A research team with the participation of professionals from Bellvitge University Hospital, the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO) and the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) has developed an experimental bioadhesive patch with the potential to eliminate residual cells of glioblastoma, the most aggressive brain tumor in adults.
The work, published in the journal Advanced Science, describes a material inspired by the way mussels adhere to rocks. This system allows the patch to stick steadily to brain tissue after surgery and acts locally by trapping and eliminating residual malignant cells, responsible for the virtually inevitable relapse of the disease after the first treatment.
One of the great challenges: avoiding recurrence
The usual treatment of glioblastoma combines surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, relapse is almost the norm. The main reason is that, after the operation, microscopic tumor cells may remain around the surgical bed. The proposal of the research team is to place this patch right in the area from which the tumor has been extracted so that it acts directly on the cells that can remain.
In preclinical models -that is, in cell cultures and brain tissue analyzed in the laboratory- the material that incorporates a natural compound called catechin, showed a high capacity to eliminate glioblastoma cells.
A local action to minimize side effects
The patch works by generating a local increase in oxidative stress within tumour cells, which causes death. When applied directly to the operated area, the effect is localized, with the potential to avoid systemic effects.
“This type of strategy seeks to respond to a very clear clinical need: reduce the risk of relapse after surgery. We are still in a preclinical phase, but it opens a very interesting way to complement current treatments”, explains Dr. Jordi Bruna, coordinator of the Functional Neurooncology Unit at Bellvitge Hospital – ICO and principal investigator of the Neurooncology group at IDIBELL. The research team underlines that more studies will be needed before this technology can be applied in people.
Translational research at the Bellvitge Health Campus
The project is the result of a collaboration between the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) and the Bellvitge Health Campus. The Campus has been accredited as a Comprehensive Cancer Centre (CCC) by the Organization of European Cancer Institutes (OECI), a recognition that guarantees the integration between care, research and teaching in oncology. Projects like this exemplify how basic research can move towards solutions with future clinical impact.
The Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) is a research center created in 2004 and specialized in cancer, neuroscience, translational medicine and regenerative medicine. It has a team of more than 1,500 professionals who, from 73 research groups, publish more than 1,400 scientific articles per year. IDIBELL is participated by the Bellvitge University Hospital and the Viladecans Hospital of the Catalan Institute of Health, the Catalan Institute of Oncology, the University of Barcelona and the City Council of L Hospitalet de Llobregat.
IDIBELL is a member of the Campus of International Excellence of the University of Barcelona HUBc and is part of the CERCA institution of the Generalitat de Catalunya. In 2009 it became one of the first five Spanish research centres accredited as a health research institute by the Carlos III Health Institute. In addition, it is part of the HR Excellence in Research program of the European Union and is a member of EATRIS and REGIC. Since 2018, IDIBELL is an Accredited Center of the AECC Scientific Foundation (FCAECC).