Meet The Physicians

4th Endonasal & Skull Base Key-Hole Surgery Course

Date: February 4-6, 2010,
Location: Palm Beach Gardens, Florida at the Anspach Center.
Drs. Kelly and Kassam are happy to be co-directing our first 2010 course at Anspach. Topics will include endonasal surgery to the parasellar and skull base region by endoscopic and microscopic approaches. The supra-orbital "eyebrow" craniotomy for frontal fossa and parasellar lesions and the retro-sigmoid approach for cerebello-pontine and clival pathology will also be presented. Additional topics will include CSF leak repair techniques and complication avoidance. More details 

Monthly Neuro-Endocrine Tumor Case Conference

 Date: 1st Tuesday of the month
Location: John Wayne Cancer Institute
Time: 7:30 to 8:45 A.M.
During this CME conference, 2 or 3 recently treated patients are discussed in an in-depth multidisciplinary format. Diagnostic work-up, imaging and pathology are discussed as well as, medical, surgical and radiation treatment options.

Pioneering the techniques of today

Our research efforts at the BTC are focused in 3 areas:

Clinical Trials

Patients with Gliomas, Metastatic Brain Tumors and Pituitary Adenomas:
More effective and safer therapies are needed for patients with brain tumors. Novel immunotherapies such as monoclonal antibody treatments and molecularly targeted therapies such as those aimed at tumor blood supply are being developed and tested for both primary and secondary (metastatic) brain tumors. Current open clinical trials include the following:

Patients with Metastatic Melanoma to the Brain:
Study of Ipilimumab to Treat Melanoma in Patients With Brain Metastases
Collaborating Institution: The Angeles Clinic & Research Institute, Los Angeles
Contact Person: Dr. Omid Hamid, Phone 310-231-2136; www.theangelesclinic.org

Tumor Biomarker Study

This is an ongoing study aimed at gaining a better understanding of tumor genetics and behavior to plan more effective treatments beyond surgery. All patients undergoing removal of a brain tumor or pituitary tumor (such as a glioma, metastatic brain tumor, pituitary adenoma, meningioma, chordoma or craniopharyngioma, are asked to participate. For participants, a portion of their tumor specimen removed at surgery is placed in a tumor repository. Tumor cells are then studied for specific markers that may indicate their aggressiveness or potential responsiveness to various therapies such as a chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiosurgery.

Quality of Life Study

Patients with Brain, Pituitary & Skull Base Tumors

All patients undergoing intracranial surgery for tumor removal are asked to participate in this ongoing study both before and after their surgery. The goal of this effort is to document impairments patients have before surgery and how their quality of life changes after surgery. These tests take approximately 30 minutes to perform and will be conducted before surgery and at 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery. The study is focused on issues such as energy level, mood, cognition, return to work and sexual function. Our findings will hopefully yield important information for doctors and nurses about the effectiveness of current tumor therapies and how we can improve patient care. By participating, patients will also gain better insights into their own recovery.