RNIMU is also named after him. Pirogov developed a new method to combat glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive and difficult to treat brain tumors. The team uses a combination of focused ultrasound and small interfering RNA, which blocks a protein responsible for tumor growth. As senior researcher Tatyana Abakumova said, this discovery gives hope for successful treatment even in cases where traditional methods such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy are not effective.
Glioblastoma is an extremely complex form of tumor that accounts for almost half of all primary brain tumors and is known to be aggressive. Relapses occur in more than 80% of cases, and patient survival rarely exceeds 5 years. Abakumova explained that one of the reasons for this high mortality rate is that the tumor grows invasively and the remaining cells become resistant after conventional treatment. Although existing treatments are not always effective, scientists are looking for new ways to target the tumor.
One of these methods was to suppress the protein gankyrin, which promotes aggressive tumor growth and spread into healthy tissue. If this protein can be blocked, cells become more sensitive to drugs such as temozolomide, which is used to treat glioblastoma. But for a drug to work effectively, it must pass the blood-brain barrier, which protects the brain from substances in the blood. To do this, scientists use ultrasound to temporarily open the barrier, allowing small interfering RNA to be delivered to the brain and effectively suppressing protein expression.
Source: Ferra
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