Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital, part of Detroit’s Henry Ford Health, has begun using Gleolan, an optical imaging agent that illuminates a common and devastating type of brain tumor called glioma.
Gleolan is Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for use in patients with high grade gliomas, which means the tumor is suspected World Health Organization Grades III or IV on preoperative imaging. The first brain tumor resection at Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital with Gleloan was performed by Dr. Adam Robin, neurosurgeon at Henry Ford’s Hermelin Brain Tumor Center (HBTC).
“We are committed to providing our patients with the leading edge, evidence-based therapeutic options available today,” says Dr. Manu Malhotra, chief medical officer at Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital. “With the addition of this unique imaging technology, our clinicians are empowered to expand our treatment options and push the boundaries of the most advanced and potentially lifesaving treatments for brain cancer.”
Gleolan is the only product approved by the FDA that highlights a glioma tumor and surrounding cancer tissue in a bright hue, making it easier for neurosurgeons to see the tumor tissue to be removed. The enhanced visualization enables a neurosurgeon to identify and remove as much of the cancer as possible, which increases the chance for better patient outcomes.
“When surgically resecting a brain tumor, our aim is always to remove it completely,” says Robin. “When using this imaging agent, we perform the tumor resection procedure under a special blue light, which causes the tumor cells to be bright pink or magenta in color. This visual aid enhances our ability to identify tumor cells that otherwise may have been hidden or more challenging to identify.”
Even with the most modern technology, it’s often difficult for surgeons to determine whether they have removed all a brain tumor. Glioma treatment can present a particular challenge because the tumors often have “finger-like” projections that extend into different parts of the brain.
Glioma is a primary brain tumor, which begins in the glial cells that surround and support nerve cells. It is the most common type of adult brain tumor (comprising 78 percent of malignant brain tumors in adults) and the most common pediatric solid tumor, accounting for approximately 53 percent of tumors in children younger than 14 years. An estimated 700,000 people in the United States are living with a primary brain tumor.
Henry Ford’s HBTC is a national leader in the diagnosis and treatment of brain tumors and has been recognized since 1993 by the National Cancer Institute for delivering leading brain tumor therapies.
The center offers individualized treatment plans and world-class, coordinated care teams utilizing the latest tests available for accurate brain tumor diagnosis and treatment guidance. Gleolan is also available at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.
In the initial randomized, controlled clinical trial performed in the U.S., some patients were given Gleolan before glioma surgery. They had twice the rate of survival without progression after six months compared to patients who did not receive Gleolan.
To learn more about Gleolan at Henry Ford Health, click here.
