10/12/2025
Less than 7% of people typically survive this cancer.
Now, that may finally change.
A groundbreaking study suggests that a simple nasal spray could revolutionize the fight against glioblastoma—one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer.
With only 6.9% of patients surviving beyond five years, glioblastoma has long been a challenge due to its location and resistance to treatment.
But researchers from Washington University and the University of Electro-Communications in Japan have developed a novel drug delivery system using nanotechnology. By wrapping STING-activating immune molecules around gold nanoparticles to form spherical nucleic acids, they created a stable compound that can be delivered noninvasively through the nose—directly to the brain.
In mouse models, this nasal therapy successfully triggered immune responses that helped slow tumor growth. Not only does the method bypass the brain’s protective barriers, but it also opens new doors for targeting other immune-resistant cancers. Though still in preclinical stages, this approach represents a major step toward less invasive, more effective cancer therapies. Scientists are optimistic that combining this treatment with other immune-boosting strategies could one day offer lasting protection against brain tumors—offering fresh hope to patients who currently have few options.
Source: Xu, Z. et al. (2025). cGAS-agonistic spherical nucleic acids reprogram the glioblastoma immune microenvironment and promote antitumor immunity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)