Glioblastoma and Other Primary Brain Cancers

Surgery
A surgeon may be able to remove your brain tumor by performing a craniotomy. During the procedure, a small portion of bone is removed to create a temporary opening in the skull. After the surgeon removes the tumor, the bone segment is replaced. 

Some people may be eligible for less-invasive options, like laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) or surgery using a Brain Path device. This operation requires a very small incision, which reduces bleeding, recovery time, and risk. You may even be able to go home from the hospital the day after surgery.

Our surgeons are experienced in removing primary brain tumors and are often able to operate on people who were told their condition was not operable. Surgery may be performed alone or in combination with radiation therapy. 

Radiation Therapy
Image-guided radiation therapy targets a cancerous tumor while preserving your healthy brain tissue. Our radiation oncologists use MRI, CT, and other imaging scans to find the precise location of the tumor and focus X-rays directly on it. Stereotactic radiosurgery uses 3D imaging to target and deliver a focused, high-dose of radiation to a well-defined tumor in a short amount of time.

Chemotherapy
Oral drugs or injections may be used to kill additional cancer cells after surgery and radiation therapy, especially for aggressive tumors. Chemotherapy may also be combined with targeted therapies, such as Avastin, to battle malignant brain tumors called gliomas.

Immunotherapy
Doctors use your immune system to fight malignant brain tumor cells while sparing healthy brain cells.

Genetically Engineered Cancer Vaccines
Cancer-fighting viruses, some co-developed at Duke, target and kill cancer cells, leaving normal cells with the ability to grow. You may be eligible for studies that use vaccines to treat brain tumors through our clinical trials.

Experience with All Types of Brain Tumors
Our brain tumor specialists treat approximately 3,800 patients each year; about 900 of these are new patients. We treat all types of brain tumors, including meningiomas and other benign brain tumors, and develop a personalized approach to each patient's care.

Consult with Our Brain Tumor Specialists
Unlike at many other centers, you’ll speak to our brain cancer specialists first to determine which tests you need and decide the next steps for your care. Our nationally ranked cancer center has been designated a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute.

Qualified Care Team
Our board-certified brain tumor specialists -- medical, radiation, and surgical oncologists; experts in neurosurgery and neurology; radiologists; and pathologists -- as well as geneticists, specially trained nurse practitioners and physician assistants, nutritionists, and social workers meet regularly to discuss each individual case. They share their knowledge and offer coordinated and advanced surgical, medical, and follow-up care.

Your Main Point of Contact
A nurse navigator will be your main point of contact throughout your treatment and recovery. They address any questions or concerns about your initial evaluation, surgical procedures, financial obligations, emotional needs, and dietary requirements.

Support for You and Your Family
Our comprehensive cancer support services range from helping you minimize the side effects of treatment to coping with the emotional and psychological effects of diagnosis and treatment.

Research Leaders
The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center's robust research program is dedicated to finding better outcomes for brain tumors. We co-developed a vaccine that extends the lives of people with glioblastoma and played a pivotal role in the introduction of Avastin in the treatment of brain tumors. We continue to explore ways to selectively target tumors, tame fast-growing and drug-resistant tumors, and design new therapies to destroy cancer. Our researchers are also studying ways to manipulate the genes and proteins that fuel tumor growth.

Latest OR Technology
The use of intra-operative MRI (iMRI) in the operating room allows neurosurgeons access to MRI images while the patient is still in surgery. This confirms that all or as much of the tumor as possible is removed. It also reduces the time and number of procedures required.

Remote, Written Second Opinion Reports
Get a written second opinion report from a Duke Health specialist in the comfort of your home. A second opinion can confirm a diagnosis, offer a different diagnosis, provide information about the most advanced treatments available, and ensure confidence in your decisions when faced with a serious medical condition. Learn more about our remote second opinion platform and process.