March 1, 2022 – Cleveland Clinic’s Weston Hospital is now offering Surgically Targeted Radiation Therapy (STaRT) for glioblastoma, the most common type of malignant of brain tumor in adults, and the most difficult to treat.
STaRT is for patients whose tumors continue to recur after they have had surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy as first line treatment options for glioblastoma. It includes surgery, during which the neurosurgeon places bioresorbable, flexible collagen tiles in the brain immediately after the tumor is resected. The tiles deliver immediate, dose-intense radiation, which targets the tumor for up to two weeks following the surgery. The radiation dose is higher and more targeted than external beam radiation therapy which is the current standard of treatment.
“Glioblastomas have a high rate of recurrence and this advanced treatment provides an additional option for patients facing a challenging health diagnosis,” said Rodolfo J. Blandon, MD, MBA. “We are hopeful that STaRT Therapy will improve survival and quality of life and we are pleased to offer it patients who meet certain criteria.”
Patients most likely to benefit are those with recurrent meningiomas contained within the brain cavity who have already undergone multiple rounds of radiosurgery, or those with gliomas who have exhausted all other treatment options.
About Cleveland Clinic Weston
Cleveland Clinic Weston, part of Cleveland Clinic’s Florida region, is a nonprofit, multi-specialty, academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. With locations in Weston, Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs, Parkland, West Palm Beach, Wellington, and Palm Beach Gardens, Cleveland Clinic Weston has more than 250 physicians with expertise in 55 specialties. The medical campus is fully integrated and includes diagnostic centers, outpatient surgery and a 24-hour emergency department located in the state-of-the-art hospital. Cleveland Clinic’s Florida region now includes Cleveland Clinic Indian River and Cleveland Clinic Martin Health and has hospitals and outpatient centers in Broward, Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie Counties. The Florida region is an integral part of Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, where providing outstanding patient care is based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Physicians at Cleveland Clinic are experts in the treatment of complex conditions that are difficult to diagnose. For more information about Cleveland Clinic Florida, visit www.clevelandclinicflorida.org. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
