Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CxLsoKBRhdq/ A micro-multichannel syringe carrying a variety of chemotherapeutic agents and implantable into a tumor can help predict the effectiveness of these agents once that tumor is surgically removed.   Neurosurgeons and radiologists at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s hospital in collaboration with MIT bioengineers have developed and tested a biocompatible intratumor micro-implant, 6 X 0.7 millimeters, capable of releasing nano-doses of anti-cancer drugs within the tumor.   The device delivers these tiny drug doses in spatially discrete zones permitting later analysis of each drug’s effectiveness following tumor resections. The investigators carried out a preliminary proof-of-concept study of the device on 6 patients, five with glioblastomas and one with an astrocytoma.  Each patient received 2 devices at the beginning of their operation which remained in place for 2 to 2.5 hours during tumor removal.  A series of 9 drugs were testeed in the study. The analysis dem