Blocking a tumor enzyme helped mice with a brain tumor live longer
Original title: Targeting Tumor-derived Sphingosine Kinase 2 Unleashes Antitumor Immunity and Improves Survival of Mice with Group 3 Medulloblastoma.
How far along is this research?
- Lab cells
- Animals
- Review
- Tested in people
This was done in animals, not people. Most findings at this stage never become treatments.
This was only done in mice.
The short version
In mice with a hard to treat brain tumor, blocking one enzyme let the immune system fight back.
What was studied. Researchers looked at Group 3 medulloblastoma, the form of this brain tumor with the worst outlook. They blocked a tumor enzyme called SPHK2 in mice, using genes and a drug called Opaganib, alone and with low dose radiation given in small amounts.
What they found. The tumors made SPHK2, and the enzyme helped the tumor start and grow. It also held back immune cells that kill tumor cells. Blocking SPHK2 brought that immune attack back and helped the mice live longer. Adding the low dose radiation helped more, and the team saw no major harm from the pair.
What this means, and what it doesn't
What it could mean: SPHK2 may be a new target to aim at in this tumor. It gives researchers a clear next thing to test.
What it doesn't mean: This work was done in mice, not in people. It does not mean this drug helps people with brain tumors. It is very early lab and animal work, far from everyday care. It is not a promise of a cure, and no doctor can offer this today.
Source: PubMed, August 13, 2026 · Read the original
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