A lab test of two drugs for a childhood brain tumor
Original title: Cytotoxic activity of selinexor in BRAFV600E-driven pediatric low-grade glioma 3D cultures.
How far along is this research?
- Lab cells
- Animals
- Review
- Tested in people
This was done on cells in a lab, not in people. It is a very early step.
This was lab work on cells and tissue, not a test in children.
The short version
In lab dishes, two drugs used together slowed a common childhood brain tumor.
What was studied. Scientists tested 87 drugs on cells from a childhood low grade glioma: A tumor that starts in the glial cells. Those are the support cells of the brain and spinal cord. Gliomas are given a grade from 1 to 4. The grade says how the tumor is expected to act. See the glossary with a BRAF: A gene in a pathway that tells cells to divide. Some tumors carry a change in it. There are drugs made to target that change, so your team may test for it. See the glossary change. The cells grew as small 3D clumps in the lab. Fresh tumor tissue from 20 patients was also tested.
What they found. Blocking a protein called XPO1 hurt the tumor cells. The drug selinexor plus a MEK blocker cut the live tumor area by more than 30%. The cells also did not grow back for at least 10 days.
What this means, and what it doesn't
What it could mean: This is early lab work on a childhood brain tumor. It points to a drug pair that may be worth more study. Selinexor is already an approved drug, which could help future testing. Right now it is not a treatment choice for this tumor.
What it doesn't mean: This does not mean a new treatment is ready. The work was done in lab dishes and in tumor tissue, not in children. One small test in fish embryos did not show a clear benefit. No child was treated here, so this is not proof it helps people. It is not a cure, and much more testing is needed first.
Source: PubMed, October 22, 2026 · Read the original
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