Development of a murine laser interstitial thermotherapy system

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Neurosurgery
• Oncology

Background:

• Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) remains a challenging brain tumor with limited treatment options.
• Laser interstitial thermotherapy (LITT) offers a minimally invasive approach for thermal ablation of brain tumors.
• Accurate real-time temperature monitoring is crucial for effective and safe LITT procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a murine model for LITT delivery with integrated probe-based thermometry.
• To investigate thermal diffusion in heterogeneous brain tissue for glioblastoma treatment modeling.
• To establish a system for precise, real-time thermometry during LITT in preclinical brain tumor studies.

Main Methods:

• Characterization of tissue heating properties using a near-infrared laser in a homogeneous tissue model.
• Adaptation of a laser system with a stereotactic surgery frame, micro laser probe, and Hamilton syringe.
• Design and manufacturing of a stereotactic frame attachment for precise temperature probe stabilization and real-time thermometry.

Main Results:

• Successful development of a murine LITT system with direct in situ thermometry, eliminating the need for MR-based thermal monitoring.
• Demonstration of accurately reproducible surgical laser ablation procedures through iterative design of the stereotactic system.
• Histological confirmation of precise thermal ablation with controllable lesion size based on time and temperature.
• A modest survival benefit was observed in a syngeneic intracranial glioma model resistant to conventional therapies.

Conclusions:

• A novel murine model system for LITT with direct in situ thermometry has been successfully established.
• This system facilitates the investigation of thermal ablation effects and combinatorial treatments in preclinical brain tumor models.
• The developed system provides a valuable platform for advancing LITT research and optimizing glioblastoma treatment strategies.