Dr. Gruber's biosketch
Department of Neurosurgery
Press Release: Clinical Trial Evaluating Brain Cancer Vaccine
The Joseph Ransohoff Professor of Neurosurgery
Dr. Michael Gruber, M.D.
Clinical Professor
Member of the NYU Medical Oncology Associates and NYU Neuro-Oncology
Q: Why is it so difficult to prevent the recurrence of brain cancer?
A: Dr. Kelly
Isolated tumor cells can co-exist with healthy and functionally important brain tissue. These cells can be found far away from the solid tumor tissue mass that is removed at
surgery, and these cells will start another tumor. Cancer surgery in other organ systems usually includes removing a margin of healthy tissue. This cannot be done in brain tumors because removing the healthy but tumor-cell-infiltrated "margin" would be neurologically devastating.
A: Dr. Gruber
Some brain cancer cells are resistant to conventional therapies such as radiation and chemotherapy so there will always be a population of cells that will begin to grow after treatment.
Q: Why is the approach used in this clinical trial of a brain cancer vaccine so promising?
A: Dr. Kelly
Because the antibodies produced [by the vaccine] will target and kill the tumor cells that infiltrate healthy brain tissue.
A. Dr. Gruber
The hope is that the personalized vaccine will turn on the patient’s immune system to attack and kill cancer cells. This is a novel therapy and preliminary clinical data look very good.
For patient inquiries about the study contact:
Jennifer Brown
Study Coordinator
Telephone: 212.263.5810
e-mail: Brownj27@nyumc.org