiobiology

Prof Richard Houlston Prof Richard Houlston

Molecular and Population Genetics Team

The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton

Genes and cancer

Professor Richard Houlston and his team are searching for cancer genes. They are carrying out large-scale studies of human populations to discover genetic faults that increase the risk of certain types of cancer including bowel, brain and lung. They are also searching for genes that influence a person's sensitivity to the effects of radiation.

 

Radiotherapy

Prof Michele Saunders Prof Michele Saunders

Department of Oncology

Royal Free & University College Medical School, London

Improving radiotherapy for cancer treatment

Professor Michele Saunders and her team are trying to improve radiotherapy treatment for people with cancer. They are testing whether multiple, low-doses of radiotherapy together with chemotherapy can successfully be used to treat brain tumours.

 

Stem cells

Dr Steven Pollard Dr Steven Pollard

Wellcome Trust Centre for Stem Cell Research

University of Cambridge, Cambridge

Studying stem cells in brain tumours

Dr Steven Pollard is at the forefront of research into brain tumours. His work focuses on the exciting new area of cancer stem cells. These specialised cells only make up a small proportion of the whole tumour but are believed to act as the driving force behind many cancers. Dr Pollard is investigating how cancer stem cells in the brain contribute to the development of brain tumours. He plans to use this information to find effective new ways to treat this disease.