Research topics
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a primary brain tumor of predominantly astrocytic origin that is classified as malignant grade IV by the WHO, with a very poor prognosis and a median survival rate of only 12 to 15 months. Among its symptoms, brain tumor-associated epilepsy is particularly difficult to treat, occurring in 20-40% of cases. Here, the tissue neighboring the tumor develops highly synchronized activity for largely unknown pathophysiological reasons, essentially becoming a local epileptic focus, which introduces novel, severe cognitive deficits besides the ones already evoked by the tumor. Recent evidence suggests that the increased activity of the tissue surrounding the tumor acts as a positive feedback mechanism to tumor growth, contributing to the severity of the condition.
Our group investigates cell-specific functional changes in the peritumoral neural network in the hopes of developing treatment strategies for GBM and GBM-related epilepsy. The group is using and developing a variety of technical modalities to achieve this goal, including biocompatible, transparent organic multielectrodes for multimode recording and stimulation, two-photon microscopy and other imaging techniques, and post-hoc neuroanatomical studies to identify cell types and their distribution.
Grants
AAPG2021 TricNTreat 2024-2028
Leader
Attila Kaszás