Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. When chemotherapy is taken by mouth or injected into a vein or muscle, the drugs enter the bloodstream and can reach cancer cells throughout the body (systemic chemotherapy). Although most cannot, some chemotherapy drugs can cross the blood-brain barrier and reach tumor cells in the brain. Chemotherapy that is placed directly into the cerebrospinal fluid is called intrathecal chemotherapy. When chemotherapy is inserted in an organ, such as the brain, or a body cavity, the drugs mainly affect cancer cells in those areas (regional chemotherapy).

To treat brain tumors, a wafer that dissolves may be used to deliver a chemotherapy drug directly to the brain tumor site after the tumor has been removed by surgery. The way the chemotherapy is given depends on the type and grade of tumor and where it is in the brain.

See Drugs Approved for Brain Tumors for more information.