Grant: Project Grant

Glioma is a rare but highly fatal cancer accounting for 28% of all brain tumours. Which subtype of glioma an individual develops and at what stage it is detected can mean the difference between a five-year survival rate of 5% or 70%. Detecting glioma earlier and accurately identifying its subtype could improve survival rates. One promising approach is to use information from a person's inherited DNA to identify individuals who are at higher risk of developing glioma. These individuals could then undergo personalized screening programs designed to catch tumours at the earliest possible stage, when treatment is most effective. However, researchers have not yet identified all the genetic factors that influence glioma risk, meaning current genetic tests cannot accurately predict who might develop the disease. Recently, we discovered a group of genetic variants that affect how the immune system recognizes and destroys tumour cells in breast cancer. We believe these same variants may play a role in glioma. Our study aims to explore this link and determine if these inherited DNA variants can help predict glioma risk, subtype and prognosis. By adding these new genetic variants to existing risk prediction tools, our goal is to make it easier to identify people at high risk for glioma. This affordable approach could lead to earlier detection of tumours, potentially extending lives by catching the disease while it is most treatable.