Advances in Radiation Improve Precision in Brain Cancer Therapy

The field of radiation oncology in relation to brain cancer treatment has advanced with precise therapeutic approaches, such as proton and carbon therapy, according to Dr. Ranjit S. Bindra, who went on to add that these approaches offer significant benefits when targeting brain tumors, including metastases.

To further explore this topic, Bindra sat down for an interview with CURE. In the interview, he expanded on the importance of recognizing May as Brain Cancer Awareness Month and highlighted some of the most recent advancements in therapeutic radiology for patients with primary brain tumors or brain metastases.

Bindra currently serves at the Yale School of Medicine as the Harvey and Kate Cushing professor of therapeutic radiology and professor of pathology; vice chair for translational research, therapeutic radiology; scientific director of the Chênevert Family Brain Tumor Center at Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center; chief of Pediatrics Central Nervous System Radiotherapy Program, therapeutic radiology; and chief of the Central Nervous System Radiotherapy Program, therapeutic radiology.

Transcript:

I think it’s an exciting time for the field of radiation oncology because we are now showing that novel, advanced treatment modalities like proton-based radiotherapy and even carbon therapy are showing significant benefits, promise, and potential. [These modalities] are really the next generation of radiation therapy for patients.

These treatments, especially protons, offer precise targeting with minimal toxicity to the normal tissue, or sparing of the normal tissue. From a radiation oncology perspective, we’re getting much better at localizing and treating these tumors while sparing the normal tissue. That’s for primary brain tumors, but also for brain metastases.

For patients who have developed these brain metastases, we are also now able to use a technique called radiosurgery and really pinpoint precise radiation to those spots in the brain, potentially [avoiding] surgery or toxic systemic therapy options.

Transcript has been edited for clarity and conciseness.

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