Rewiring Brain and Spine Tumor Care: AHN’s Coordinated, Personalized Approach

Matthew Shepard, MD

(Credit: AHN)

AHN’s neuro-oncology program under AHN Neuroscience Institute and AHN Cancer Institute is redefining brain and spine tumor care through a seamless blend of multidisciplinary action plans, novel therapies, and technical precision.

AHN’s robust, collaborative team of neuro-oncologists, neurosurgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and radiologists work seamlessly and swiftly to create a personalized care plan based on a patient’s condition and functional goals. Central to this integrated approach are AHN’s nurse navigators, who provide personalized support, coordinate care, and serve as compassionate advocates for patients and their families.

As one of the nation’s leading centers for innovation, AHN offers advanced therapies for both benign and malignant tumors — particularly in complex cases where standard treatments have not produced an optimal outcome.

GammaTile Brachytherapy: A Smarter Adjuvant Therapy

AHN neurosurgeons were among the first in Pennsylvania to perform GammaTile brachytherapy — surgically targeted radiation therapy for patients with recurrent brain metastases that have progressed despite prior treatments. The technique involves implanting Cesium-131 radiation seeds that are embedded in collagen tiles directly into the resection cavity immediately following tumor removal. This technique allows our surgeons to effectively target any residual disease while sparing healthy brain tissue. Patients receive their postoperative radiation while they recover from surgery and often do not have to travel back to the hospital for additional treatment.

“By implanting GammaTile at the time of tumor resection, we ensure immediate adjuvant therapy — even for patients who may not be able to return for postoperative radiation,” Matthew Shepard, MD, a neurosurgeon in the AHN Neuroscience Institute, said to AHN. “We’re seeing promising early data for reducing the risk of local recurrence and improved overall survival.”

Shepard and his team are among a select group nationwide participating in a randomized clinical trial comparing outcomes for newly diagnosed brain metastasis patients treated with GammaTile brachytherapy versus traditional postoperative stereotactic radiosurgery.

LITT: Minimally Invasive Treatment With Rapid Recovery

Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is an advanced, minimally invasive technique that enables AHN neurosurgeons to precisely ablate intracranial tumors using MRI-guided laser energy in real time. Through a small incision, roughly the width of a thumbnail, a laser fiber is inserted and directed to the tumor. Tumor cells are then destroyed with controlled thermal energy while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. With LITT, patients are reporting less postoperative pain and faster recovery times. In many cases, they are discharged as early as the next day.

Pioneering Research

At AHN, research is the driving force behind our ability to offer the most advanced care for patients with brain and spine tumors. Shepard and experts at AHN Neuroscience Institute are at the forefront of several high-impact studies aimed at improving outcomes and guiding more personalized treatment decisions.

In partnership with Carnegie Mellon University, AHN researchers are using predictive analytics and AI to study patients with glioblastomas and examine their preoperative MRI scans to try to identify potential “hotspots” for disease recurrence after surgical excision.

Leveraging the AHN Cancer Institute’s Moonshot Genomics database, our team is identifying novel blood-based biomarkers that can predict early tumor progression or recurrence, with a focus on aggressive tumors.

AHN is also a key contributor to multi-institutional research led by the Radiosurgery Research Foundation, including studies on CNS lymphoma, meningiomas, and metastatic disease.

How to efer

To refer your patient to AHN’s multidisciplinary neuro-oncology team, call 412-359-6200 or submit an electronic referral through EPIC.