Resumen
Brain cancers such as glioblastoma multifonne (GBMl) are practically incurable dueto their location, invasiveness and highly aggressive nature. The use of light-based treatinents of GBM by activating tumor-localized photosensitizers, such as in photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been clinically evaluated, but with limited success, This is mainly due to the limited penetration of light into tissue and the efficient spread of tumnor cells typically up to at least 2 cm from the resection margin. Moreover, the existing photon based treatments (photodynamic therapy) are highly invasive and usually require open-craneun surgery, due to the need for external light sources. In the Lumiblast project the photons are produced inside tme tumor cells in the form of chemiluminescence avoiding the major limitation of using external light to treat solid, deep-sited and inaccessible tumors. The principie utilized in Lumiblast may also be relevant for cancers of other origins. Due to its nature Lumiblast is expected to act on individual cells, rather than
the collective lesion; it could thus completely eliminate the hitherto incurable GBM. Each GBM cell is expected to become a small lamp providing the light required for the photosensitive agents to become activated, killing the tumour cells from the inside. Lumiblast requires a concerted interdisciplinary action.
This 4.5-year project will establish the Lumiblast breakthrough technology by providing
proof-of-concept in extracellular systems, GBM cell cultures and animal models, with the vision to advance Lumiblast to the clinic 5-6 years after the end ofthe proposed project.
