New hope may be an injection away for patients living with glioma, a terminal brain cancer that comes with a life expectancy of about 25 weeks post-diagnosis.

A new vaccine called Vitaspen is made by using tissue extracted from each person's cancerous tumor. The tissue is used as a unique footprint for the vaccine that targets destructive tumor tissue while sparing healthy tissue in the same region.

Vitaspen is only in the first stage of clinical human trials, but researchers are pleased with the promise of the new drug -- particularly the benefits trial participants are gaining form the treatment. They have reported no adverse side effects, and the drug has increased the overall survival rate.

Results of stage one trials will determine if the drug warrants stage two testing.

The Boston Marathon takes place today. And one runner -- known to friends and family as Running Bear -- will run to raise money for brain tumor research. She's already collected more than $3,500.

Harvard student Sarah MacCarthy, 25, will run for her Uncle Tim, who is battling glioblastoma (GBM), the most aggressive form of the primary brain tumors known collectively as gliomas.

If Uncle Tim can fight for his life, MacCarthy can use her privilege of good health to make a difference -- even if it means stepping up her casual running to marathon standards.

The Brain Tumor Society will benefit from MacCarthy's determination. Dedicated to improving quality of life for patients, survivors, and families affected by this disease, BTS is committed to being a national leader in the quest for a cure.

It seems MacCarthy is pretty committed herself. To contribute to her efforts and check on her progress, click here.

A friend of a friend was diagnosed this week with a cancerous brain tumor -- a glioma to be exact -- and the surgery to remove the mass is scheduled for Monday.

I don't know much about this woman or her cancer, but I do know doctors told her yesterday she will likely survive for only a few years. I can't help but think that if doctors had given me this same prediction at the time of my cancer diagnosis, my time would just about be up.

I can't fully grasp the magnitude of this sad and sobering news. But I can comprehend that any one of us could be on the receiving end of such an announcement at any given moment. We are all vulnerable. And so I am confronted once again with the powerful and painful reminder that each day really could be my last.

Glioblastoma multiform, (GBM) is the most aggressive form of the primary brain tumors known as gliomas. The tumors do not spread throughout the body like other forms of cancer, but cause symptoms by invading the brain.

A new drug called AZD2171 (Recentin), is an angiogenesis inhibitor that blocks tumor blood supply and shows promise in treating deadly glioblastoma brain cancers. Recentin suppresses the growth of blood vessels that feed the tumors.

The preliminary findings of the Phase II study show that researchers found that Recentin could significantly reduce the size of glioblastoma tumors and can help reduce brain swelling.

"Patients with recurrent glioblastomas desperately need new, effective treatment alternatives," said study author Dr. Tracy Batchelor, chief of neuro-oncology.

Oncophage (vitespen) is a vaccine that may help your immune system fight cancer. This vaccine is created from cells of your own body, targeting tumor cells and not healthy ones. After the vaccine is injected the patient's immune system can then identify the cancerous cells as foreign and attack them.

Gliomas start in the brain or spinal cord tissue. They do not spread to other areas of the body but can spread throughout the nervous system. Recurrent glioma is considered incurable at the present time. A clinical trial has showed that the investigational cancer vaccine, Oncophage may improve outcomes of those diagnosed with a recurrence of glioma. The first six patients treated with Oncophage have exceeded the historical median overall survival of nearly 15 months following diagnosis.

This vaccine is also being studied and clinical trials ongoing to see if it can help other cancers as well.

Malignant glioma is the most common primary brain tumor. The outlook for patients with malignant glioma is poor. Median survival for patients with grade III glioma is three to five years and less than one year for the most aggressive form of malignant glioma called glioblastoma multiforme.

The virus or reovirus that the researchers are focusing on is a common virus in humans that inhabits the lungs and intestines. The researchers added that this virus is something that most humans have been exposed to by adulthood but demonstrates no illness or negative effects on us.

When the virus is exposed to the malignant glioma cells it appears to infect and kill the tumor cells. Dr. James M. Markert, M.D., professor and director of the division of neurosurgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and lead investigator of the trial explains "Healthy, non-cancerous cells in our bodies have the ability to prevent the reovirus from replicating, so that even if we are infected with the virus we do not usually exhibit significant symptoms but brain tumor cells do not have that protection, due to a mutation in their DNA. The reovirus replicates, destroying the tumor cell, and the replicated virus goes in search of new tumor cells to infect". So not only will the main tumor be destroyed but the virus could potentially be effective against glioma cells that have begun to spread away from the primary tumor to other parts of the brain.

The phase one clinical trial will enroll fifteen patients that have recurrent malignant glioma. The patients will have a brain surgery procedure that infuses the reovirus through two catheters that are placed on the tumor mass.

The main purpose of this study is to determine whether the virus is safe to administer to humans. It has shown in previous studies to be well tolerated and not have any negative side effects. This research sounds very exciting to me since this disease is very hard to treat. I know too well, as my uncle was diagnosed with a brain tumor and died just over a year from diagnoses before he turned forty. This was in 1987. The prognosis since that time really hasn't changed for malignant glioma. I hope this is something that can give the patients diagnosed much more hope of a longer survival.

According to a report in the August 15th Cancer Research stem cell-like glioma cells, taken from glioblastoma biopsy specimens, promote tumor angiogenesis by secreting levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) at levels ten to 20 fold higher than ordinary glioma cells.

Figuring out a way to control angiogenesis (growth of new blood vessels to the tumor) is what this is all about. Brain cancer is hard to treat and for it to become a chronic disease we need specialized medications that target the cancer cells. By understanding the stem cell-like glioma cells, which the researchers see have characteristics that contribute to tumor malignancy, they can then come up with drugs that prohibit angiogenesis from occurring thus killing the cancer cell.

Once in a while you come across a person that you feel has something extra special. Madeline T. Paguyo was one of those people. She was only a young teen when she was diagnosed with a brain tumor, diffuse pontine glioma. Maddie was diagnosed April 28th, 2003 and she passed away May 6, 2004

I came across her webpage one day and was so inspired by how mature and wise Maddie was for her young age. Maddie's mom still blogs about her amazing family and how they are coping with losing a precious daughter and loving sister.

Maddie's mom tells us in her blog "Frequently I find myself browsing (Maddie's) library researching how to successfully navigate through life. Maddie did it so well. She exuded true joy and generously shared it with everyone she could. When confronted, at such a young age, with the biggest challenge anyone can imagine, she stared it right in the eyes, told the tumor to take a hike, and chose happiness. Simple as that. She chose to live, and every one of us who were privileged by her presence in our lives lived right along with her, learning from her example."

Maddie wrote an essay for her eighth grade class that takes you through her experience.

Alyssa Bruno, who is five years old, has been diagnosed with diffuse pontine glioma, a brain stem cancer. With a birthday card and a penny for good luck, you can help little Alyssa of Henrietta celebrate her birthday. On August 2, when Alyssa turns six years old, the Federation of Social Workers will deliver all the birthday cards and lucky pennies to Alyssa.

The request began as an email send out by one of Alyssa's teachers. She sent out the email requesting birthday cards and lucky pennies for Alyssa, with an additional request that the person receiving the email forward it on to others. As of now, the federation has received 35 birthday cards for Alyssa. If you would like to brighten the day of a little girl who is facing cancer on her very special day, send her a birthday card to:

Alyssa Bruno Birthday Cards
Federation of Social Workers
167 Flanders Street (D-12)
Rochester, New York 14619

Don't forget the lucky penny!