Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Deutsche Welle

<div><span class="fr-img-caption   fr-fic fr-dib fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="false" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/ct-scan-result-on-digital-tablet-6011611/"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1783564614179pexels-tima-miroshnichenko-6011611.jpg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" contenteditable="true" style="text-align:left">Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko, Pexels</span></a></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Brain tumors are difficult to treat. Because even tumors that can be operated on can rarely be removed completely through surgery. Patients typically receive chemotherapy and radiation therapy but even so, people with aggressive tumors often live no more than five years after diagnosis.</p><p>In a study by researchers at the German Cancer Research Center, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University Hospital and other research institutions, 33 patients also received a vaccine.</p><p>Eight years later, the research team published the long-term follow-up results in the journal Nature. And there is reason for cautious optimism: 66% of the people who took part in the study were still alive after eight years. In 42% of participants, the tumor had not grown back during that time.</p><p>One of the study&#x27;s lead authors, Michael Platten, director of the department of neurology at University Medical Center Mannheim and head of a research division at the German Cancer Research Center, said he was particularly surprised that the tumors had not returned in such a large share of patients over such a long period.</p><div><strong>A vaccine against brain tumors does not prevent cancer</strong></div><p>Whether for measles, mumps or COVID-19 — vaccines are best known as a preventive measure that helps to keep us from getting a particular disease or trains the immune system to make the illness less severe. These are known as preventive vaccines.</p><p>Therapeutic vaccines, by contrast, are designed to destroy tumors by activating the immune system. In the case of the therapy developed by Platten and his team, the vaccine targets a genetic mutation found only in certain brain tumors. All 33 participants had high-grade astrocytomas, meaning they had aggressive tumors in the brain that carry a high risk of returning after treatment.</p><div><strong>Vaccine trains immune system to fight tumor cells</strong></div><p>Astrocytomas are among the most common tumors of the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord. They are divided into four grades, ranging from less aggressive to highly aggressive. Grade three and four astrocytomas share a specific genetic mutation that the researchers targeted with their vaccine.</p><p>&quot;An identical genetic error causes a specific amino acid to be substituted in the IDH1 enzyme,&quot; the German Cancer Research Center explained in a press release. &quot;This results in a novel protein structure — a so-called neoepitope. What makes this special is that, on the one hand, the neoepitope drives tumor growth — and, at the same time, it is recognized as foreign by the patient’s immune system, making it an ideal target for immunotherapies.&quot;</p><p>The vaccine tested in the study activated the immune system in two ways: It produced T cells that directly attacked abnormal cells and B cells that produced antibodies against the tumor. The goal is &quot;to prevent the tumor from returning after completed treatment, in this case radiochemotherapy,&quot; Platten said.</p><p>Ulrich Herrlinger is director of neuro-oncology at University Hospital Bonn and was not involved in the study. He sees the work of his colleagues as a real opportunity for patients.</p><p>High-grade astrocytomas have &quot;an almost 100% likelihood of returning, continuing to grow and eventually becoming untreatable,&quot; Herrlinger said. Researchers do not know what causes these tumors. &quot;Nobody knows why it affects this particular person,&quot; the cancer researcher said.</p><p>That is also why the research by Platten gives him hope: &quot;If we could keep the immune system permanently active, that would come with the hope of suppressing the tumor over the long term.&quot;</p><div><strong>Follow-up study to begin in 2027</strong></div><p>However Herrlinger joined the study author Platten in urging caution about overinterpreting the data: &quot;You cannot draw strong conclusions from 33 patients,&quot; he says. The next step must be a controlled, randomized study, Herrlinger added.</p><p>Such a study is already being planned: The project, with more than 200 patients, will begin in March 2027, Platten said. &quot;As of today, we are talking about a period of nine years before we will actually have reliable results from the study.&quot;</p><p>Only then will it become clear how effective the vaccine really is and whether booster shots can further strengthen the immune response. Nevertheless, Platten says, the current study is reason for cautious optimism. Hope, he said, is something people can never have too much of.</p><div><em>This article was originally published in German</em></div><div><br/></div><div><em><a href="https://www.dw.com/en/brain-tumors-new-vaccine-offers-patients-hope-for-more-time/a-77863307?maca=en-VAS_ENG_ABS-CBN_Langtext-42381-xml-media"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1774855555426dw-dark-blue-4c_page-0001.jpg" style="width:69px !important;height:50px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil"/></a></em></div><div><em></em><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/people-culture-events/2026/6/8/content-creator-mark-anthony-cruz-reflects-on-success-wife-s-brain-tumor-1835">Content creator Mark Anthony Cruz reflects on success, wife’s brain tumor </a><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/people-culture-events/2026/6/8/content-creator-mark-anthony-cruz-reflects-on-success-wife-s-brain-tumor-1835"></a><em><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/people-culture-events/2026/6/8/content-creator-mark-anthony-cruz-reflects-on-success-wife-s-brain-tumor-1835"></a></em><br/><em></em><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/5/13/ex-nba-player-jason-collins-dies-after-brain-cancer-battle-0903">Ex-NBA player Jason Collins dies after brain cancer battle </a><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/5/13/ex-nba-player-jason-collins-dies-after-brain-cancer-battle-0903"></a><em><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/5/13/ex-nba-player-jason-collins-dies-after-brain-cancer-battle-0903"></a></em></div>

<p>A new therapy offers people with seemingly incurable brain tumors scope for hope: It could slow the progression of the disease and extend patients' lives.</p>

A new therapy offers people with seemingly incurable brain tumors scope for hope: It could slow the progression of the disease and extend patients' lives.

Brain tumors: New vaccine offers patients hope for more time

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

BINI

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Health & Science

Brain tumors: New vaccine offers patients hope for more time

Deutsche Welle,

Julia Vergin

Published July 09, 2026 10:44 AM PHT

Read More:

brain tumor

brain cancer

health

ANC promo

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.