Mayo Clinic announces results of innovative glioblastoma cancer treatment

Mayo Clinic Arizona has announced the results of an innovative treatment approach that may offer improvement in overall survival in older patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma.

Sujay Vora, M.D., a Radiation Oncologist at Mayo Clinic Arizona, joined “Arizona Horizon” to share details of this breakthrough in cancer treatment.

Glioblastoma is the most lethal and common form of primary brain cancer due to its aggressive nature and its treatment-resistant characteristics. Each year, an estimated 14,500 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with the disease.

“We don’t have any screening methods for finding glioblastoma, so it’s usually when patients actually present for medical attention from either a seizure, weakness, behavioral changes where we actually first find this,” Vora said.

The challenge doctors face after diagnosing glioblastoma is operating on patients to remove it because the tumors are similar to tentacles that attach themselves to brain tissue, according to Vora.

The study used “proton beam therapy” and advanced imaging techniques in the treatment process in patients over the age of 65 with malignant glioblastoma.

“We wanted to see if we could see the cancer better, so we we’re using some advanced medical imaging called a PET scan. We’re using some advanced forms of radiation delivery called “proton beam therapy” that allows us to shield more of the healthy brain tissue to reduce the side affects for each patient,” Vora said.

One of the goals with the radiation treatment is to reduce the regular length of time for treatment from three to six weeks to one to two weeks. The radiation applies to all areas of cancer in order to treat it effectively and efficiently which Vora says is more convenient for the patients and their families.

“We’re not done yet but I think we’re encouraged by these initial results,” Vora said.