Andrea Comba, PhD

Glioblastoma is the most common and deadly type of brain cancer in adults. Even with surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, the cancer almost always comes back. One reason is that tumor cells can spread into nearby brain tissue, making them very hard to remove completely. Our research focuses on how brain tumors take control of nearby healthy brain cells called “astrocytes”. These healthy cells normally help the brain work properly, but cancer cells can transform them into helpers that support tumor growth and spread. We want to understand how this happens and find ways to stop it.We believe brain tumors send signals that change the behavior of nearby cells and create an environment that helps the cancer grow. In this project, we will study these signals and test new ways to block them.This research could lead to new treatments that make it harder for brain tumors to spread and return after treatment. By targeting the support system that tumors build around themselves, we hope to improve the effectiveness of current therapies and help people with glioblastoma live longer and healthier lives.The knowledge gained from this work may also help researchers better understand how other cancers interact with healthy tissues and find new ways to stop cancer progression.