2012 Conference: Plan to be there.
The nation’s top brain tumor experts will lead sessions on brain tumor research, treatment and quality of life issues at the ABTA’s Patient and Family Conference, taking place from Friday, July 27 through Sunday, July 29 at the Renaissance Chicago O’Hare Suites Hotel. Conference registration is still open, but time is running out to reserve your hotel room at a discounted rate. Go to www.braintumorconference.org and click “Travel” to secure your room at the Renaissance for $99 per night. This special rate is only available until 5:00 p.m. CDT on Monday, July 16.

ABTA Research Awards Announced  
This year, ABTA is supporting 52 awardees through five funding programs. Basic Research Fellowships are highly competitive awards that encourage talented early career scientists to further brain tumor research; Discovery Grants support novel concepts with the potential change diagnostics or treatment approaches; Translational Grants assist scientists in collecting the data needed to transition research from the lab to the patient; Medical Student Summer Fellowships offer students mentored, summer learning experiences; and Collaborative funding supports public and private partnership opportunities. To see a list of the research your ABTA donations made possible, visit: http://www.abta.org/advancing-research/in-the-lab/currently-funded-abta.html 

Predicting Outcomes in Pediatric Low-Grade Gliomas
Although it is known that a protein called BRAF is “rearranged” in about 70% of pilocytic astrocytomas, and less commonly, in high grade gliomas, it is unclear whether BRAF rearrangements affect prognosis (outcomes) or if this marker can predict response to treatment. Researchers recently studied four molecular markers - BRAF, p16, p53, and MIB1 – in a 204 samples of pediatric low-grade gliomas. The data suggest that none of these markers is stronger than tumor location in determining prognosis in pediatric low-grade glioma. The first author on this article, Neuro-Oncology (June 2012), Dr. Craig Horbinski will be presenting at the ABTA Patient Meeting, July 27-29.  Click here to view the meeting program. A summary of the study supported in part by the Callie Rohr ABTA Basic Research Fellowship, can be found here.          

Early Cognitive Changes and Survival in GBM
Researchers from Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN and the University of
Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, evaluated 91 newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients who completed a neuropsychological assessment after tumor resection, but prior to further treatment.  The study, published in Neuro-Oncology (June 2012), suggests that although there are many patient variables that affect prognosis, for this study cognitive function was an independent predictor and more strongly associated with survival over motor abilities. Click here to read the abstract.

Outcomes Following Gamma Knife Surgery for Non-Functioning Pituitary Macroadenomas
Between June 1989 and March 2010, 140 patients with non-functioning pituitary macroadenomas were treated at the University of Virginia using Gamma Knife Surgery (GKS). Researchers then looked at the patients’ degree of tumor control, neurological and pituitary status. Their findings, reported in the Journal of Neurosurgery (July 2012), suggest that GKS provided the benefits of traditional radiotherapy with high tumor control rates while minimizing the risk of hypopituitarism and new neurological injury. Click here to read the abstract.

ASCO Abstracts Available
Last month, more than 12,000 oncology professionals gathered at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting to exchange the latest cancer treatment and research information. Brief summaries of those presentations are available without charge or registration at the ASCO web site. Click here and then use the “Abstract Body” space to search by tumor type, drug or treatment name. 
  

ABTA's Breakthrough for Brain Tumors New York City
We're just four months away from our first New York City Breakthrough for Brain Tumors 5K on Saturday, Nov. 10 at Hudson River Park’s Pier 84. Register at www.breakthroughforbraintumors.org. 

Humor to Fight the Tumor
The ninth annual Humor to Fight the Tumor Gala, benefitting the American Brain Tumor Association, will take place on Saturday, Sept. 22, at The Depot in Minneapolis, MN. Register today at www.humortofightthetumor.com. 

 
Founded in 1973, the American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA) was the first national nonprofit organization dedicated solely to brain tumor research. For nearly 40 years, the Chicago-based ABTA has been providing comprehensive resources that support the complex needs of brain tumor patients and caregivers, as well as the critical funding of research in the pursuit of breakthroughs in brain tumor diagnosis, treatment and care.

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This information is provided by the American Brain Tumor Association, 8550 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Suite 550, Chicago, IL 60631. For more information about the American Brain Tumor Association, call toll-free 866-659-1030, write info@abta.org or visit www.abta.org.

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