Pioneering the latest brain tumor treatments
Our researchers and clinicians are leading the development of some of the most revolutionary new care techniques, including:
Immunotherapy is an innovative cancer treatment that uses the body’s own immune system to attack cancer cells. We offer several immunotherapy treatment options including:
- Chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy (CAR T therapy) - Penn Medicine was one of the first healthcare providers to use CAR T therapy and is still leading the way in its continued research. A new treatment developed to control previously incurable leukemias, CAR T therapy is now showing promising results when applied to cancerous tumors that start in the brain and spinal cord.
- Vaccine therapy – Penn Medicine is at the forefront in developing vaccines that can target tumor antigens, reducing the need for invasive surgery and other aggressive treatments.
- Checkpoint inhibitors – These medications prevent tumor cells from evading the immune system. First approved by the FDA for melanoma and lung cancer, they are now showing promising potential for brain tumor care.
- Oncolytic virus therapy – Penn Medicine also offers access to viral therapy for recurrent brain and spine tumors. These therapies can engineer natural viruses to deliver immune-boosting molecules directly to tumor cells.
Electric fields therapy, or "tumor-treating fields" (TTF), has been shown to slow or reverse tumor progression by causing cell death in some solid tumors. This non-invasive treatment uses electric fields within the human body that disrupt the rapid division of cancer cells. Currently, Penn Medicine offers TTF clinical trials for newly diagnosed brain and spine tumor patients.
Research continues to be at the heart of Penn Medicine’s mission clinical excellence and innovation. These therapies can deliver hope and a better quality of life.
Penn Medicine is nationally recognized for our techniques that target radiation precisely to the tumor site while sparing normal tissue.
Chemotherapy may be offered as stand-alone treatment or in combination with surgery. It can help treat widespread or metastatic cancer, whereas surgery and radiation therapy are limited to treating cancers that are confined to specific areas.
Penn Medicine’s neuro-oncologists have extensive experience in cancer care and research. Our specialists are leading the way in developing new brain tumor treatments that maximize results and quality of life.