Iowa Hospital Pioneers GammaTile Brain Cancer Therapy with First State Implementation

UnityPoint Health — John Stoddard Cancer Center in Des Moines has marked a significant milestone in brain cancer treatment by becoming the first facility in Iowa to perform surgery using GammaTile therapy, an innovative approach to treating aggressive brain tumors.

The groundbreaking procedure, technically known as Surgically Targeted Radiation Therapy (STaRT), involves implanting a postage stamp-sized radioactive chip directly into the brain following tumor removal. This novel approach represents a paradigm shift in radiation delivery for brain cancer treatment.

Advanced Treatment for Recurring Brain Tumors

Dr. Sam Schroeder, radiation oncologist at UnityPoint Health, explains the unique advantage of this approach: "If the tumor has returned, the GammaTile allows us to deliver radiation from the inside out, which is very different than the vast majority of radiation treatment, particularly within the brain."

The innovation comes at a crucial time, as brain tumors affect more than 200,000 Americans annually and are notorious for their resistance to conventional treatments and high recurrence rates. Traditional management of recurring brain tumors typically involves external radiation and possible repeated surgical interventions.

Strategic Radiation Delivery

The GammaTile technology serves as a preventive measure against tumor recurrence. "It's like an insurance policy to minimize the likelihood that a spot should come back in these fairly challenging situations," Dr. Schroeder notes. This targeted approach is particularly valuable in cases where tumor cells might remain after surgery, potentially leading to recurrence.

Selective Implementation and Patient Benefits

While the technology shows promise, its application will be selective. The medical team anticipates treating between 10 to 20 patients initially. "We won't be treating hundreds or thousands of patients a year with this," Dr. Schroeder clarifies. "We think it is a very important tool to be able to offer because sometimes, patients are doing very well, aside from maybe a spot that's causing issue within the brain."

The FDA-cleared procedure is specifically designed to delay tumor regrowth while protecting healthy brain tissue. By targeting tumor cells precisely where recurrence is most likely, this innovative therapy brings new hope to patients facing life-threatening brain tumors, particularly in cases where traditional treatments have shown limitations.