Brain tumor
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive (grade IV) and most common form of a malignant brain tumor. Even when aggressive multimodality therapy consisting of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgical excision is used, median survival is only 12–17 months. Standard therapy for glioblastoma multiforme consists of maximal surgical resection of the tumor, followed by radiotherapy between two and four weeks after the surgical procedure to remove the cancer, then by chemotherapy, such as temozolomide. Most patients with glioblastoma take a corticosteroid, typically dexamethasone, during their illness to relieve symptoms. Experimental treatments include targeted therapy, gamma knife radiosurgery, boron neutron capture therapy and gene therapy.
University of Miami Division of Surgical Neurooncology
The past chair of the department was Dr. Barth A. Green, founder of Project Medishare for Haiti, and co-chairman Dr. Roberto C. Heros. The current chair is Dr. Alan Levi.New clinical trial is being explored at select and distinguished medical centers including Johns Hopkins Hospital, Columbia University Medical Center, University of California San Francisco, University of Miami and a few others. This treatment is tailored to newly diagnosed patients with glioblastoma multiforme, and aims to activate the patients's immune system against the tumor antigen to prevent recurrence using HSPPC-96. Preliminary data suggests that this novel agent has promising results against cancer. UM is the only center conducting this trial in the state of Florida.Glioma treatment depends on the clinical and pathological presentation of the tumor. Treatment involves a combined approach that may utilize surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.