Thermal heat therapy for patients with recurrent brain tumors

Neuro-oncologists at The Methodist Hospital in Houston are studying a relatively new thermal therapy technology for patients with recurrent brain tumors. The investigational device uses heat therapy for recurrent metastatic tumors without damaging surrounding tissue. A laser acts like an electrode and delivers thermal therapy to the brain tumor to destroy it. With MRI guidance, physicians can see the tumor dissolve in real time.

Approximately 15 to 20 percent of cancer patients will be diagnosed with metastatic brain tumors during their lifetime. Whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) has been the standard treatment for almost 50 years. However, average survival time for patients using WBRT is three to six months. A July 2008 study in the journal Neurosurgery reported this experimental therapy was well tolerated and effective with no tumor recurrence. The clinical study at Methodist plans to enroll 30 patients who cannot tolerate further radiation or chemotherapy or whose previous treatments failed…