A recent study on leptomeningeal metastasis (LM), a severe form of cancer spreading to the brain and spinal cord linings, revealed significant insights. Led by Dr. Amanda Fitzpatrick, the research found that LM cells develop unique mutations not present in the original tumour, impacting genes controlling cell shape and adhesion. The study offers potential for risk identification and targeted therapies. It also introduced a method to culture LM cancers from patient CSF, facilitating further research for experimental therapies.
How do you believe this research could impact the treatment and understanding of this severe form of cancer?