Radboudumc and UMC Utrecht are pleased with the award of nearly 4 million euros for their research on brain tumors. This involves the use of laser light to burn away brain tumors, with minimal intervention for the patient. The grant comes through the scheme promising care of Zorginstituut Nederland and ZonMw.
Every year, 1,100 people in the Netherlands develop a glioblastoma. This is a brain tumor that cannot be removed with surgery in 30 percent of patients. ”Stereotactic Laser Ablation (SLA) may possibly be of added value in these patients,” said neurosurgeon Mark ter Laan of the Radboudumc, who is leading the study: ”This is a minimally invasive technique that enables the targeted burning away of brain tumors with laser light. The procedure takes place in an MRI scanner.’ The surgeon thus has direct images of the brain tumor during treatment, preventing damage to surrounding tissue with important functions. Research abroad shows hopeful results.
Neurosurgeon Pieter van Eijsden of UMC Utrecht: ‘Because brain tumors do not occur very often, relatively little is invested in this research compared to other tumors. That makes this award extra special.’ The Radboudumc and UMC Utrecht will now study the effect, complications and costs of this treatment for the first time in the Netherlands, supported by the National Working Group for Neuro-Oncology and the patient association hersenletsel.nl. The effect on survival and quality of life will also be studied. The study, which will eventually involve several centers in the Netherlands, should reveal whether SLA is indeed a better treatment for patients with glioblastoma that is normally inoperable.
