{"id":17294,"date":"2022-10-17T19:30:01","date_gmt":"2022-10-17T23:30:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fusfoundation.org\/?post_type=sw_disease_condition&p=17294"},"modified":"2026-05-13T18:25:47","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T22:25:47","slug":"glioblastoma","status":"publish","type":"sw_disease_condition","link":"https:\/\/www.fusfoundation.org\/diseases-and-conditions\/glioblastoma\/","title":{"rendered":"Glioblastoma"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Find a Treatment Site or Clinical Trial<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Focused ultrasound is a noninvasive therapy that is transforming the treatment and quality of life for patients with glioblastoma. This novel technology focuses beams of ultrasonic energy precisely and accurately on targets deep in the brain without damaging surrounding normal tissue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it Works<\/strong>
Where the beams converge, the ultrasound produces a variety of therapeutic effects enabling treatment without incisions or radiation. Several different approaches are currently in consideration for glioblastoma, and these will be briefly discussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) Disruption<\/span>
The BBB is normally a protective barrier for the brain, preventing adverse agents that may be in the blood stream from gaining unfettered access to the brain. However, in the setting of glioblastoma, the BBB may still be intact, especially around the peripheral regions of the tumor, and preventing therapeutic agents (like chemotherapy) from accessing this area in sufficient quantities for maximal effect. The temporary disruption of the BBB in the targeted area enables enhanced penetration by the therapeutic agent, and following the treatment, the BBB will re-form, typically in about a day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sonodynamic Therapy (SDT)<\/span>
Certain agents that were originally used as visual dyes to help surgeons differentiate between tumor and normal tissue, have been found to be altered after treatment by focused ultrasound, resulting in materials that are toxic to the tumor in the local area. These agents are also accumulated in tumor cells, which maximizes the detrimental effect on the targeted tissue. Clinical trials are using this technique are to provide targeted therapy to certain tumors, including glioblastomas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Combination with Radiation<\/span>
The combination of focused ultrasound and radiation has been shown to enhance the effectiveness of radiation. The joint use of these regimens is being used in patients with recurrent glioblastoma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ablation <\/strong>
Thermal ablation is one of the earliest mechanisms of action for focused ultrasound, and it is currently in use for other neurologic indications. While it was in use in some earlier clinical trials for glioblastoma, the recent efforts have shifted to the above mechanisms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sono-Sensitive Agents<\/span>
The use of sound sensitive, ultrasound packages that can carry a variety of therapeutic agents throughout the body, and only release them when they encounter focused ultrasound is a very attractive model for treating a wide variety of diseases, including glioblastoma. This mechanism is being studied in body cancers and preclinical brain lesions currently, and it is likely to be used in clinical trials soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benefits<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Currently, there is no cure for glioblastoma, and treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy. These treatments have limited efficacy and are associated with significant side effects. Focused ultrasound has the potential to offer an alternative or complement to the above therapies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advantages:<\/p>\n\n\n\n