Washington University researchers find improved laser therapy for glioblastoma

Researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine have identified ways to improve the effectiveness of minimally invasive laser therapy for treating glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. The study, which followed 787 patients over five years, focused on a procedure where a robotically guided laser probe is inserted through a small hole in the skull to destroy tumor cells with heat while bypassing healthy tissue.

The findings indicate that the extent of tumor destruction is critical to patient survival. Patients who had at least 91 percent of the tumor destroyed lived an average of 2.1 years from diagnosis, compared to approximately 1.5 years for those treated with traditional surgery. Lead author Eric C. Leuthardt stated that the goal is to extend survival times and improve the quality of life for patients by identifying factors that lead to the best clinical outcomes.