GammaTile® Therapy
At CHI Memorial we provide the latest medical device advancements and treatment options to enhance the lives of the patients under our care. We strive to deliver the best outcomes and highest value of service through compassion, reliability, innovation, and excellence. We are proud to offer GammaTile Therapy, the latest FDA-cleared device for the treatment of operable brain tumors.
What is GammaTile® therapy?
How does GammaTile therapy work?
After the neurosurgeon has safely removed as much of the tumor as possible, GammaTiles are placed into the operative bed, covering the tumor cavity with tiles. The number of tiles used will depend on the size and location of the tumor. It takes approximately five minutes for the surgeon to place the tiles at the end of tumor removal surgery prior to closing the incision.
Once the GammaTiles are placed, they immediately begin delivering a uniform radiation dose to the target area:
- 50% of the therapeutic dose is delivered within the first 10 days after surgery, which helps prevent residual tumor cells from replicating.2
- 88% of the therapeutic dose is delivered within 30 days, with more than 95% of the dose delivered by six weeks.2
The structural offset of the sources from brain tissue helps prevent healthy tissue from the side effects of radiation.3 Over time, the therapeutic dose of radiation is delivered, and the tile is naturally absorbed by the body. Eventually, only the small, inactive titanium sources remain.
What are the clinical outcomes of GammaTile therapy?
For patients with recurrent meningiomas and brain metastases, studies have demonstrated a significant reduction in treatment site recurrence, compared to their previous treatments.5–6
In patients with recurrent glioblastomas (GBMs), GammaTile Therapy demonstrates a potential for improved overall survival when comparing the effectiveness of surgery plus GammaTile Therapy to other treatment modalities across different clinical studies.
What are the quality of life outcomes of GammaTile therapy?
GammaTile can eliminate the need for traditional repeat radiation treatments. For external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), patients must wait two to three weeks after surgery to begin radiation therapy. During this time, residual tumor cells can begin to replicate. The external beam treatment schedule is typically 15 to 30 sessions, five days a week, for three to six weeks. GammaTile allows patients to go about their daily lives, while they receive their therapeutic dose of radiation.
GammaTile is also designed to protect healthy brain tissue, minimizing radiation side effects, including hair loss.1 In a clinical study, only one out of 74 patients experienced hair loss after being treated with GammaTile.1
Who is eligible to receive GammaTile therapy?
The latest advancement in brain tumor treatment, GammaTile therapy is FDA-cleared to treat patients with newly diagnosed malignant and recurrent brain tumors. For more information about brain tumor care at CHI Memorial Neuroscience Institute, call (423) 206-9480.
What are the side effects of GammaTile therapy?
Most patients experience fewer side effects than patients who have received other radiation treatments.1–2, 6 Some patients experience postoperative side effects, including nausea, vomiting, headache, sleepiness, neurodeficit, seizures, and skin irritation.
The potential for, and symptoms of, adverse events related to radiation exposure vary depending on the radiosensitivity of the exposed tissue, the amount of radiation delivered, and the placement of GammaTile(s). If you have any concerns or experience any abnormal effects, please discuss them with your care team.
For more information on GammaTile therapy, speak with your neuro-oncologist.
REFERENCES
1. Nakaji P, Youssef E, Dardis C, Smith K, Pinnaduwage D, Brachman D. Surgically targeted radiation therapy: a prospective trial in 79 recurrent, previously irradiated intracranial neoplasms. Poster presented at: 2019 AANS Annual Scientific Meeting; April 2019; San Diego, CA. 2. Brachman D, Youssef E, Dardis C, et al. Surgically targeted radiation therapy: safety profile of collagen tile brachytherapy in 79 recurrent, previously irradiated intracranial neoplasms on a prospective clinical trial. Brachytherapy. 2019;18(3):S35-S36. 3. Brachman D, Youssef E, Dardis C, et al. Resection and permanent intracranial brachytherapy using modular, biocompatible cesium-131 implants: results in 20 recurrent, previously irradiated meningiomas. J Neurosurg. 2019;131(6):1819-1828 4. Rogers L, Nakaji P, Youssef E, et al. Resection and surgically targeted radiation therapy for initial salvage treatment of aggressive meningioma: results from a prospective trial. Presented at: CNS 2020 Virtual Meeting; September 30, 2020. 5. Nakaji P, Smith K, Youssef E, et al. Resection and surgically targeted radiation therapy for the treatment of larger recurrent or newly diagnosed brain metastasis: results from a prospective trial. Cureus. 12(11):1-12. 6. Choi M, Zabramski J. Re-Irradiation using brachytherapy for recurrent intracranial tumors: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature. Cureus 12(8): e9666. doi:10.7759/cureus.9666.
Indication: GammaTile is intended to deliver radiation therapy in patients with newly diagnosed malignant intracranial neoplasms and recurrent intracranial neoplasms. Side effects related to GammaTile Therapy are rare and may include radiation brain changes including necrosis. Refer to the instructions for use for a complete description of all warnings, precautions, and contraindications.