Impact of the Blood–Brain Barrier on Brain Tumor Imaging and Therapy

Abstract

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) figures importantly in detection and characterization of brain tumors using imaging as well as in understanding difficulties in providing chemotherapy for brain tumors. Importantly, new methods are being designed to tailor drugs for more efficient transit across the BBB, for alteration of the BBB to enhance drug effect, or to bypass the BBB when providing chemotherapy. Thus, it is important for investigators using neuroimaging techniques to study brain tumors and those providing brain tumor therapy to understand the structure and function of the BBB. This chapter provides a basic understanding of the BBB, explains its role in brain tumor imaging, and provides a review of recent trends to overcome the impediments to brain tumor therapy imposed by the BBB.