What is GammaTile^® Therapy?

GammaTile^® Therapy is a Surgically Targeted Radiation Therapy (STaRT) that provides immediate, dose-intense treatment at the completion of resection. GammaTile^® is a biocompatible, permanent collagen tile implant that delivers radiation therapy to the area where the brain tumor was removed. Each tile is 2 cm x 2 cm and 4-mm thick, and contains 4 Cesium-131 (Cs-131) titanium-encased sources. Resection plus GammaTile^® Therapy can extend local recurrence-free survival with minimal complications, reduced patient burden, and assured compliance.

How does GammaTile^® Therapy work?

After the neurosurgeon has safely removed as much of the tumor as possible, GammaTiles^® are placed into the operative bed, covering the tumor cavity with tiles. The number of tiles used will depend on the size and location of the tumor. It takes approximately 5 minutes for the surgeon to place the tiles at the end of tumor removal surgery prior to closing the incision.

Once the GammaTiles^® are placed, they immediately begin delivering a uniform radiation dose to the target area:

• 50% of the therapeutic dose is delivered within the first 10 days after surgery, which helps prevent residual tumor cells from replicating.
• 88% of the therapeutic dose is delivered within 30 days, with more than 95% of the dose delivered by 6 weeks.

The structural offset of the tile from brain tissue can help protect healthy tissue from the side effects of radiation. Over time, the therapeutic dose of radiation is delivered, and the tile is naturally absorbed by the body. Eventually, only the small, inactive titanium component of the tile remains.

What are the clinical outcomes of GammaTile^® Therapy?

For patients with recurrent meningiomas and brain metastases, studies have demonstrated a significant reduction in treatment site recurrence, compared to their previous treatments.

In patients with recurrent glioblastomas (GBMs), GammaTile^® Therapy demonstrates a potential for improved overall survival when comparing the effectiveness of surgery plus GammaTile^® Therapy to other treatment modalities across different clinical studies.

What are the quality of life outcomes of GammaTile^® Therapy?

GammaTile^® can eliminate the need for traditional repeat radiation treatments. For external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), patients typically must wait 2 to 3 weeks after surgery to begin radiation therapy. During this time, residual tumor cells can begin to replicate. The external beam treatment schedule is typically 15 to 30 sessions, 5 days a week, for 3 to 6 weeks. GammaTile^® allows patients to go about their daily lives, while they receive their therapeutic dose of radiation.

GammaTile^® is also designed to protect healthy brain tissue, minimizing radiation side effects, including hair loss.1 In a clinical study, only 1 out of 74 patients experienced hair loss after being treated with GammaTile^®.

Who is eligible to receive GammaTile^® Therapy?

GammaTile^® Therapy is FDA-cleared to treat patients with newly diagnosed malignant and recurrent brain tumors.

What are the side effects of GammaTile^® Therapy?

Most patients experience fewer side effects than patients who have received other radiation treatments. Some patients experience postoperative side effects, including nausea, vomiting, headache, sleepiness, neurodeficit, seizures, and skin irritation.

The potential for, and symptoms of, adverse events related to radiation exposure vary depending on the radiosensitivity of the exposed tissue, the amount of radiation delivered, and the placement of GammaTile(s)^®. If you have any concerns or experience any abnormal effects, please discuss them with your care team.

For more information on GammaTile^® Therapy, speak with your neuro-oncologist.