To investigate current clinical trials on focused ultrasound (FUS)-guided blood-brain barrier opening (BBBO) during pharmacotherapy for brain tumors and assess the challenges, such as safety and efficacy, and future directions for research.
Key Findings:
FUS-mediated BBBO is a promising non-invasive method for enhancing drug delivery to brain tumors.
The majority of studies focused on gliomas, particularly recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).
All studies included adult patients with a mean age of 50.7 years.
Interpretation:
FUS represents a novel approach to temporarily open the BBB, potentially improving therapeutic efficacy for brain tumors while minimizing systemic side effects.
Limitations:
The review is limited to studies published in English, which may introduce language bias.
Excluded animal and in vitro studies may limit the understanding of FUS efficacy and its translational potential.
Most included studies were early-phase trials, focusing primarily on safety and feasibility, which may not provide comprehensive efficacy data.
Conclusion:
FUS-mediated BBBO shows promise for enhancing drug delivery in brain tumor treatment, warranting further research to address existing challenges, such as optimizing safety protocols and improving efficacy measures, to enhance clinical applications.
