In the U.S., more than 200,000 people are diagnosed with aggressive brain tumors each year, which are difficult to treat and often resistant to traditional therapies like chemotherapy and radiation. These tumors also have a high rate of recurrence, making them a challenging battle for patients. However, a new treatment option using small seeds is providing hope to patients facing these tough diagnoses.
The Gamma Tile, which is the size of a postage stamp, is helping to combat these tough-to-beat brain tumors, offering promise to patients like Anthony Parise who have been fighting the disease for years. Initially diagnosed with lung cancer, Parise’s condition worsened when the cancer spread to his brain. Dr. Matthew Shepard, a neurosurgeon at Allegheny Health Network, explains that the most common type of cancerous brain tumors actually originate from other areas of the body, such as the lungs, colon, or melanoma.
For patients like Parise, who have limited treatment options due to the location of the tumor in the brain, the Gamma Tile offers a new solution. Unlike traditional radiation treatments that require multiple hospital visits, the Gamma Tile slowly releases low-dose radiation over time, eliminating the need for surgical removal once they dissolve. This innovative treatment has shown promising results, with fewer side effects compared to conventional therapies.
Since the Gamma Tile is still a relatively new treatment option for brain tumors, it is currently being used for patients whose tumors have recurred and when other post-operative treatment options are limited. With its success in treating bladder and prostate cancers, the Gamma Tile is now offering hope to patients with brain tumors, like Parise, who have exhausted other treatment options.