Novel targeted treatment for radiation necrosis in the brain

What is it about?

This is the reports from the first experience in the world in delivering a single small dose of bevacizumab, a cancer drug known by the name of Avastin, directly to the area of the brain affected by radiation necrosis. The drug is delivered intra-arterially by catheter, moments after the blood-brain barrier is temporarily disrupted to allow the drug to reach the affected area. Both patients chronicled in this manuscript had complete and sustained response to the treatment. We feel that this allows a much larger amount of the drug to directly reach the affected brain than would otherwise be possible using traditional intravenous delivery, thus amplifying its effect and reducing serious side-effects.

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Why is it important?

Radiation necrosis is an uncommon complication of radiation therapy, which is becoming more commonly used, and we don't have a great way to fix it. What's special about our procedure is that patients get the drug once, very directly to the brain, as opposed to a complete course of the drug that can cause serious systemic side effects. Both patients chronicled in this manuscript had complete and sustained response to the treatment. We think this is a better option to get the drug where it needs to go, locally, safely, and we only have to give it once.

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