Intérêt du Laser et des Ultrasons dans le traitement des tumeurs cérébrales : Neurochirurgie d’aujourd’hui et de demain

Abstract

Brain tumors require first a surgical treatment or a biopsy procedure for deep-seated lesions. In partnership with physicists, we developed stereotactic Laser and Ultrasound probes to realize minimal invasive treatments under real time MRI guidance and local anesthesia. Our first clinical trial was performed in 2008 with a Laser probe. Conclusive, more than 40 centers in the states are performing to day this technique with more than 2500 treated patients for brain tumors or epilepsy. This new less invasive therapeutic approach is recognized today as an additional tool in the neurosurgical arsenal. The, on development ultrasound probe will bring additionalfunctionalities to Laser After surgery, chemotherapy is generally needed, but drugs are poorly delivered in the brain due to the Blood Brain Barrier, especially for new functionalized molecules, immuno regulators and antibodies. We are developing an ultrasound based technique based on an implantable transducer that can opens the blood brain barrier safely and transiently for 6 hours, optimizing brain drug delivery by 4 to 6fold. The pilot safety clinical trial started in July 2014 in Paris, with a huge therapeutic hope for brain tumors andfor neurodegenerative diseases.