Overview
The Stephen E. and Catherine Pappas Center for Neuro-Oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital cares for adult patients with tumors of the nervous system as well as neurologic complications of cancer.
Our multidisciplinary group of brain, spine and nerve cancer experts will develop and implement an integrated, care plan personalized for each patient. Depending on the stage and other characteristics of a patient’s cancer, treatment may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or a combination of these therapies. Many clinical trials are also offered through our program.
In addition to our neurosurgeons, the staff at the Pappas Center includes:
- Neuropathologists
- Neuroradiologists
- Neuro-oncologists
- Radiation oncologists
- Oncology nurses and nurse practitioners
- Oncology psychiatrists, social workers and chaplains
- Oncology nutritionists
- Palliative care providers
Members of your care team meet regularly with you and your referring physician to ensure clear communication and seamless coordination of care.
Excellence in Surgical Care
Our surgeons have extensive experience treating brain tumors while minimizing damage to surrounding structures. Advanced surgical techniques include:
- Image-guided neurosurgery
- Intraoperative MRI and CT imaging
- Brachytherapy, radiotherapy implants placed at tumor margins to enhance tumor destruction
- Microsurgery, operating on tiny structures through a microscope, often used for cranial base tumors
- Endoscopic cranial base surgery, a noninvasive way to remove tumors through natural openings such as the nasal passages
A Full Range of Treatments
We offer the full spectrum of conventional care as well as promising new therapies to ensure patients get the best treatment possible. Available services include:
- Advanced imaging technologies (MRI, functional MRI, PET/CT scans) give surgeons a detailed view of the affected area
- Neuro-oncology for non-surgical treatment using chemotherapy, immunotherapy, angiogenesis inhibitors, and targeted therapies
- Advanced radiation therapies such as proton beam therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), intensity-modulation radiation therapy (IMRT), and 3-D conformal radiation
- Clinical trials that give patients access to experimental therapies and leading-edge treatment techniques.
CAR-T Therapy for Glioblastoma: INCIPIENT Clinical Trial
A research team from the Mass General Cancer Center recently conducted an early-stage trial of a new cell therapy for patients with recurrent glioblastoma. Preliminary results have shown remarkable initial responses among the first patients to receive the novel treatment. Learn more about the trial here and here.
If you are interested in learning more about the INCIPIENT clinical trial, please call 617-724-6226 or email carteamingbm@mgb.org. A member of our clinical team will contact you within 48 business hours.
Patient Experience
