Brain cancer may be one of the most-frightening diagnoses people can receive, striking at the very center of who we are as individuals. Further, it often develops over time, causing no symptoms until it's already advanced.
Listen to City of Hope Radio as Dr. Behnam Badie, director of the Brain Tumor Program and chief of the Division of Neurosurgery at City of Hope, discusses how City of Hope's nationally recognized experts in neurosurgery and neuro-oncology not only employ today's most advanced therapies, but are also on the cutting edge of research and discovery, giving brain cancer patients the best treatment options possible.
Brain Cancer: New Advances in Research, Treatment, Technology
Featured Speaker:
Behnam Badie, M.D.
Behnam Badie, M.D., an expert in the field of surgical neuro-oncology. He is currently working to transform brain tumor treatment through research collaborations using nanoparticles, engineered T cells, engineered stem cells and other novel treatments. This research is currently funded by the National Cancer Institute and other organizations. Transcription:
Brain Cancer: New Advances in Research, Treatment, Technology
Melanie Cole (Host): City of Hope researchers are conducting exciting clinical trials of innovative therapies to find out more effective treatments for patients with brain tumors. My guest today is Dr. Benum Badie. He is the vice chair in the Department of Surgery, the chief of Neurosurgery, and the director of the Brain Tumor Program at City of Hope. Welcome to the show, Dr. Badie. City of Hope is known for its collaboration between research scientists and physicians. Tell us about how that collaboration works in your case.
Dr. Benum Badie (Guest): Well, hello Malenie. Thank you for the opportunity to share some of the exciting research that's ongoing at City of Hope. I came to City of Hope because it provides a great environment for doctors and scientists to work together hand-in-hand to come up with new treatments for some of the tough problems. One of the toughest problems we have to deal with is treating brain tumors. Unfortunately, a lot of the brain tumors are malignant, and the survival is measured in only months and perhaps maybe a couple of years. The problem is that over the past few decades we've only made minor improvements in our treatments. So, it’s really important to think outside of the box and come up with novel treatments, something that would change the field. For example, we're on of the leaders in using cells to treat tumors. One that’s ongoing uses stem cells to deliver drugs into tumors. The stem cells have the ability to basically chase after very invasive tumors and they can actually release their cargo right next to the tumor cells. So this is a major breakthrough, and we've already done one clinical trial which ended last year. We showed that the cells are very effective as far as delivering their cargo, they're very safe to use, and we were one of the first centers to do this. So, we’re taking that research one step further, making more powerful stem cells to do the same thing but to release different types of chemicals in chemotherapies. So that's one of the very exciting research that's ongoing and in the next month or so, we will be opening some of the clinical trials for the stem cells again. Another research involves using our own immune cells. Our body responds to infections through white blood cells and this can target germs and bacteria. But unfortunately in the tumors, they are so smart that they actually knock out our immune system. So, we’ve come up with ways of changing that and we're monitoring the activity in the tumor, and were taking the patient's white cells, modifying them to specifically target those very invasive brain tumor cells. We’ve done two early stage clinical trials and we've shown that these are very safe to use. Our next third-generation T-cells are going to be much more powerful, and hopefully if we get the funding that we expect, the trial will open in the next couple months. So before the year is over, we’ll have two very exciting clinical trials for brain tumors that have not responded to other treatments. Those are very exciting research that’s going on. We are also working on nanoparticles to boost immune system. We're working on the various instruments and devices that could deliver volumes of cargos, like stem cells or T-cells into tumors. So, this is an example of the research that's going on here at City of Hope.
Melanie: And, Dr. Badie, who would be a candidate for these trials you've been discussing?
Dr. Badie: For now, we're looking for patients who have undergone standard treatment. Standard treatment after surgery is radiation therapy, and as I mentioned, unfortunately a lot of the tumors come back within a year. So, were looking for patients that are looking for clinical trials for malignant glioma. So, these are the glioblastomas that have come back after standard treatment. So any patient can be candidate. There are some requirements that we have to go through, but these patients can contact our research team, and we'll be more than happy to look at their qualifications.
Melanie: Dr. Badie, how do you think brain tumor treatment will progress in the next five or ten years? What are you looking at as the horizon to give some really exciting hope to patients with brain tumors?
Dr. Badie: As I mentioned, it’s a very difficult problem to solve, but in the research, both at our center and other centers, are coming out with new ways to target these. There's a lot of research on developing molecules that target specific pathways on how tumors are generated, but again one of the problems is delivering these molecules into the brain. So I think in the next five or ten years, we will come up with this better delivery of these targeted agents, so- called targeted agents or drugs. We will come up with new cells, some of the ones that I have mentioned, with immune cells that target part of the inflammatory and immune aspect of the tumor. There are research centers that are working on viruses that kill tumor cells. I think the only way we can make an impact is to come up with a sort of a multidisciplinary, multimodality approach. So, it won't be just surgery or radiation, chemo therapy; we have to come up with vaccines, drugs. There’s a lot of research that’s ongoing, and I think in the next five or ten years, they will probably merge together. Hopefully we could come up with a new treatment modality for these very devastating tumors.
Melanie: How is City of Hope's approach different than other brain tumor research centers, Dr. Badie?
Dr. Badie: Like some of the major centers, we have a multidisciplinary collaborative environment. We work very closely with each other, not only just the clinicians, but also scientists. We have meetings every week; we discuss patients. We have meetings every week; we discuss clinical trials and patient eligibility. We have scientific meetings every week, and I think that makes it very unique. I think what’s different—and that's something I noticed when I came here—is that people have a passion for what they do. I'm not saying that other people don't have passion, but some of the people who deal with cancer here were somehow affected by cancer in their families or some of them personally. So there's really a very unique passion of making a difference for not only brain tumor patients but other cancers. You don't notice that until you come here, and that's a unique environment, I think.
Melanie: And, Dr. Badie, in just the last minute or two, tell us a little bit about your team and why people should come to City of Hope for their brain tumor care.
Dr. Badie: When somebody comes here for second opinion or initially when they are diagnosed with a brain tumor, we have clinics attended by different clinicians. So basically, they come in and get a comprehensive basic opinion about what needs to be done. So, if they come to see a surgeon, that doesn't mean that they'll have surgery, but that will be discussed at these clinics and we come up with a sort of a best approach to deal with the tumor. So, it’s not always standard way; for every patient there's a different solution. There are the radiation oncologists, nuero-oncologists, surgeons, neurologists – everybody is involved in patient care. I think it’s the comprehensive approach that makes it very unique.
Melanie: Thank you so much, Dr. Benum Badie. You’re listening to City of Hope Radio. For more information, you can go to cityofhope.org. That’s cityofhope.org. This is Melanie Cole. Thanks so much for listening and have a great day.
Brain Cancer: New Advances in Research, Treatment, Technology
Melanie Cole (Host): City of Hope researchers are conducting exciting clinical trials of innovative therapies to find out more effective treatments for patients with brain tumors. My guest today is Dr. Benum Badie. He is the vice chair in the Department of Surgery, the chief of Neurosurgery, and the director of the Brain Tumor Program at City of Hope. Welcome to the show, Dr. Badie. City of Hope is known for its collaboration between research scientists and physicians. Tell us about how that collaboration works in your case.
Dr. Benum Badie (Guest): Well, hello Malenie. Thank you for the opportunity to share some of the exciting research that's ongoing at City of Hope. I came to City of Hope because it provides a great environment for doctors and scientists to work together hand-in-hand to come up with new treatments for some of the tough problems. One of the toughest problems we have to deal with is treating brain tumors. Unfortunately, a lot of the brain tumors are malignant, and the survival is measured in only months and perhaps maybe a couple of years. The problem is that over the past few decades we've only made minor improvements in our treatments. So, it’s really important to think outside of the box and come up with novel treatments, something that would change the field. For example, we're on of the leaders in using cells to treat tumors. One that’s ongoing uses stem cells to deliver drugs into tumors. The stem cells have the ability to basically chase after very invasive tumors and they can actually release their cargo right next to the tumor cells. So this is a major breakthrough, and we've already done one clinical trial which ended last year. We showed that the cells are very effective as far as delivering their cargo, they're very safe to use, and we were one of the first centers to do this. So, we’re taking that research one step further, making more powerful stem cells to do the same thing but to release different types of chemicals in chemotherapies. So that's one of the very exciting research that's ongoing and in the next month or so, we will be opening some of the clinical trials for the stem cells again. Another research involves using our own immune cells. Our body responds to infections through white blood cells and this can target germs and bacteria. But unfortunately in the tumors, they are so smart that they actually knock out our immune system. So, we’ve come up with ways of changing that and we're monitoring the activity in the tumor, and were taking the patient's white cells, modifying them to specifically target those very invasive brain tumor cells. We’ve done two early stage clinical trials and we've shown that these are very safe to use. Our next third-generation T-cells are going to be much more powerful, and hopefully if we get the funding that we expect, the trial will open in the next couple months. So before the year is over, we’ll have two very exciting clinical trials for brain tumors that have not responded to other treatments. Those are very exciting research that’s going on. We are also working on nanoparticles to boost immune system. We're working on the various instruments and devices that could deliver volumes of cargos, like stem cells or T-cells into tumors. So, this is an example of the research that's going on here at City of Hope.
Melanie: And, Dr. Badie, who would be a candidate for these trials you've been discussing?
Dr. Badie: For now, we're looking for patients who have undergone standard treatment. Standard treatment after surgery is radiation therapy, and as I mentioned, unfortunately a lot of the tumors come back within a year. So, were looking for patients that are looking for clinical trials for malignant glioma. So, these are the glioblastomas that have come back after standard treatment. So any patient can be candidate. There are some requirements that we have to go through, but these patients can contact our research team, and we'll be more than happy to look at their qualifications.
Melanie: Dr. Badie, how do you think brain tumor treatment will progress in the next five or ten years? What are you looking at as the horizon to give some really exciting hope to patients with brain tumors?
Dr. Badie: As I mentioned, it’s a very difficult problem to solve, but in the research, both at our center and other centers, are coming out with new ways to target these. There's a lot of research on developing molecules that target specific pathways on how tumors are generated, but again one of the problems is delivering these molecules into the brain. So I think in the next five or ten years, we will come up with this better delivery of these targeted agents, so- called targeted agents or drugs. We will come up with new cells, some of the ones that I have mentioned, with immune cells that target part of the inflammatory and immune aspect of the tumor. There are research centers that are working on viruses that kill tumor cells. I think the only way we can make an impact is to come up with a sort of a multidisciplinary, multimodality approach. So, it won't be just surgery or radiation, chemo therapy; we have to come up with vaccines, drugs. There’s a lot of research that’s ongoing, and I think in the next five or ten years, they will probably merge together. Hopefully we could come up with a new treatment modality for these very devastating tumors.
Melanie: How is City of Hope's approach different than other brain tumor research centers, Dr. Badie?
Dr. Badie: Like some of the major centers, we have a multidisciplinary collaborative environment. We work very closely with each other, not only just the clinicians, but also scientists. We have meetings every week; we discuss patients. We have meetings every week; we discuss clinical trials and patient eligibility. We have scientific meetings every week, and I think that makes it very unique. I think what’s different—and that's something I noticed when I came here—is that people have a passion for what they do. I'm not saying that other people don't have passion, but some of the people who deal with cancer here were somehow affected by cancer in their families or some of them personally. So there's really a very unique passion of making a difference for not only brain tumor patients but other cancers. You don't notice that until you come here, and that's a unique environment, I think.
Melanie: And, Dr. Badie, in just the last minute or two, tell us a little bit about your team and why people should come to City of Hope for their brain tumor care.
Dr. Badie: When somebody comes here for second opinion or initially when they are diagnosed with a brain tumor, we have clinics attended by different clinicians. So basically, they come in and get a comprehensive basic opinion about what needs to be done. So, if they come to see a surgeon, that doesn't mean that they'll have surgery, but that will be discussed at these clinics and we come up with a sort of a best approach to deal with the tumor. So, it’s not always standard way; for every patient there's a different solution. There are the radiation oncologists, nuero-oncologists, surgeons, neurologists – everybody is involved in patient care. I think it’s the comprehensive approach that makes it very unique.
Melanie: Thank you so much, Dr. Benum Badie. You’re listening to City of Hope Radio. For more information, you can go to cityofhope.org. That’s cityofhope.org. This is Melanie Cole. Thanks so much for listening and have a great day.