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Ultrasonic sound helps chemo drugs might treat brain cancer

Ultrasonic sound helps chemo drugs might treat brain cancer

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Because chemotherapy medications cannot cross the blood-brain barrier, brain cancer can be challenging to treat. According to researchers, an ultrasound device has the potential to momentarily remove that barrier and allow chemotherapy medications to get through.

According to experts, this technique could revolutionize the way brain cancer is treated. The most lethal type of brain cancer, glioblastoma, may now be treatable according to recent studies.

Treatment for brain tumors is very challenging. The blood-brain barrier, which regulates what can travel from the bloodstream to the brain, is a contributing factor in that the majority of chemotherapy medications are inhibited by this barrier.

The issue was overcome by Northwestern Medicine doctors who implanted an ultrasonic device in the brain to momentarily break down the blood-brain barrier, enabling chemotherapy medications to be injected intravenously into the brain.

“Finding that a new technology can safely and effectively open the blood-brain barrier to deliver chemotherapy is potentially a game-changing step forward in brain cancer research and treatment,” Dr. Jason Salsamendi, the lead interventional radiologist at the City of Hope Orange County Lennar Foundation Cancer Centre in California, told us.

Throughout a 4-month period, the 4-minute procedure which is performed on awake patients was repeated once every few weeks for a total of six sessions.

According to the study, which was written up in the journal Lancet Oncology, the surgery caused the concentration of chemotherapy medications in the brain to virtually multiply by four to six.

New brain cancer treatments importance

Dr. Adam Sonabend, a neurosurgeon at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Illinois, is the study’s primary investigator and neurosurgeon. He also serves as an associate professor of neurological surgery. “While we have concentrated on brain cancer, this provides an opportunity to explore novel drug-based therapies for the millions of patients who are affected by a variety of brain diseases,” the authors write.

Dr Albert Kim, director of the brain tumour centre at Washington University in St. Louis’ Siteman Cancer Centre, who was not involved in this trial, told us that systemic distribution via IV is typical and simple to carry out.

Although the blood-brain barrier had previously been opened with ultrasound, Kim stated that “the implantable device allows for repeated openings, which could enable the delivery of multiple cycles of systemic drugs.”

The trial included paclitaxel and carboplatin, two powerful chemotherapy medications that are typically ineffective in the treatment of glioblastoma.

Temozolomide, the major chemotherapeutic agent now being used to treat glioblastoma, can cross the blood-brain barrier, however it is somewhat ineffective.

Injecting paclitaxel directly into the brain has been shown in prior studies to be beneficial, but it also carries the risk of meningitis and irritated brain tissue.

The five-year survival rate for glioblastoma is now at around 10%, and patients have not benefited from recent developments in cancer treatment, such as targeted medicines and immunotherapy, according to Salsamendi. An option to administeradminister medication directly into the brain each time a dose is needed is the ability to distribute chemotherapy across the blood-brain barrier.

Blood-brain barrier being opened

The blood-brain barrier quickly closed after being forced open, often within 30 to 60 minutes, according to the study’s researchers.

Salsamendi noticed that there is a greater possibility of dangerous substances entering the brain if the blood-brain barrier is breached for a longer period. In terms of treatment planning and risk minimization, it would be important to know how long the barrier may be open with as much accuracy as feasible.

The French biotech company Carthera created the ultrasound device, which breaks down the blood-brain barrier via a stream of tiny bubbles.

One hour later, the blood-brain barrier recloses.

The researchers found that the blood-brain barrier may be temporarily opened in people using ultrasound and microbubble technology and that most of its integrity returns an hour later.

The brain is permeable to medications circulating in the bloodstream for a critical period of time following sonification, according to Sonabend, who is also a member of Northwestern University’s Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Centre.

The blood-brain barrier is fully restored 24 hours after brain sonication, according to prior human investigations. However, the field previously made the assumption that the blood-brain barrier is open during the first six to eight hours. According to the Northwestern study, this window may be smaller.

Another first is that the blood-brain barrier is opened in a brain volume that is nine times greater than the initial device (a modest single-ultrasound emitter implant) when a revolutionary skull-implantable grid of nine ultrasound emitters created by the French biotech company Carthera is used. This is crucial because for this method to be effective, a sizable area of the brain close to the cavity that remains after the excision of glioblastoma tumours must be covered.

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What’s the link between Cancer treatment and ED?

What’s the link between Cancer treatment and ED?

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Your sex life may change as a result of physical and psychological side effects of cancer treatment. These alterations are referred to as “sexual side effects” by doctors. They consist of modifications to your sex interest and your capacity for sexual action.

Physical, mental, or emotional adverse effects from sexual activity are possible. Your attitude, sense of wellbeing, energy level, and body image can all be impacted by cancer therapy. All of these factors can influence your sexual life.

Whether your cancer diagnosis and/or treatment may alter your sexual life is something you should discuss with your medical team. If at all possible, do this before beginning treatment. The optimal form of treatment for you can be impacted by it. Getting a second opinion might be wise if you are extremely concerned.

Sexual problem during cancer

Your sexual health may change as a result of having cancer or the therapy for it, either during or after treatment. These modifications could go or stay put. Everyone is unique.

Treatments that directly affect your genital organs are more likely to have physical side effects. Prostate, bladder, and testicular cancer treatments, for instance, are more likely than some other cancer treatments to have an impact on your capacity to physically engage in sexual activity. However, leukaemia treatment, for example, might also make you feel exhausted or ill, which can reduce your interest in sex. This is why discussing your unique diagnosis and what to expect with your medical team can be beneficial.

The following are examples of possible sexual side effects:

  • less sex-related interest
  • having trouble attaining or maintaining an erection long enough to engage in penetration. Other terms for this issue include “erectile dysfunction” and “ED.”
  • Orgasming before you’re ready is known as premature ejaculation.
  • urinating (peeing) while having an orgasm.
  • having a “dry” orgasm in which no sperm emerges. This can occur if semen exits the penis instead of flowing backward into the bladder.
  • suffering when having sex.

Inform your medical staff if you experience any of these issues before starting therapy. They might be able to assist or stop the difficulties from growing worse if they are aware of the issue. Additionally, during or after treatment, let your medical team know if you have any new issues or changes in your sexual health.

Treatments that can cause sexual problems

Surgery – The nerves that regulate erections can be harmed during procedures on the prostate, testicles, bladder, colon, and/or rectum. Consult your surgeon on “nerve-sparing” procedures. Additionally, surgery can result in “dry” ejaculation. You might find this upsetting or you might not.

Radiation treatment – ED may result after radiation therapy administered to the pelvis, which is the region around the hips. This may occur between six months and two years following the treatment. In two to three years, it might disappear or become better. What to do when you have ED should be discussed with your doctor.

Chemotherapy – Chemotherapy side effects can have an impact on your mood, sense of self, and sexual attraction. Weight gain or loss, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea are possible side effects. Additionally, you can stop having erections, but this normally returns with time. Any medication, including targeted therapy or immunotherapy, that is a part of your treatment plan should be discussed with your doctor for any potential sexual side effects.

Hormone treatment – Some prostate cancer treatments aim to reduce the amount of testosterone your body produces. Although it is done to treat the cancer, this may result in ED, reduced sex drive, and difficulties achieving an orgasm.

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