The Stephen E. and Catherine Pappas Center for Neuro-Oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital offers the most advanced care for patients with brain tumors and nervous system tumors.
The Stephen E. and Catherine Pappas Center for Neuro-Oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital cares for adult patients with tumors of the nervous system as well as neurologic complications of cancer.
Our multidisciplinary group of brain, spine and nerve cancer experts will develop and implement an integrated, care plan personalized for each patient. Depending on the stage and other characteristics of a patient’s cancer, treatment may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or a combination of these therapies. Many clinical trials are also offered through our program.
In addition to our neurosurgeons, the staff at the Pappas Center includes:
Neuropathologists
Neuroradiologists
Neuro-oncologists
Radiation oncologists
Oncology nurses and nurse practitioners
Oncology psychiatrists, social workers and chaplains
Oncology nutritionists
Palliative care providers
Members of your care team meet regularly with you and your referring physician to ensure clear communication and seamless coordination of care.
Excellence in Surgical Care
Our surgeons have extensive experience treating brain tumors while minimizing damage to surrounding structures. Advanced surgical techniques include:
Image-guided neurosurgery
Intraoperative MRI and CT imaging
Brachytherapy, radiotherapy implants placed at tumor margins to enhance tumor destruction
Microsurgery, operating on tiny structures through a microscope, often used for cranial base tumors
Endoscopic cranial base surgery, a noninvasive way to remove tumors through natural openings such as the nasal passages
A Full Range of Treatments
We offer the full spectrum of conventional care as well as promising new therapies to ensure patients get the best treatment possible. Available services include:
Advanced imaging technologies (MRI, functional MRI, PET/CT scans) give surgeons a detailed view of the affected area
Neuro-oncology for non-surgical treatment using chemotherapy, immunotherapy, angiogenesis inhibitors, and targeted therapies
Advanced radiation therapies such as proton beam therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), intensity-modulation radiation therapy (IMRT), and 3-D conformal radiation
Clinical trials that give patients access to experimental therapies and leading-edge treatment techniques.
CAR-T Therapy for Glioblastoma: INCIPIENT Clinical Trial
A research team from the Mass General Cancer Center recently conducted an early-stage trial of a new cell therapy for patients with recurrent glioblastoma. Preliminary results have shown remarkable initial responses among the first patients to receive the novel treatment. Learn more about the trial here and here.
If you are interested in learning more about the INCIPIENT clinical trial, please call 617-724-6226 or email carteamingbm@mgb.org. A member of our clinical team will contact you within 48 business hours.
Patient Experience
Road to recovery after brain tumor surgery
Jane noticed she was leaning towards the left when driving her car which she attributed to clumsiness, however, after a series of incidents she pursued medical attention which identified a brain tumor that was the cause of her symptoms. Jane immediately reached out to Massachusetts General Hospital.
A Brain Tumor Diagnosis Led Simeon Moses to Mass General, Where Hope and Friendship Flourished
Simeon Moses is a father, a husband, and lawyer. His infectious energy was dimmed by his insomnia as he was kept awake by excruciating headaches. Simeon was unable to sleep more than three hours at a time. His neurologist referred him to a headache specialist, who found a brain tumor.
Janis Clouthier is an outgoing, active person who loves celebrating holidays with her family and spending time outside. Her family knew something was wrong when she would suddenly start falling asleep or run out of energy for no apparent reason.
Christine Zinke was visiting family in Germany when she first noticed a strange sensation in her head. She felt like she had a tight headband on all the time. At first, her primary care doctor suggested it could be a sinus infection, but when treatment and time didn't help, she saw a neurologist.
Lauren's Neurosurgery Story: How a Team of Specialists is Cracking the Code on Complicated Conditions
For years, Lauren Crowley felt like she had to be her own medical detective, researching answers to her questions and trying to solve the puzzle of why she felt such unusual symptoms, such as a tingling sensation in a section of her face when she applies makeup.
A collaborative project to bring the promise of cell therapy to patients with a deadly form of brain cancer has shown dramatic results among the first patients to receive the novel treatment.
Learn more about the findings and importance of a study led by a research and clinical team from the Mass General Cancer Center who is developing new cell therapy for patients with recurrent glioblastoma.
Mass General Cancer Center’s precision medicine approach resulted in 91 percent reduction in tumor size, with all 15 patients who received one or more cycles of therapy responding to treatment.
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