Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy: Next Steps

Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) has emerged as a minimally invasive, MRI-guided modality for the treatment of intracranial gliomas, metastatic disease, and treatment-resistant epilepsy, particularly in patients with limited conventional options. Clinical outcomes have been shown to tightly couple to the extent of ablation achieved, highlighting the importance of patient selection and procedural precision. LITT also has potential for inclusion in combinatorial strategies with established (as well as emerging) therapies, due to its ability to transiently disrupt and open the blood-brain barrier and induce changes in the tumor microenvironment, potentially enhancing systemic and immunotherapeutic efficacy.