Abstract
The infiltrative and diffuse nature of gliomas makes complete resection unfeasible. Unfortunately, regions of brain parenchyma with residual, infiltrative tumor are protected by the blood-brain barrier (BBB), making systemic chemotherapies, small-molecule inhibitors, and immunotherapies of limited efficacy. Low-frequency focused ultrasound (FUS) in combination with intravascular microbubbles can be used to disrupt the BBB transiently and selectively within the tumor and peritumoral region. This technology can be leveraged either to improve access for a wide variety of therapeutic agents to the tumor-infiltrated parenchyma or to allow for the release of tumor biomarkers into the systemic circulation for disease monitoring. Furthermore, high-frequency FUS has the potential to serve as an ablative treatment option. This review aimed to summarize the benefits of FUS in the treatment of gliomas.
Overview
- The study explores the potential of low-frequency focused ultrasound (FUS) in combination with intravascular microbubbles to disrupt the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in gliomas, allowing for improved access of therapeutic agents or the release of tumor biomarkers.
- The review aims to summarize the benefits of FUS in glioma treatment, including its potential to improve efficacy of various therapies and serve as an ablative treatment option.
- The study highlights the limitations of current glioma treatments, such as systemic chemotherapies, small-molecule inhibitors, and immunotherapies, due to the protected nature of residual tumor regions by the BBB.
Comparative Analysis & Findings
- The review highlights the advantages of FUS over traditional treatments, including its ability to selectively disrupt the BBB within the tumor and peritumoral region, improving access to therapeutic agents.
- The study suggests that FUS can be used to release tumor biomarkers into the systemic circulation for disease monitoring, potentially improving diagnostic accuracy.
- High-frequency FUS is shown to have the potential to serve as an ablative treatment option, offering a new approach to glioma management.
Implications and Future Directions
- The study suggests that FUS-based therapies may improve the efficacy of various treatments for gliomas, overcoming the limitations imposed by the BBB.
- Future research directions may focus on optimizing FUS protocols and determining the optimal frequency and duration of treatments.
- The study's findings have potential implications for the diagnosis and treatment of gliomas, offering a promising new approach to this complex and challenging disease.