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Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is a common and effective treatment for brain tumors that have spread from other parts of the body. It uses strong energy beams to destroy cancer cells or stop them from growing. Treatments are carefully planned to target tumors while protecting as much healthy brain tissue as possible. Radiation therapy may be given after surgery, or on its own, depending on your needs.

At Dana-Farber Brigham 天美传媒, we use real-time tracking tools like the real time surface guidance, which monitors your body’s position during radiation in real time. If you move more than 1 millimeter, the system pauses treatment until you're in the right spot again. These advances help improve the accuracy of radiation and may lead to better results with fewer side effects.

Types of Radiation Therapy:

• Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS): SRS is a very precise type of radiation used to treat brain metastases. Brigham and Women’s Hospital investigators recently demonstrated in a landmark clinical trial that SRS is better than whole brain radiation for patients with up to 20 brain metastases. It does not involve cutting or surgery, despite the name. Instead, SRS delivers a high dose of radiation to a small, well-defined area. This method targets tumors with pinpoint accuracy while reducing exposure to nearby healthy tissue. It often requires only one session, although some people may need more than one. SRS may be recommended when tumors are located in parts of the brain that are hard to reach with surgery.
• Whole-Brain Radiation Therapy (WBRT): This approach delivers radiation to the entire brain. It is often used when cancer has spread to multiple areas, or when small tumors may be hidden. Treatments are typically given five days a week over 2 to 3 weeks. While whole-brain radiation can help control cancer, it may cause side effects such as tiredness, nausea, hair loss, or memory changes over time. More recently, techniques to minimize the cognitive impact of WBRT have been developed. Your care team will help manage these symptoms and monitor your brain function closely.
• Proton Therapy: Proton therapy uses beams of protons—tiny particles with a positive charge—instead of X-rays. These beams release their energy only after they reach the tumor, which helps protect surrounding tissue. This makes proton therapy a good option for certain tumors in the brain particularly in cases of leptomeningeal disease (tumor cells in the brain and spine fluid where the entire brain and spine are sometimes treated).
• Brachytherapy involves placing small radioactive seeds directly into or near the tumor during surgery. The seeds give off radiation over time, damaging the cancer cells while sparing nearby brain tissue. This method may be used for tumors that come back after earlier treatments. It is usually combined with other therapies, like surgery.

Chemotherapy

uses powerful drugs to kill cancer cells or stop them from growing. However, many traditional chemotherapy drugs cannot easily reach the brain because of the blood-brain barrier—a natural filter that protects the brain. That’s why targeted therapy is now more commonly used for brain metastases.

Targeted therapy

uses drugs designed to find and block specific features of cancer cells. These treatments help limit harm to healthy cells while preventing the cancer from spreading. They can be given through a vein or taken by mouth and may be used after surgery or along with radiation therapy to kill any remaining cancer cells.

Immunotherapy

is a type of treatment that helps your immune system recognize and attack cancer cells. One common type of immunotherapy is called a checkpoint inhibitor. These drugs block proteins that cancer cells use to “hide” from the immune system. When the block is removed, the immune system can find and destroy the cancer cells.

This kind of therapy works by boosting the natural defenses in your body, especially T cells, which are a key part of the immune system. While not everyone responds to immunotherapy, it has shown promise for some people with brain metastases and continues to be an area of active research.

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are research studies that test new cancer treatments and technologies. By joining a clinical trial, you may get early access to advanced therapies that are not yet widely available. At Dana-Farber Brigham 天美传媒, our researchers are studying many promising options for people with brain metastases. These include direct drug delivery to the brain, genetic-based therapies, and ways to enhance the immune system’s response to cancer.

Your care team can help you explore whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Read more about brain tumor research and cancer-specific radiation research.

Palliative Care

Palliative care is specialized medical support that focuses on improving quality of life. It helps manage symptoms caused by cancer or its treatments, such as headaches, seizures, or swelling in the brain. Medicines like steroids can reduce inflammation, while other drugs may help prevent seizures or relieve pain.

Palliative care can be provided alongside other treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery. It’s not just for end-of-life care—it’s about feeling as well as possible during any stage of your treatment. Our team works closely with you and your family to support your comfort, well-being, and personal goals throughout your care.