Kolkata, June 9: Brain tumour treatment is changing rapidly, with advances in imaging, neurosurgery, radiation therapy and targeted medicines helping doctors diagnose earlier, treat more precisely and personalise care according to tumour biology.
On World Brain Tumour Day, specialists stress that brain tumours are not one disease and outcomes depend on tumour type, grade, location, molecular profile and timely diagnosis. Advances such as the INDIGO trial on vorasidenib, which reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 65% in selected low-grade gliomas with IDH mutations, reflect the shift towards precision-led care making early recognition and specialist evaluation even more critical.
According to Dr Amitendu Sekhar, Consultant, Neurosurgery, HCG Cancer Centre, Kolkata, high-resolution MRI has improved early detection, while surgery has become more accurate and function-sensitive. “Technologies such as neuro-navigation, intra-operative brain monitoring using EEG and evoked potentials, and advanced microscopes and endoscopes help us operate with greater precision while protecting critical brain functions,” he said.
Medical oncology is also playing a growing role, especially through molecular profiling and targeted therapy. Dr Sanchayan Mandal, Consultant, Medical Oncology, HCG Cancer Centre, Kolkata, said,
“In selected brain tumours, oral chemotherapy is used along with radiation, while newer targeted therapies can block specific molecular pathways responsible for tumour growth. In relapsed cases, next-generation sequencing and comprehensive genomic profiling can help identify actionable mutations and guide more personalised treatment.”
Radiation therapy, too, has become sharper. “With image-guided radiation therapy and real-time tumour tracking, we can follow the tumour’s position more accurately and reduce the risk of missing the target. For small tumours, stereotactic radiosurgery or stereotactic radiotherapy allows very high-dose radiation to be delivered in one or a few sittings with high precision,” said Dr Abhijit Das, Senior Consultant, Radiation Oncology, HCG Cancer Centre, Kolkata, adding: “Modern radiation therapy can also treat selected benign brain tumours, not just malignant ones, with focused precision.”
Doctors stress that awareness should not create panic, but encourage timely action. Persistent headaches, vomiting, sudden visual changes, dizziness, ringing in the ears or loss of smell and taste may have several causes, but when unusual or persistent, they deserve medical attention.
“Brain and central nervous system cancers are uniquely complex because even benign or low-grade tumours can affect critical functions. Persistent neurological symptoms must therefore be evaluated early, especially as these cancers account for 2.3% of India’s new cancer cases but a higher 3.1% of cancer deaths,” said Dr Rupali Basu, RBH (East & AP), HCG Cancer Hospitals.
For Box Warning signs that should not be ignored
- Persistent headaches, especially early in the morning or headaches that wake a person from sleep
- Sudden changes in vision, including blurred vision
- Vomiting that temporarily relieves a headache
- Persistent dizziness, ringing in the ears, or loss of taste or smell
Three major advances in brain tumour care
Neurosurgery: Neuro-navigation and intra-operative brain monitoring help surgeons operate with greater precision while protecting critical brain functions.
Medical oncology: Molecular testing and targeted therapies are allowing treatment to be guided by the genetic drivers of the tumour.
Radiation oncology: Image-guided radiation and stereotactic techniques allow focused radiation delivery with better sparing of healthy brain tissue.
