Identifying Molecular and Cellular Features of Glioblastoma Recurrence and Invasion

Mapping the hidden edges of glioblastoma to shape precision surgery 

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an extremely aggressive form of brain cancer with a dismal five-year survival rate of just 5 per cent. Even after aggressive treatment—including surgery, radiation and chemotherapy—the cancer always returns, meaning that patients typically survive just 12 to 18 months past their initial diagnosis.  

Over the years, researchers have discovered that the speed in which GBM recurs is often dictated by the number of tumour cells that are left behind after surgery. In this context, Kaytlin Andrews, a PhD student at Queen’s University, is leading an innovative project that aims to delay recurrence by providing surgeons with a precise map of every cell surrounding GBM tumours, ensuring that they can remove as many cancer cells as possible without causing severe side-effects for patients. 

“Patients who undergo gross total resection with tumour-free margins experience delayed recurrence and improved overall survival compared to those who receive subtotal resection or biopsy,” explains Andrews. “However, because every millimeter of brain tissue has a specific function, removing too much can cause significant harm. If we can identify which tissues around the tumour cavity are at the highest risk of recurrence and which areas are low-risk, we can more effectively target the high-risk regions while preserving healthy tissue.” 

With $80,000 of funding from an MOHCCN Health Informatics and Data Scientists Award, Andrews will spend the next year using advanced spatial transcriptomics and immunofluorescent microscopy to analyze tumour and surrounding tissue from GBM samples. This will help her build a detailed molecular and cellular map of glioblastoma’s invasive edges—making it possible to safely remove more of the tumour while preserving healthy tissue—and tailor post-operative radiation more precisely. 

“I feel honoured to receive the MOHCCN HI&DS Award to support my work using spatial transcriptomics and MRI-guided biopsy tools to predict where glioblastoma tumours will recur after surgery,” said Andrews. “This project has the potential to directly impact glioblastoma treatment and surgical planning. I am sincerely thankful for the opportunity to move us closer to personalized, precision care for patients, and to Drs. Teresa and James Purzner, whose mentorship and encouragement make this work possible.” 

“Kaytlin is an exceptionally talented and passionate student whose engineering background has brought invaluable new perspective to our research," Dr. Teresa Purzner, neurosurgeon and research supervisor. “With support from the MOHCCN HI&DS Award, her work promises to refine surgical resection and radiation planning, helping shape the future of precision treatment in brain cancer.”