Metastatic Brain or Spine Cancer Treatment

Because brain and spine tumors are often difficult to reach, some people are told by doctors elsewhere that their tumors are inoperable and untreatable. We use advances in medical therapy, radiation therapy, and minimally invasive surgery to remove or treat even the most complex brain or spine metastases or to slow or stop the spread of cancer. Treatments can also lessen symptoms such as pain, seizures, memory problems, trouble speaking, and loss of strength or mobility. Many of the people we treat lead productive lives for years after treatment.

Our patient navigator guides you and your loved ones through the complexities of receiving cancer care from multiple specialists within our cancer center. Often, more than one appointment can be scheduled on the same day. The patient navigator also facilitates your access to the comprehensive support services available at Duke.

The Duke Cancer Institute

The Duke Cancer Institute brings together the extensive resources of Duke University, Duke Health, and the Duke Cancer Center. We are committed to making innovative discoveries, developing new ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer, and delivering those therapies in a patient- and family-centric way.

Our Focus Is Brain and Spine Metastasis

Our neurosurgeons, spine surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, pain management specialists, palliative care specialists, and other providers meet weekly to create treatment plans for our patients. This team approach means a team of specialists contribute their expertise to your care.

Close Collaboration with Your Oncologist

People come to Duke from across the country for the treatment advances we offer. Whether you live close by or far away, we work with your oncologist so any treatments you receive at Duke will supplement your ongoing cancer care.

Clinical Trial Access

People with brain and spine metastases have historically been excluded from cancer clinical trials. The Duke Center for Brain and Spine Metastasis (DCBSM) is one of the only research programs of its kind. We develop trials that are specifically geared toward brain and spine metastases, molecular alterations of the metastasis, treatment side effects, quality of life, and more. As a Duke patient, you may have the opportunity to participate in studies that are testing medical and radiation advances not yet available elsewhere.

Maximizing Surgical Success while Minimizing Risk

Our advanced technology helps make brain and spine surgery safer and more effective. For example, our surgeons use “tractography” to visualize the complex wiring within the brain at the highest resolution possible. They use this technology to create a path to your tumor that avoids critical structures involved in language, memory, and motor control. Likewise, intraoperative MRI provides your surgeon detailed images of your brain or spine during surgery, to ensure they remove as much of the tumor as possible. Complex brain mapping and awake surgery techniques help ensure surgical accuracy while protecting vital brain functions, like motor and speech abilities.

Leaders and Teachers

Duke doctors and surgeons are among a handful of specialists in the country who are refining, performing, and teaching new treatments for brain and spine metastases. Our team includes leaders in studying the benefits of using stereotactic radiosurgery instead of whole-brain radiation. And our neurosurgeons train their peers at other centers in how to perform laser interstitial thermal therapy.

Nationally Recognized Brain Tumor Program

Our experts are at the forefront of primary brain tumor research and treatment, and this extends to caring for individuals with metastatic brain and spine tumors. Our team is renowned for expertise in managing and supporting people with metastatic brain and spine tumors.

Ongoing Research Leads to New Developments

Some of our ongoing research focuses on brain and spine tumor immunobiology. We’re working to create immune-based therapies such as vaccines that will train the immune system to fight brain and spine metastases as if they were infections.