The Center for Neuro-Oncology offers the latest advances in care for adult patients with brain and spinal cord tumors, as well as for patients with neurologic complications of cancer and its treatments. Our team is focused on providing the best possible treatments to our patients, and on developing new approaches that will improve outcomes. A critical part of our efforts is our increasing use of new genomic and molecular testing of patients’ tumors as part of our care and research. We are also leading the development of exciting immunotherapy treatments for brain tumor patients, including some that are uniquely focused individualized tumor mutational analyses.
At the Center for Neuro-Oncology, we are a leader in genotyping and sequencing of brain tumors. Each brain tumor specimen undergoes:
- A state-of-the-art analysis to identify genetic mutations
- A comprehensive analysis of copy number abnormalities that detects amplifications of potential oncogenes and loss of potential tumor suppressor genes across the entire human genome
Among brain cancers, we have found mutations in genes like EGRFvIII, IDH1, MGMT, SMO and AKT1. Identifying these genetic mutations in certain brain tumors enables us to better treat and precisely target innovative therapies for a specific cancer. We have also pioneered the use of advanced genetic analyses to target the immune system against a panel of individualized, tumor-specific mutations. Our Center has been at the forefront of these groundbreaking discoveries, and our clinical trials of targeted immunotherapies have advanced treatment for even the most aggressive forms of brain cancer.
Our Contributions
The Center for Neuro-Oncology is a leader in the implementation of precision medicine for brain tumors. Our collaborative, multidisciplinary team of physicians and researchers has continued to push the boundaries for more precise research to improve treatment for brain cancer patients.
What to Expect
When indicated, we offer comprehensive genetic testing to our patients with lung cancer. In many cases, this testing can be performed on archived biopsy tissue that was already obtained. If there is available biopsy tissue at another institution, we will have that sample sent to our Molecular Pathology department for genetic analysis.
