Medical Device Advances in the Treatment of Glioblastoma

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Novel therapeutic modalities using medical devices have the potential to deliver effective treatment against the most aggressive form of primary brain tumour, Glioblastoma, for which there is currently no cure. These devices not only offer methods to enhance the effect of currently available therapies but also aim to provide innovative ways to deliver better therapeutic outcomes for this deadly disease. This review highlights recent innovations in this promising, growing field, and is intended to serve as a primer for clinicians, engineers and scientists interested in translating such technologies for the improvement of patient outcomes. ABSTRACT: Despite decades of research and the growing emergence of new treatment modalities, Glioblastoma (GBM) frustratingly remains an incurable brain cancer with largely stagnant 5-year survival outcomes of around 5%. Historically, a significant challenge has been the effective delivery of anti-cancer treatment. This review aims to summarize key innovations in the field of medical devices, developed either to improve the delivery of existing treatments, for example that of chemo-radiotherapy, or provide novel treatments using devices, such as sonodynamic therapy, thermotherapy and electric field therapy. It will highlight current as well as emerging device technologies, non-invasive versus invasive approaches, and by doing so provide a detailed summary of evidence from clinical studies and trials undertaken to date. Potential limitations and current challenges are discussed whilst also highlighting the exciting potential of this developing field. It is hoped that this review will serve as a useful primer for clinicians, scientists, and engineers in the field, united by a shared goal to translate medical device innovations to help improve treatment outcomes for patients with this devastating disease.