by John Glod M.D., Ph.D.
Recent evidence has shown that a type of white blood cell, the monocyte, is important for blood vessel formation. Because new blood vessels are necessary for cancer growth, impairing monocyte function is a possible target for the treatment of patients with brain tumors. Additionally, monocytes may play a role in the blood tumor barrier, a system that regulates the movement of substances from the blood into the brain tumor tissue. The blood tumor barrier contributes to the inability of traditional chemotherapy agents to effectively treat patients with brain tumors. Our laboratory is investigating the effect of disrupting monocyte function on blood vessel growth and the integrity of the blood tumor barrier. These studies may lead to new treatment strategies that impair blood vessel formation and increase the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of patients with brain tumors.