The blood-brain barrier is a protective mechanism that prevents harmful toxins and pathogens from entering your brain. This barrier is essential to keep your brain safe but also poses a challenge in treating brain diseases like cancer. In 2014, scientists unlocked internal access to the first human brain using sound waves.
In a recent clinical trial, researchers used this technique to let two powerful chemotherapy medications enter the brain to treat patients with recurrent glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. After the treatment, the concentration of cancer-fighting drugs in the patient’s neurological tissue was four to six times greater than what could be achieved normally.
While the breakthrough in treating glioblastoma through the temporary opening of the blood-brain barrier is significant, the time window for administering medication is very narrow. Within an hour after opening the barrier, medication must be given. Nevertheless, this discovery is promising for developing new drug-based treatments for various brain diseases.