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New Cap Improves Glioblastoma Patients’ Survival Rates

by (WMFE)
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Doctors in Florida are using a special skull cap called Optune and electric currents to treat patients with an aggressive form of brain cancer. Photo: Flickr Creative Commons

Doctors in Florida are using a special skull cap called Optune and electric currents to treat patients with an aggressive form of brain cancer. Photo: Flickr Creative Commons


Doctors in Florida are using a special skull cap called Optune and electricity to treat patients with an aggressive form of brain cancer called glioblastoma. Optune uses low intensity, electric current to slow the growth of rapidly multiplying cancer cells.

If used in conjunction with chemotherapy, it can improve two year survival rates in some patients and double five year survival rates.

Currently the five-year survival rate for glioblastoma, the brain cancer Sen. John McCain was diagnosed with, is around 5 percent.

Optune is in early phase testing as treatment for lung, breast, ovarian and pancreatic cancers.

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WMFE is a partner with Health News Florida, a statewide collaborative reporting on health care.

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Danielle Prieur

About Danielle Prieur

Reporter & Fill-in Host

Danielle Prieur is a general assignment reporter at WMFE. You can hear her reporting on a daily basis on the station. She also fills-in as a host during the morning and afternoon drive times. Her reporting has been featured on NPR. Danielle is originally from Rochester Hills, Michigan and is a graduate of both the ... Read Full Bio »

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