Dr Sherman on Advances in Surgical Brain Tumor Management

“[Some of] the biggest advances have come out of The Human Connectome Project. We [now] have a better understanding of not only the traditional eloquent areas of the brain [such as] motor [function] and speech but also these networks that are important in how we interact with life.”

Jonathan H. Sherman, MD, FAANS, FCNS, FACS, the chief of neurosurgical oncology at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and a professor of neurosurgery at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, discussed recent advanced in the surgical management of patients with brain cancer.

One of the biggest advances in the field in recent years has been findings uncovered by The Human Connectome Project, Sherman began. Data from studies included in the project, which is focused on mapping the human brain and further understanding the connection between its structure and function, have helped to elucidate not only pathways underlying traditional brain functions such as motor skills and speech, but also more niche neural networks, he continued. The discovery of these networks has led to a better understanding of areas such as executive functioning and unconscious thinking, he added.

Findings from The Human Connectome Project established the basis for the Glioma Connectome Project, which aims to reimagine surgical approaches and develop biomarkers for response to therapy. The Glioma Connectome Project is also evaluating the trajectory of recovery from treatment and the effects of treatment at the white matter fiber level.

This enhanced understanding of how neural networks connect with surface structures has allowed surgeons to better protect them during surgery with the help of navigation software, Sherman said. Advancements in neuropsychological testing during preoperative, interoperative, and postoperative care have also allowed for better preservation of patient quality of life after surgery, he said. Improving this type of testing is an area of active research, he concluded.