Consensus review on strategies to improve delivery across the blood-brain barrier including focused ultrasound.
Authors: Piper K, Kumar JI, Domino J, Tuchek C, Vogelbaum MA
Drug delivery to the central nervous system (CNS) has been a major challenge for CNS tumors due to the impermeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). There has been a multitude of techniques aimed at overcoming the BBB obstacle aimed at utilizing natural transport mechanisms or bypassing the BBB which we review here. Another approach that has generated recent interest in the recently published literature is to use new technologies (Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy, LITT; or Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound, LIFU) to temporarily increase BBB permeability. This review overviews the advantages, disadvantages, and major advances of each method. LIFU has been a major area of research to allow for chemotherapeutics to cross the BBB which has a particular emphasis in this review. While most of the advances remain in animal studies, there are an increasing number of translational clinical trials that will have results in the next few years.
Introduction
Purpose
Drug delivery with BBB opening
Study Objective
To review and evaluate techniques for overcoming the blood-brain barrier to improve drug delivery to CNS tumors, with particular emphasis on recent advances in low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) and other technologies like LITT.
Animal model / Human subject
None in the paper
Disease model
CNS tumors (brain tumors / neuro-oncology)
MRI or image guidance method
None.
Cargo name and characteristics
Chemotherapeutic agents — small-molecule anticancer drugs delivered across the blood–brain barrier (investigated in conjunction with methods like low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) or laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT))
Route of administration
Systemic (typically intravenous) chemotherapeutic delivery enabled by transient blood–brain barrier disruption using Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (LIFU) or Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT)
Outcomes and Safety
Summary of Outcomes
Techniques such as low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) and laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) can temporarily increase blood–brain barrier permeability to enable chemotherapeutic delivery to CNS tumors, with most evidence from animal studies and early translational trials underway.
Safety-related matter
No explicit mention of safety concerns or adverse effects is present in the abstract.
Brain Region
Ultrasound Parameters
Treatment frequency
multiple
We are open to feedback. If you see a mistake or have a suggestion, please contact us.
← Back to Search