The Khasraw Lab has some exciting news to share: three abstracts from our lab have been selected for oral presentations — and two as keynotes — at the 20th Meeting of the European Association of Neuro-Oncology (EANO 2025). EANO accepts only a small percentage of abstracts for oral presentation, so having three selected, including two […]
July 17, 2025 A recent study published in Nature reveals that neurons associated with cancer can transfer their mitochondria to breast cancer cells, enhancing the cancer cells’ metabolism, energy production, and metastatic potential. This mitochondrial transfer occurs via specialized intercellular structures called tunneling nanotubes. The researchers used a novel genetic tool, MitoTRACER, to label and […]
This summer, the Khasraw Lab will be hosting two undergraduate students as part of the Brain and Biological Sciences SURF program and the Duke-PRIME Cancer Research Program. Laura (left) is a rising sophomore at Duke University, who is interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms behind cancer development, with hopes to pursue research as a career. […]
May 9, 2025 The article describes our lab’s clinical trial, GIANT, which seeks to evaluate a novel neoadjuvant immunotherapy approach for glioblastoma, one of the most lethal brain cancers. The study will test a combination of nivolumab and relatlimab, immune checkpoint inhibitors previously used for melanoma, to see if they can improve outcomes when administered […]
March 13, 2023 A study led by Duke University and The University of Sydney found that the COVID-19 pandemic worsened fear and disrupted care for cancer patients, including limited access to clinical trials, visitor restrictions, and reduced social support. Published in Clinical Cancer Research, the findings emphasized that these disruptions impacted patients’ emotional well-being and […]
October 2, 2023 The article describes how new research suggests that fluoxetine (Prozac)—a widely used antidepressant that crosses the blood-brain barrier—may damage tumor cells and make them more sensitive to chemotherapy in patients with recurrent high-grade glioma. A new clinical trial called FLIrT will explore the effectiveness and safety of combining fluoxetine with temozolomide, using tumor […]
June 6, 2024 This article describes the MOAB trial — studying the immunotherapy drug atezolizumab in patients with glioblastoma to determine if it can help them live longer and whether it boosts immune responses against tumors. The trial also investigates tumor mutational burden (TMB) to identify which patients might respond best to the drug, with […]
This page describes the PuMP Trial, which is investigating the safety and effectiveness of MVR-C5252, an experimental oncolytic virus therapy, in adults with recurrent high-grade glioma. Participants will undergo imaging, biopsies, and receive the drug through an implanted catheter system to assess its impact on tumor response and immune activation. Dr. Khasraw is leading the […]
August 26, 2024 This article describes PuMP, a clinical trial that aims to evaluate MVR-C5252 — a genetically modified herpes virus designed to selectively attack recurrent high-grade gliomas and stimulate a patient’s immune system to fight the tumor. Delivered directly into the brain tumor via catheter, the trial progresses through multiple stages to assess safety, […]
May 1, 2025 This article discusses the diagnosis and ongoing battle of singer Michael Bolton against glioblastoma. At 72, Bolton began experiencing memory issues and balance problems, which led to an MRI revealing a brain tumor. After undergoing emergency surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, Bolton’s most recent scan showed no signs of recurrence, but his journey […]