Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/SfP3br735Mk

 

The brain is surrounded by a barrier that protects it from blood-borne toxins.  Usually a benefit, it complicates the treatment of brain tumors.  Columbia University neurosurgeons have now developed a catheter and pump combo that bypasses this blood-brain barrier and pumps cancer-killing chemo directly into a cancer’s depths.  This permits the safe perfusion of the tumor with drugs at 1000-fold higher concentrations than if they were introduced intravenously or by mouth.  The semi-permanent pump is installed in the patient’s abdomen and its reservoir is refillable via a skin port.

 

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(22)00599-X/fulltext

 

#braincancer #chemotherapy #implantablepump #glioma