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Extending Life, Sustaining Lives
Brain, spine and spinal cord tumors are rare, and treating them is a complicated process. Physicians of the Brain and Spine Tumor Program use teamwork and technology to help patients fight their cancer, while preserving the ability to move, think, feel and communicate.
Jim Smyth of Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin was eager to make the sale. In June 2001, he was working as a representative for a medical imaging company and had taken a group of physicians to Dallas to see a new MRI unit. When the scheduled patient failed to show up, Jim volunteered to hop in the scanner himself.
“I wanted to sell the equipment; I wanted to show how it worked,” Jim said. He ended up getting the deal – and the MRI caught the first picture of Jim’s brain tumor.
Weeks later, surgeons removed a large mass from Jim’s right frontal lobe. The prognosis was good, but in June 2004, the cancer returned. Another surgery, another large excision.
Jim now faced a limit. “I probably can’t have any more surgery, because they are getting close to the area of my brain that controls movement,” Jim explained. “If they go back any further, I’ll start having problems.”
Abilities at RiskJim is not alone. One person in 49 is likely to be diagnosed with a brain or spine tumor in the United States (U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2002 - 2004 data). For most of these tumors, the primary treatment is surgery. The challenge is removing as much cancer as possible while leaving critical functions intact.
“It’s all based on the location of the tumor and on our ability to locate areas of function within the brain,” said Wade Mueller, MD, Medical College of Wisconsin neurosurgeon.
Dr. Mueller and his colleagues in the Brain and Spine Tumor Program at Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin specialize in treating tumors growing in or near areas of complex function – for instance, areas that control movement, speech and memory.
One of their most important tools is imaging technology. Researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin have developed MRI scanning techniques that create sophisticated “wiring diagrams” of the brain’s white matter. Another team invented the Prism™ software system, developed by Kyron Clinical Imaging, Inc. The software coordinates several sets of imaging data (MRI, PET, spectroscopy, etc.) to enable better surgical planning.
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The Brain and Spine Tumor Program takes part in numerous national clinical studies of new drugs and therapies. To see a list of clinical trials now available to brain tumor patients, visit froedtert.com/clinicaltrials. | One of their most important tools is imaging technology. Researchers at The Medical College of Wisconsin have developed MRI scanning techniques that create sophisticated “wiring diagrams” of the brain’s white matter. Another team invented the Prism™ software system, developed by Kyron Clinical Imaging, Inc. The software coordinates several sets of imaging data (MRI, PET, spectroscopy, etc.) to enable better surgical planning.
According to Dr. Mueller, these and other technologies make surgery safer by helping surgeons avoid critical structures. He also believes they make surgery more effective. “It’s very rare, however, that surgery is the only answer,” Dr. Mueller said. “Typically, surgery sets the table for chemotherapy and radiation.”
Each of these specialties is important in the successful treatment of brain, spine and spinal cord tumors. Along with Dr. Mueller, other Medical College of Wisconsin physicians on the team include: neurosurgeons Shekar Kurpad, MD, PhD, Dennis Maiman, MD, PhD, Grant Sinson, MD, Christopher Wolfla, MD; interventional neurologists Brian-Fred Fitzsimmons, MD, and Sam Zaidat, MD, MSc; neuro-oncologist Mark Malkin, MD; neuro-psychologist David Sabsevitz, PhD; neuro-pathologist Khang-cheng Ho, MD, PhD; neuro-radiologist John Ulmer, MD; and radiation oncologists Christopher Schultz, MD, and Joseph Bovi, MD. The brain and spine tumor team includes physicians skilled in every aspect of diagnosis and treatment.
They have advanced fellowship training and extensive experience caring for patients with these complex cancers – and they work closely together to ensure the best possible outcome for each patient.
In addition, a journey coordinator and nurse coordinator work with each patient from the time of diagnosis through treatment to make sure this very complex process moves forward smoothly, with all necessary tests, treatments, support and follow-up provided at the right time.
Targeting TherapyRadiation oncologists who specialize in brain, spine and spinal cord tumors face the same challenge as surgeons – treating the cancer while sparing as much normal tissue as possible.
According to Christopher Schultz, MD, Medical College of Wisconsin radiation oncologist, new technologies are enabling physicians to more effectively “shape” radiation to a patient’s tumor. “That allows us to avoid adjacent normal tissue, reducing or eliminating side effects,” he said.
Following his second surgery in 2004, Jim was encouraged to seek care at Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin. Under Dr. Schultz’s direction, Jim had a series of 30 radiation treatments using three-dimensional treatment delivery. The radiation dose conformed to the size and shape of Jim’s tumor, substantially avoiding nearby normal brain tissue.
At the same time, Jim began chemotherapy with Mark Malkin MD, Medical College of Wisconsin neuro-oncologist. Dr.Malkin prescribed a year-long regimen of temozolomide, a new drug that attacks brain tumors by interrupting the molecular pathways critical to tumor function.
“Temozolomide is actually two drugs in one,” Dr.Malkin said. “It is a chemo drug that kills tumor cells, as well as a drug that interferes with cells’ ability to repair themselves.”
Special SupportJim responded well to treatment, and within a few months his tumor began to shrink. But at the same time, he experienced extreme fatigue. “I essentially slept all day.”
Dr. Malkin referred him to David Sabsevitz, PhD, Medical College of Wisconsin neuropsychologist. Dr. Sabsevitz is the director of the Neuro-Oncology Cognitive Clinic.
According to Dr. Sabsevitz, roughly 50 percent to 80 percent of brain and spine tumor patients experience some kind of change in thinking or behavior. “Typical symptoms include difficulty focusing attention and multi-tasking, forgetfulness, slowed thinking, and problems with language and reasoning. We also see personality changes.”
The purpose of the Neuro-Oncology Cognitive Clinic is to evaluate cancer patients for these symptoms and provide treatment. Options include medications and behavioral intervention – for example, teaching compensatory strategies for dealing with forgetfulness.
“We reassess patients at intervals, so we can identify any changes or impairments,” Dr. Sabsevitz said. “But the change is not always negative – we often see improvement.”
In Jim’s case, the improvement was significant. Following Dr. Sabsevitz’ recommendation, Jim’s treating physician put him on a drug called modafinil. Not only did fatigue diminish, memory and concentration picked up as well.
Research Makes a DifferenceIn January 2006, Jim’s cancer was in remission. He settled into a routine of monthly check ups with Dr. Malkin and an MRI every two months.
In April 2008, scans showed that the tumor had returned. Jim’s physicians discussed his case at the interdisciplinary brain tumor board (weekly meeting of all specialists for this program) and decided to put him back on temozolomide.
One thing in Jim’s favor was the recurrence was caught early, when the tumor was just the size of a pea. Credit goes to vigilant testing – and the fact that Jim was taking part in a special research project for an advanced imaging technique known as relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) mapping.
rCBV mapping uses MRI technology to measure blood flow within the brain. “The rCBV detected an increase of blood flow to the tumor,” Jim said. It also helped confirm that the new finding was cancer, not just a delayed effect of radiation.
The rCBV study was led by Kathleen Schmainda, PhD, Medical College of Wisconsin medical physicist. It is part of a larger effort known as the Translational Brain Tumor Research Program, funded in part by large grants from Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin (AHW). AHW is The Medical College of Wisconsin’s public health initiative created through endowed funds from the Blue Cross & Blue Shield United conversion to a publicly traded company.
Dr. Mueller, director of the program, said the effort is focused on developing new concepts for treating patients with brain tumors. “We are trying to more effectively apply promising research ideas to patient care.”
Keep Moving ForwardJim began chemotherapy again last spring, and he soon received good news. “After two months, there was a visible reduction in the tumor,” he said. As of October 2008, Jim’s cancer was still shrinking, and physicians believe it was knocked back into remission.
Jim, now 47, continues to move forward with his life and devotes precious time to his wife and two girls.
Another passion is golf. “Just before my tumor was discovered, I bought a brand new set of clubs – and then I couldn’t use them for years!” Jim said. “Now I’m golfing again. Those golf clubs are a symbol of triumph over cancer.”
Golf plays a big role in one of Jim’s most important projects – the Smyth Brain Tumor Foundation. Jim’s foundation has sponsored several golf outings to raise money for brain cancer research and to help patients manage the financial impact of the disease. Jim’s fund-raising efforts are just one expression of his fighting spirit.
“I want to beat it. I want to have the best doctors who can give me the best chance of survival – and I get that at Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin.”
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Surgeons in the program treat every kind of tumor, including tumors of the bony spine and rare tumors of the spinal cord. Vertebral tumors are usually cancers that have spread to the spine from other parts of the body, often from lung cancer, prostate cancer or myeloma. These tumors can put pressure on the spinal cord and cause structural problems. Treatment consists of surgical removal of the tumor and spine reconstruction. Spinal cord tumors are usually benign, but treating them requires extremely intricate surgery. Shekar Kurpad, MD, PhD, Medical College of Wisconsin neurosurgeon, has a specialized interest in the surgical treatment of patients with tumors of the spinal cords.
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Source: Froedtert Today Date: December 2008 |
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