Institutions team up to form 'collective brain' to defeat lethal brain tumor

Glioblastoma multiforme, the most common and lethal form of brain cancer, "is one of the science and medical world's hardest nuts to crack," writes W.K. Alfred Yung, M.D., chair of Neuro-Oncology at MD Anderson, in a guest blog at Cure.

Yung explains how an alliance formed this year called Defeat GBM Research Collaborative reaches across institutions to improve collaboration and data sharing through an innovative scientific plan to speed progress against the disease.

Formed under the auspices of the National Brain Tumor Society, Defeat GBM aims to double 5-year survival of glioblastoma patients within five years. Five-year survival ranges from 4% to 14% of patients depending on age range. New information from research by The Cancer Genome Atlas, as well as interesting developments in immunotherapy provide new avenues to explore to treat GBM.

Yung's blog post: Defeating glioblastoma multiforme will take full-force effort

TCGA research update in Oct. 10 edition of Cell and MD Anderson news release.