Brain cancer may start years before it can be seen
Original title: Brain cancer may begin years before doctors can see it
How far along is this research?
This is a news item, not a research finding.
This is early science about how the tumor begins, not a treatment or test people can get.
The short version
A type of brain tumor may begin long before any tumor shows up on a scan.
What was studied. Scientists in South Korea looked at IDH gene change: A small change in a tumor's IDH gene. Tumors with this change often grow more slowly and may respond to different treatments. Your pathology report says whether your tumor has it. See the glossary glioma: A tumor that starts in the glial cells, the support cells of the brain and spinal cord. Gliomas are graded 1 to 4 by how fast they tend to grow. See the glossary. This is one of the most common malignant brain tumors in young adults.
What they found. They found this tumor may begin years before a tumor can be seen. It appears to start in brain cells that look normal. Those cells quietly pick up a change that is linked to cancer.
What this means, and what it doesn't
What it could mean: This helps explain why the tumor can come back after surgery. Removing the visible tumor may leave behind normal-looking cells that already carry the change. Over time, doctors may look for ways to find the disease earlier.
What it doesn't mean: This does not mean there is a new treatment. It does not change the care you get today. There is no new test you can ask for right now. This is early science about how the tumor starts, not a cure and not a promise of one.
Source: ScienceDaily, January 28, 2026 · Read the original
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