Glioblastoma is an aggressive brain tumor that is difficult to treat and almost always leads to death. Current treatments like chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation are not very effective as tumor cells can be resistant and the treatments can damage healthy brain tissue. Many drugs cannot cross the blood-brain barrier to reach the tumor. A new experimental approach uses microcatheters to inject mannitol to temporarily open the blood-brain barrier, allowing a higher dose of the chemotherapy drug Avastin to directly reach the tumor. Early results show this treatment seems to eliminate recurring glioblastoma tumors, but longer-term effects are still unknown.

1. Treatment for GlioblastomaBy Cassie and Dylan

2. GlioblastomaOne of the most common and vigorous type of brain tumorsEven with the best treatment, almost always leads to deathHard to treat because lack of effective drugs and challenge of getting drugs to the brain

3. Current TreatmentsChemotherapy, surgery, and radiation are not very successfulTumor cells can be resistant to chemotherapyThese types of therapy can damage other parts of the brainMany drugs are unable to cross the blood brain barrier to treat the tumor

4. Blood Brain BarrierNatural defense system, keeps out toxins and microbesThe cells that line the walls of the capillaries of the brain are so tightly packed that it is hard for molecules in the bloodstream to go through and reach the brain tissueKeeps many tumor-fighting drugs out

5. TemodarTemozolomide – chemotherapy pillGoes through the blood brain barrierHas increased 2-year survival rate to 25% from 8%But new tumors continue to show up throughout the treatment

6. New ApproachUses a combo of new and old approachesCancerous tumor is removedInsert microcatheters, flexible tubes, into the an artery in the groin up through blood vessels in the brain Insert mannitol(first used 20 years ago), takes some of the water out of the cells allowing them to shrink and create gaps, temporarily opening the barrier Allows for a higher dose of the Avastin, chemotherapy drug, to directly reach the tumor

7. Avastin - EndostatinWorks in a similar way as EndostatinStops angiogenesis, preventing cancer cells from getting nutrients and the growth of the tumorsUnlike Endostatin, Avastin not only slows down the tumor growth, it also makes them disappear

8. TodayStill in earliest phaseMain concerns are to find out if it is safe to directly spray Avastin into brain and at what dosesSo far, treatment seems to erase any sign of recurring glioblastoma tumorsBut how long it will last is still unknown

9. Sourcehttp://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/17/health/17tumor.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&sudsredirect=true