Welcome to our comprehensive guide on Surgical Oncology. In this article, we delve into Treating Brain Tumors: Challenges and Innovations, exploring the latest advancements and essential information.
The brain is protected by the blood-brain barrier (BBB), a dense network of blood vessels that prevents many harmful substances—including many chemotherapy drugs—from entering the brain. Additionally, surgical removal is complicated due to the risk of damaging critical healthy brain tissue.
Treatment usually begins with surgery to remove as much of the tumor as safely possible, followed by radiation therapy and chemotherapy to target any remaining cancer cells.
Researchers are exploring ways to temporarily open the blood-brain barrier using focused ultrasound, allowing drugs to enter. There is also significant research into developing specialized immunotherapies and targeted drugs that can cross the BBB.