Are any newer treatments for brain tumors available?
At Cleveland Clinic, we have access to alternative radiation delivery methods including stereotactic radiotherapy (Gamma Knife), Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT ) and Novalis. Radiation can also be given using implanted seeds (I131) or by placing liquid radiation into a balloon (GliaSite), which is placed into the surgical cavity after tumor removal. Drugs called Radiation Sensitizers given at the time of radiation also are used in a clinical research setting as part of a clinical trial. Many clinical trials are under way around the country investigating novel drugs for the treatment of these brain tumors. Cleveland Clinic is a member of various consortiums investigating some of these new drugs. We offer clinical trials through RTOG (Radiation Therapy Oncology Group), SWOG (Southwest Oncology Group), and NABTT (New Approaches to Brain Tumor Therapy – a National Cancer Center Consortium). We also run a number of industry-sponsored clinical trials to study new and novel drugs such
