A common seizure drug may slow one type of childhood brain tumor
Original title: Levetiracetam therapeutically targets GABAergic synapses in diffuse midline glioma.
How far along is this research?
- Lab cells
- Animals
- Review
- Tested in people
This was tested in people. That is the most reliable kind of research we share.
The drug is already used for seizures, but its effect on this tumor has only been seen in past records and in mice.
The short version
Children with one type of brain tumor who took a common seizure drug lived longer in past records, and researchers want to study this more.
What was studied. Researchers looked back at records of children with diffuse midline glioma: A tumor that starts in the glial cells, the support cells of the brain and spinal cord. Gliomas are given a grade from 1 to 4 describing how the tumor is expected to behave. See the glossary (DMG) and another type of high-grade glioma. They checked whether taking the seizure drug levetiracetam: A medicine that helps stop seizures. Many people with a brain tumor take it. In some people it also brings a short temper, anger or low mood. Tell your team if you notice that. See the glossary was linked to living longer. They also tested the drug in mice and in lab studies.
What they found. Children with DMG who took levetiracetam: A medicine that helps stop seizures. Many people with a brain tumor take it. In some people it also brings a short temper, anger or low mood. Tell your team if you notice that. See the glossary lived longer. This was not seen in children with high-grade glioma: A tumor that starts in the glial cells, the support cells of the brain and spinal cord. Gliomas are given a grade from 1 to 4 describing how the tumor is expected to behave. See the glossary in the main outer parts of the brain. In mice with DMG, the drug slowed tumor growth and helped them live longer. It seems to work by blocking some signals that nerve cells send to DMG tumor cells.
What this means, and what it doesn't
What it could mean: levetiracetam: A medicine that helps stop seizures. Many people with a brain tumor take it. In some people it also brings a short temper, anger or low mood. Tell your team if you notice that. See the glossary is already used to prevent seizures in people with glioma: A tumor that starts in the glial cells, the support cells of the brain and spinal cord. Gliomas are given a grade from 1 to 4 describing how the tumor is expected to behave. See the glossary. This work suggests it might also help slow DMG in children. If you care for a child with DMG, you can ask the care team about this study.
What it doesn't mean: This does not prove the drug treats DMG. The results in people came from looking back at old records, not from a planned trial. Other things may explain why these children lived longer. The researchers say new studies in people are needed. This is not a cure, and families should not start or change any drug without talking to their doctor.
Source: PubMed, September 17, 2026 · Read the original
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