- Treatments
Consistently ranked among the top pediatric hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, Children's National offers the full range of pediatric brain tumor therapies, including:
Surgery
As one of the top-rated neurosurgery programs, Children’s National treats children from across the country and all over the world.
We use minimally invasive procedures whenever possible. Special tools, such as intraoperative imaging, help us perform procedures with an extraordinary level of precision. We are one of few children’s hospitals where this is available.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses medications to interfere with cancer cell growth. Unfortunately, chemotherapy is not as effective for brain tumors as it is for other cancers. However, experts at Children’s National have been able to successfully use it for some conditions.
A member of our team developed a way to successfully treat neurofibromatosis and visual pathway gliomas using a specific combination of chemotherapy medications. This approach is now considered the standard of care around the world. Learn more about our Neurofibromatosis Institute.
Radiation
Radiation uses special energy waves to fight cancer. What makes radiation therapy special at Children’s National are those extra steps we take to minimize your child’s risk for complications. We use the lowest possible radiation dose while still ensuring the most effective treatment.
At the cutting edge of pediatric radiation therapy, Children’s National, in collaboration with Sibley Memorial Hospital (Johns Hopkins Medicine), created the first dedicated Pediatric Radiation Oncology Program in Washington, D.C.
Targeted Therapies
To help children for whom traditional therapies are not successful, experts at Children's National are exploring promising new treatments through research and clinical trials.
These include:
- Biologics. These medications are made from living things, such viruses and antibodies. We are one of few programs in the country evaluating the effectiveness of biologics for brain cancers, including plexiform neurofibromas
- Molecularly-targeted drugs. These include medications designed to interfere with tumor cell reproduction at the molecular level. We are actively researching ways to increase the safety and effectiveness of these drugs
- Cellular therapy. This treatment customizes the body’s immune system to fight cancer and infection. We are one of few centers in the world offering a cellular therapy program for children
Learn more about the promising new treatments available through our Experimental Therapeutics Program.