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How Brain Tissue Is Protected In Radiotherapy For Gliomas
There are various kinds of brain cancer and for anyone who has had a diagnosis, it is important to be aware from the outset just what kind they have, where it is located, the prognosis and the treatment options for it.
Among the various types of tumour is a glioma, which takes its name from the glial cells, where it arises. These cells are found in the brain and spinal cord and, when healthy, support the functions of these organs.
Some gliomas are benign (non-cancerous) and grow more slowly, while others are malignant (cancerous) and will be more aggressive.
A primary distinction between glioma types is based on which cells they arise in. For example, an astrocytoma will arise in the astrocytes, which, as the name suggests, are star-shaped cells, while oligodendrogliomas emerge from oligodendrocytes.
Astrocytomas are the most common form of glioma, accounting for around 60 per cent of the total. By contrast, oligodendrogliomas account for under ten per cent of brain tumours.
If the glioma is a non-cancerous type, treatment may be conservative, but even a slow-growing tumour can pose a problem as it presses on the brain and spinal cord, which can impede vital functions. That is when it will need treatment, which in some cases can include surgery. However, radiotherapy is often the main method of treatment.
As some gliomas are located on or adjacent to the brain, surgery can be difficult or impossible due to the probability of damaging brain tissue. This means the best option is stereotactic radiosurgery.
It is a form of radiotherapy that we specialise in, using the latest technology and techniques to deliver the best results. The primary tool we use is Gamma Knife, a device that, despite its name, is not an actual knife, but enables beams of gamma radiation to be delivered with great precision.
Gamma Knife is not a new invention, having been developed by the Swedish neuroscientist Lars Leksell in 1967. It was he who then coined the term ‘stereotactic radiosurgery’.
At first, Gamma Knife was used for treating neurological conditions, but its potential for use in tackling brain tumours was soon realised.
Later versions of Gamma Knife finetuned the invention and, today, we use the latest version, with its accuracy being aided by other technological advancements, such as better scanning technology, to help target the tumour more precisely.
However, the severity of these will be reduced by the precision of stereotactic radiotherapy, as will any permanent damage done to the brain. What exactly that might be will depend on where exactly in the brain the tumour is located, as different parts of the brain are more important for various functions.
This study, carried out on mice, found that by using a drug to ‘switch off’ the C5aR1 receptor, which is involved in brain inflammation caused by radiotherapy, the level of inflammation can be significantly reduced. This, in turn, greatly reduces the chance of cognitive decline resulting from radiotherapy.
Like any form of cutting-edge research, this will need to be peer-reviewed and further research will be required to confirm the benefit, not least by testing on humans. However, if confirmed to be beneficial, it could play a role in protecting the brain from radiation damage in the future.
In the meantime, the optimal means of minimising radiation exposure for brain tumour patients remains the use of the latest stereotactic surgery techniques and technology.
With our expertise in this area, we can offer the best treatment, tailored to each patient’s specific needs according to the type and location of the glioma, combined with excellent aftercare.
Note, however, that Gamma Knife is rarely first-line and is typically reserved for small, well-defined, focal recurrences or selected low-volume lesions.
Learn more about our advanced radiotherapy treatments for gliomas on the Queen Square website.
Among the various types of tumour is a glioma, which takes its name from the glial cells, where it arises. These cells are found in the brain and spinal cord and, when healthy, support the functions of these organs.
Types Of Glioma
There are different categories of glioma, which vary in their specific location and also in important factors such as how quickly they grow, which can determine the type and intensity of brain tumour treatment the patient may receive.Some gliomas are benign (non-cancerous) and grow more slowly, while others are malignant (cancerous) and will be more aggressive.
A primary distinction between glioma types is based on which cells they arise in. For example, an astrocytoma will arise in the astrocytes, which, as the name suggests, are star-shaped cells, while oligodendrogliomas emerge from oligodendrocytes.
Astrocytomas are the most common form of glioma, accounting for around 60 per cent of the total. By contrast, oligodendrogliomas account for under ten per cent of brain tumours.
If the glioma is a non-cancerous type, treatment may be conservative, but even a slow-growing tumour can pose a problem as it presses on the brain and spinal cord, which can impede vital functions. That is when it will need treatment, which in some cases can include surgery. However, radiotherapy is often the main method of treatment.
As some gliomas are located on or adjacent to the brain, surgery can be difficult or impossible due to the probability of damaging brain tissue. This means the best option is stereotactic radiosurgery.
Radiotherapy For Gliomas
This form of radiotherapy uses very precise beams of high-intensity radiation to bombard the tumour from different angles, but with great precision. Because it is so accurate, the exposure of surrounding healthy brain tissue is minimised.It is a form of radiotherapy that we specialise in, using the latest technology and techniques to deliver the best results. The primary tool we use is Gamma Knife, a device that, despite its name, is not an actual knife, but enables beams of gamma radiation to be delivered with great precision.
Gamma Knife is not a new invention, having been developed by the Swedish neuroscientist Lars Leksell in 1967. It was he who then coined the term ‘stereotactic radiosurgery’.
At first, Gamma Knife was used for treating neurological conditions, but its potential for use in tackling brain tumours was soon realised.
Later versions of Gamma Knife finetuned the invention and, today, we use the latest version, with its accuracy being aided by other technological advancements, such as better scanning technology, to help target the tumour more precisely.
Minimising Side Effects
This is not to say that any patient undergoing Gamma Knife surgery will not suffer any side effects from radiotherapy. These are various and can include the loss of hair, reduced appetite, skin soreness and fatigue.However, the severity of these will be reduced by the precision of stereotactic radiotherapy, as will any permanent damage done to the brain. What exactly that might be will depend on where exactly in the brain the tumour is located, as different parts of the brain are more important for various functions.
A Future Development?
We use the most cutting-edge technology and methods to minimise healthy tissue exposure to radiation, but one potential method of providing even more protection has been highlighted by research carried out by the University of California Irvine (UCI) and the University of Queensland, published in the journal Cancer Research.This study, carried out on mice, found that by using a drug to ‘switch off’ the C5aR1 receptor, which is involved in brain inflammation caused by radiotherapy, the level of inflammation can be significantly reduced. This, in turn, greatly reduces the chance of cognitive decline resulting from radiotherapy.
Like any form of cutting-edge research, this will need to be peer-reviewed and further research will be required to confirm the benefit, not least by testing on humans. However, if confirmed to be beneficial, it could play a role in protecting the brain from radiation damage in the future.
In the meantime, the optimal means of minimising radiation exposure for brain tumour patients remains the use of the latest stereotactic surgery techniques and technology.
With our expertise in this area, we can offer the best treatment, tailored to each patient’s specific needs according to the type and location of the glioma, combined with excellent aftercare.
Note, however, that Gamma Knife is rarely first-line and is typically reserved for small, well-defined, focal recurrences or selected low-volume lesions.
Learn more about our advanced radiotherapy treatments for gliomas on the Queen Square website.
