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URL: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neurosurgery/specialties/neurooncology.aspx

Proper Citation: University of Rochester Program for Brain Tumors and Spinal Tumors (RRID:SCR_005343)

Description: Collaborative neuro-oncology research program with a tissue repository (tumor bank) containing a wide range of clinical specimens, which they make available to researchers in order to study the effects of new drugs on a large number and wide range of tumor specimens. They provide highly coordinated, complex care in neurosurgery, radiation oncology, medical oncology, and neurology to patients afflicted with tumors of the brain and spine by combining the newest technologies and treatments available anywhere in the world. The program is formed from a multidisciplinary group with a goal of helping patients navigate the complex issues surrounding brain and spinal cancer care. The researchers are working to increase the number of targets that could be considered for anti-angiogenesis therapy. Many of their studies focus on the blood vessel cells (endothelial cells) themselves, which, unlike tumor cells, rarely mutate and so might be less likely to become resistant to therapy and are also more easily reached through the bloodstream. Their researchers are also attempting to better understand the changes in the blood-brain barrier (BBB) that are associated with fluid accumulation and brain swelling (edema) in neuro-oncology patients. Normal brain tissue is shielded from the rest of the body by the BBB. This barrier is composed of very tight blood vessels that prevent most substances from entering the brain. Brain tumors have a leaky BBB ����?? this feature can be used to identify tumors on MRI scans. They have identified specific molecules that appear to be associated with the leaky, abnormal vessels while the normal blood vessels with intact BBB produce these molecules at very low levels or not at all. Inhibiting the function of these molecules may help control or prevent disruption of the BBB and limit cerebral edema in brain tumor patients, as well as patients suffering from stroke or traumatic brain injury.

Abbreviations: URMC Program for Brain and Spinal Tumors,

Synonyms: University of Rochester Brain Tumor and Spinal Tumor Program

Resource Type: material resource, tissue bank, biomaterial supply resource, brain bank

Keywords: brain tissue, brain, tissue, spine, spinal tumor, brain tumor, tumor, cancer, normal control, clinical trial, treatment, acoustic neuroma, anaplastic astrocytoma, brain metastases, brain stem glioma, chordoma, cns lymphoma, craniopharyngioma, ependymoma, gliomatosis cerebri, glioblastoma, low grade glioma, meningioma, medulloblastoma, oligodendroglioma, pineal tumor, pilocytic astrocytoma, pituitary adenoma, premature neuroectodermal tumor, oncology, neurooncology, stroke, traumatic brain injury, cerebral edema