Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). This approach in theory allows the preferential destruction of tumor cells while sparing the normal tissue, even if the cells have microscopically spread to the surrounding normal brain (Barth and Joensuu, 2007; Yamamoto et al, 2008).

A clinical trial protocol for second line treatment of malignant brain tumors with BNCT at University of Tsukuba. Aiyama H, Nakai K, Yamamoto T, Nariai T, Kumada H, Ishikawa E, Isobe T, Endo K, Takada T, Yoshida F, Shibata Y, Matsumura A. 2011 Jul 19. [Epub ahead of print]

Stem Cell-based Therapy

New therapeutic approaches are being developed based on the use of stem cells as delivery vehicles or target

- Based in neural and mesenchymal stem cells (Kosztowski et al, 2009, Uchibori et al, 2009)

- As Target (Lamszus et al, 2011,  Bleau et al, 2009)

- Direct delivery of reagents with interstitial infusion via convection-enhanced delivery.

- Gene therapy with direct adeno-viral application to transfer HSV-Tk into tumor cells by adenoviral vectors. (Castro et al, 2011,  King et al, 2005)

- Oncolytic viruses

- Immunotherapy focusing on vaccination strategies using either specifically pulsed dendritic cells or immunization with a specific peptide, which is unique to the vIII variant of the epidemal growth factor receptor.

Selected references: Westphal and Lamszus, 2009