Radiotherapy Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Radiotherapy, including details on cancer treatment, side effects.

Brachytherapy for brain tumors.

Vitaz TW, Warnke PC, Tabar V, Gutin PH

Neurosurgical Service Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA. tvitaz@niky.com

Over the past several decades neurooncologists have attempted to find an adjuvant treatment that prolongs survival for patients with malignant brain tumors. Brachytherapy, radiotherapy delivered by placing radioactive sources directly into the tumor, was initially thought to be the solution to this problem. Initial single institution studies showed very promising results; however, this technique has failed to show a significant survival advantage in two randomized studies. Despite this, brachytherapy continues to be used in a number of centers throughout the world for the treatment of various types of brain tumors including low-grade gliomas, anaplastic astrocytomas, glioblastomas, meningiomas and metastases. This article reviews brachytherapy's rationale, radiobiology, complications, indications, and results from numerous studies that have focused on its application for brain tumors with emphasis on its application for glial tumors.

Published 3 June 2005 in J Neurooncol, 73(1): 71-86.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Radiotherapy Research Today. All Rights Reserved.