Focused ultrasound disruption of the blood-brain barrier: a new frontier for therapeutic delivery in molecular neurooncology.

Authors: Etame AB, Diaz RJ, Smith CA, Mainprize TG, Hynynen K, Rutka JT

Recent advances in molecular neurooncology provide unique opportunities for targeted molecular-based therapies. However, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) remains a major limitation to the delivery of tumor-specific therapies directed against aberrant signaling pathways in brain tumors. Given the dismal prognosis of patients with malignant brain tumors, novel strategies that overcome the intrinsic limitations of the BBB are therefore highly desirable. Focused ultrasound BBB disruption is emerging as a novel strategy for enhanced delivery of therapeutic agents into the brain via focal, reversible, and safe BBB disruption. This review examines the potential role and implications of focused ultrasound in molecular neurooncology.

Introduction

Purpose Drug delivery with BBB opening

Study Objective To review the potential role and implications of focused ultrasound–mediated blood–brain barrier disruption for enhancing delivery of targeted molecular therapies in neuro-oncology.

Disease model malignant brain tumors

Outcomes and Safety

Summary of Outcomes Focused ultrasound (FUS) produces focal, reversible, and safe blood–brain barrier disruption that can enhance delivery of molecular therapies to brain tumors. The review did not report experimental testing of specific FUS parameter sets or list particular successful parameters.

Safety-related matter Authors describe focused ultrasound BBB disruption as focal, reversible and safe; no adverse effects are reported in the text.

Brain Region

Visualization unavailable

Ultrasound Parameters

Focal Characteristics Focal depth: None; Focal length: None; Aperture size: None

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