Laser therapy extends glioblastoma survival

A prospective multicenter analysis of 787 brain tumor patients, led by Washington University School of Medicine and published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology on Aug. 17, found that laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) using the NeuroBlate system extends survival for glioblastoma patients when at least 91% of the tumor is ablated, with median survival of 2.1 years versus about 1.5 years for standard open surgery. The study also showed better outcomes for brain metastases treated early while small, challenging watchful waiting. The procedure, developed by Monteris Medical and FDA-cleared in 2009, offers a minimally invasive option with average hospital stay of 32 hours and preserved quality of life. The findings suggest LITT could be considered earlier in treatment pathways, though the study is observational and not a randomized trial.