A NEW way to potentially stop one of the most aggressive types of brain tumour from spreading has been discovered by medical researchers in Hampshire.

Scientists at the University of Southampton believe the new technique could lead to better patient survival from glioblastoma.

It is one of the most common types of malignant brain tumours in adults but little is known about how it forms and infiltrates the brain tissue.

Common symptoms of the disease include seizure, nausea and vomiting, headache and memory loss.

The tumour has threadlike tendrils that extend into other parts of the brain making it difficult to remove it all.

Typical treatments include surgery followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

The study led by Dr Elodie Siney under the supervision of Dr Sandrine Willaime-Morawek, lecturer in stem cells and brain repair, analysed how enzymes called ADAMs affect the movement and function of the human tumour cells.

The findings, published in the journal Molecular Neurobiology, suggest that if doctors are able to block specific enzymes called ADAM10 and ADAM17, the tumour stops growing and spreading.

It also moves the cancer cells away from the place where they were growing which could allow them to be removed through traditional cancer treatments such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy or surgery.

Dr Willaime-Morawek said: "When confirmed in animal models of glioblastoma, this finding will be of great importance for patients and clinicians.

"Glioblastoma is a devastating disease which is often untreatable. We have found that blocking ADAMs may lead to reduced tumour growth and less recurrence following conventional treatments, improving the chance of complete surgical removal and improving survival rates."