Brain and Nervous System Cancer

Brain and nervous system cancers present significant challenges due to their complex physiology such as blood-brain barrier and tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment. At Alfa Cytology, we are committed to helping our clients unravel the complexity of these diseases by providing integrated preclinical research solutions.

Introduction to Brain and Nervous System Cancer

The human brain and nervous system are marvels of biological engineering, responsible for coordinating the most fundamental aspects of our existence - from cognition and emotion to sensory perception and motor function. Glioblastoma, pilocytic astrocytoma, diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), medulloblastoma, and a host of other rare nerve and brain tumors present formidable obstacles to effective therapy and management.

Fig.1 Relative frequency of various pediatric tumors. (Patil, P. A., & Giridhar, P., 2021)

Therapeutic Challenges

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a highly selective protective membrane that regulates the passage of substances between the blood and the central nervous system (CNS). This biological barrier is essential for maintaining the delicate balance of the brain, but it also poses significant challenges for the delivery of therapeutic agents. Conventional chemotherapeutic agents and targeted therapies often have difficulty penetrating the BBB, thus limiting their effectiveness in reaching and eliminating cancer cells within the CNS.

Fig.2 Schematic illustration of the BBB structure. (Mitusova, K., et al., 2022) 

Another major challenge in treating these cancers is that the brain tumor and neurological tumor microenvironment is often severely immunosuppressed. The tumor microenvironment actively suppresses the body's natural immune response, thereby reducing the efficacy of conventional immunotherapy.

Our Services

At Alfa Cytology, our team of experienced pathologists, molecular biologists, and bioinformaticians work collaboratively to provide one-stop drug development services, as well as innovative research solutions to support the development of novel therapies for brain and nervous system cancers. We excel in tailoring our services to meet the specific requirements of our clients.

Through our cutting-edge research and collaborative efforts, we have made strides in developing novel drug delivery systems, such as nanoparticle-based carriers and BBB-penetrating antibodies, that can safely and efficiently transport therapeutic payloads to the site of the tumor.

At Alfa Cytology, we offer a comprehensive suite of services tailored to the unique needs of our clients. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about our services, please don't hesitate to contact us.

For research use only.