Annually, over 80,000 will be diagnosed with a brain tumor, with about 30% of those tumors leading to a cancer diagnosis (National Brain Tumor Society). Due to the location of a brain tumor, whether benign or malignant, individuals who have them are also more likely to have long-term impacts on mental, cognitive, and physical abilities due to the growth and pressure on nearby areas of the brain. Not only are brain tumors incredibly dangerous due to their location, but when cancerous, they tend to grow rapidly and spread. Malignant brain tumors are likely to grow quickly and spread into other tissues.
Since its inception, Cancer Center at Illinois researchers have been tackling the most aggressive form of brain cancer: glioblastoma. Our scientists are working together, across disciplines, to better understand glioblastoma with the long-term goal of developing more effective treatments for the disease. Recently, CCIL researchers received a large grant to develop biomaterials that mimic components of the human skull – which may have positive implications for individuals who undergo surgery to remove cancerous tumors.
