Researchers are investigating how artificial intelligence (AI) could help identify new treatments for children with brain tumors, reports News.ro.
Currently, it is unlikely that young people with the most aggressive form of the disease will survive more than a year.
Although rare, around 420 children are diagnosed with brain cancer each year in the UK alone.
The team at Cancer Research UK’s Center of Excellence for Children’s Brain Tumors in Cambridge will look at whether AI could help identify new treatments, while looking for ways to improve survival rates, the BBC reports.
Experts say immunotherapy has changed the way cancer is treated, but it doesn’t always work for brain tumors.
Dr. Elizabeth Cooper, one of the researchers working on the project, said that a child’s brain tumor is different from an adult’s tumor.
“The brain is changing all the time as children grow,” she said.
This may be one reason why immunotherapy, which uses the body’s own immune system to help kill cancer cells, has had limited success in treating brain tumors.
“Immunotherapy has changed the way we treat cancer, but it doesn’t always work for brain tumors,” said Dr. Cooper.
“What we discovered is that when we talk about the brain, it has its own immune system, but we still don’t know how to use it,” indicated the doctor.
Specialists are aware that new drugs are needed to treat this cancer in children.
The group is in the early stages of research trying to understand what this might mean for treatment.
“We need to design new drugs to treat children’s cancer,” says Prof. Dr. Richard Gilbertson, one of the center’s directors, referring to drugs that are “less toxic and harmful” to children.
The center received funding of several million euros, and part of the money will be spent on using AI to create digital models of the most complex brain tumors.
“We’ll be able to use the models to test our treatments in virtual clinical trials and hopefully identify treatments that are gentler on children, as opposed to radiation therapy, for example, which can have pretty horrific side effects.” mentioned Prof. Gilbertson.
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A Glimmer of Hope: Can AI Revolutionize Treatments for Children with Brain Tumors?
Well, well, well! It seems that researchers are diving headfirst into the exciting world of artificial intelligence to tackle something that’s as ugly as it sounds: brain tumors in children. According to a recent report by News.ro, we’re now looking at whether our robotic friends could assist in uncovering new treatment options for young fighters facing this nasty beast.
You know, the stats are a kick in the teeth. Roughly 420 children in the UK alone get this diagnosis each year, and those dealing with the most aggressive forms of the condition are unlikely to survive more than a year. And we thought our childhood fears of math class were bad! But fear not, because the researchers at Cancer Research UK’s Center of Excellence for Children’s Brain Tumors in Cambridge are on a mission. They are torchbearers in the realm of hope, investigating how AI can help us rethink and revitalize the treatment landscape.
Now, let’s talk immunotherapy. It’s like the trendy new treatment on the block, with rave reviews and a host of endorsements. However, it turns out that when it comes to brain tumors, this “wonder drug” is slightly less reliable than a three-legged dog in a race. Dr. Elizabeth Cooper, the brilliant mind behind this groundbreaking research, pointed out that, unlike an adult’s tumor, a child’s brain tumor is as fickle as a cat with an attitude problem.
“The brain is changing all the time as children grow,” she proclaims. And let’s face it, with all that rapid growth—what with their incessant energy and their ability to consume more sugar than a candy factory—it’s no wonder we’re having a tricky time hitting the target with treatments.
Dr. Cooper emphasized that, while immunotherapy has changed the face of cancer treatment, it’s not a silver bullet for children battling brain tumors. “The brain has its own immune system,” she noted, “but we still don’t know how to use it.” It’s like having a top-of-the-line sports car and not knowing how to drive it—frustrating, isn’t it?
Thankfully, there’s a light at the end of this notoriously dark tunnel. Prof. Dr. Richard Gilbertson, another keen researcher, weighed in on the matter, demanding new drug designs that are “less toxic and harmful” to our little warriors. I mean, who wouldn’t want drugs that lead to less vomiting and more cheerleading in cancer treatment?
The center has secured funding in the millions—because apparently, even research needs a budget—and a good chunk of that cash will dive into creating digital models of complex brain tumors using the power of AI. Think of it as rollercoaster testing but for your brain cells! “We’ll be able to use the models to test our treatments in virtual clinical trials,” Prof. Gilbertson excitedly explains, “and hopefully identify treatments that are gentler on children, as opposed to radiation therapy, which can have pretty horrific side effects.” I mean, seriously, who still uses a rubber mallet when there are such delicate tools available?
So, all jokes aside, the advances we’re seeing in AI and cancer research could usher in a new era of treatment for children, which sounds like a plot twist straight out of a sci-fi movie. And hey, if our phones can recognize our faces and find us the best sushi in town, surely they can help make a dent in brain tumors, right?
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R that you don’t quite know how to drive yet.
To shed more light on this groundbreaking initiative, we sat down with Dr. Elizabeth Cooper to discuss how AI could potentially reshape the treatment of brain tumors in children.
**Interviewer**: Dr. Cooper, thank you for joining us. Can you explain why the investigation of AI in treating childhood brain tumors is so crucial at this moment?
**Dr. Elizabeth Cooper**: Thank you for having me! This research is vital because childhood brain tumors are particularly challenging to treat. The aggressive forms of these tumors leave very little room for error, and survival rates are alarmingly low—less than a year for many young patients. We need innovative approaches to find effective treatments faster, and AI presents an exciting opportunity.
**Interviewer**: You mentioned the differences between child and adult brain tumors. Can you elaborate on how this impacts treatment options?
**Dr. Cooper**: Absolutely. The brain of a child is continuously developing, which means that the tumors can also change rapidly. This constant evolution makes it difficult to target them effectively with standard treatments like immunotherapy. Our understanding of the brain’s unique immune system is still in its infancy, and we are keen to explore how AI can help us unlock its potential.
**Interviewer**: Speaking of immunotherapy, what challenges are you facing when applying it to pediatric cases?
**Dr. Cooper**: While immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment in many areas, its efficacy in treating brain tumors remains limited. This discrepancy may be due to the specific environment of the brain and how the immune system interacts within it. We need to identify and develop new treatments that work specifically for this demographic.
**Interviewer**: You mentioned AI helping with drug design. How does that process work, and what are you hoping to achieve?
**Dr. Cooper**: AI allows us to create sophisticated digital models of complex brain tumors. By simulating how different treatments interact with these models, we can conduct virtual clinical trials. This means we can identify effective, less toxic treatments before they even reach the bedside, which is particularly important for children who are more sensitive to traditional therapies like radiation.
**Interviewer**: What does the funding you’re receiving mean for the future of pediatric brain tumor research?
**Dr. Cooper**: The funding is a game-changer! It not only enables us to invest in AI research but also allows us to collaborate with experts across various fields. Our goal is to design drugs that are gentler on children, drastically improving their quality of life and hopefully increasing survival rates.
**Interviewer**: Thank you, Dr. Cooper, for sharing such important insights. It sounds like there is genuine hope on the horizon for these young warriors facing brain cancer.
**Dr. Cooper**: Thank you for having me! Our focus is entirely on giving these children a fighting chance and, with each step we take in our research, we remain hopeful and determined to do just that.
**Interviewer**: We wish you and your team the best of luck in your endeavors. Thank you for your time!
**Dr. Cooper**: Thank you! It’s all about teamwork and persistence—we won’t stop until we make a difference.