Healthcare with Confidence
Brain cancer treatment in Israel today is built around one key idea: every brain tumor is different. Treatment depends on the exact tumor type, grade, location, how safely it can be removed, whether it is a primary brain tumor or a metastasis, and which molecular markers are found in the tumor tissue.
Modern classification of brain tumors now combines traditional pathology with molecular testing, which helps doctors choose more accurate and more personalized treatment plans.
The term “brain cancer” is often used broadly by patients, but in practice doctors treat many different tumors under this umbrella.
These include gliomas such as astrocytoma, glioblastoma, and oligodendroglioma, as well as ependymoma, meningioma, tumors of the pineal or pituitary region, and brain metastases that have spread from cancers such as lung, breast, melanoma, kidney, or colorectal cancer.
Some tumors grow slowly, while others are much more aggressive and require urgent treatment.
Diagnosis of Brain Cancer in Israel
A modern diagnostic work-up usually starts with a neurological examination and brain MRI with contrast (gadolinium). CT may also be used in some situations, and PET or other imaging methods can help answer specific questions. If imaging suggests a tumor, diagnosis is usually confirmed with a biopsy or during surgery. When a tumor is deep or difficult to reach, stereotactic biopsy can often be used to obtain tissue safely and accurately.
Today, diagnosis is not based on imaging alone. Tumor tissue is also checked with molecular and genetic testing, because markers such as IDH1/IDH2, 1p/19q codeletion, MGMT promoter methylation, and in selected cases BRAF can influence prognosis and treatment decisions. This is one of the biggest advances in neuro-oncology in recent years and an important reason why expert pathology review matters so much.
Brain Tumor Surgery
For many patients, surgery is the first major step in treatment. The goal is usually maximal safe resection — removing as much tumor as possible while protecting important brain functions such as speech, movement, and vision. In some operations, brain-function testing or mapping is used during surgery to reduce the risk of damage to healthy tissue. If full removal is not possible because of the tumor’s location, surgery may still help by reducing pressure, improving symptoms, and providing tissue for a precise diagnosis.
Radiation Therapy and Radiosurgery
Radiation therapy remains a central part of treatment for many brain tumors. Depending on the diagnosis, doctors may recommend standard external-beam radiation, focused stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), or postoperative radiation after surgery. For example, in grade I meningioma, observation may be possible for some asymptomatic tumors, while other cases are treated with surgery, radiosurgery, or fractionated radiation. For brain metastases, modern guidelines support local therapy such as surgery and/or radiosurgery, and for selected patients with one to four unresected brain metastases, SRS alone is often recommended.
Chemotherapy and Targeted Therapy
Drug treatment depends on the exact tumor type. For newly diagnosed glioblastoma, the standard approach is surgery followed by radiation with daily temozolomide, then additional temozolomide afterward. For some lower-grade or high-risk diffuse gliomas, treatment may include surgery followed by radiation and chemotherapy. Oligodendrogliomas with 1p/19q codeletion often behave differently and may respond differently to treatment, which is why the molecular report is so important.
One important recent advance is the approval of vorasidenib for certain patients with grade 2 astrocytoma or oligodendroglioma with an IDH1 or IDH2 mutation after surgery. This approval, announced by the FDA in August 2024, reflects how brain tumor treatment is becoming more biomarker-driven. At the same time, expert guidelines note that targeted therapy is still relevant only for selected adult brain tumors, and for many targets the evidence remains limited
Treatment of Brain Metastases
Not every tumor found in the brain started in the brain. In many adults, brain lesions are actually metastases from another cancer. In these cases, treatment may combine neurosurgery, radiosurgery, radiation therapy, steroids for swelling, and systemic treatment directed at the original cancer. Current multidisciplinary guidelines emphasize that patients with symptomatic brain metastases should generally receive local treatment, while some carefully selected patients with asymptomatic metastases may be considered for CNS-active targeted therapy or immunotherapy depending on the cancer type and mutation profile.
Why a Second Opinion Matters
Because brain tumors are complex, a second opinion can be extremely valuable. The best treatment plan often depends on details that are easy to miss in a routine report: the tumor grade, resectability, pathology review, molecular profile, radiation strategy, and whether a clinical trial should be considered. NCI guidance specifically notes that patients with tumors that are difficult to cure, unresectable, or recurrent should consider clinical trials as part of their options.
Second Opinion and Brain Cancer Treatment in Israel
If you or your loved one has been diagnosed with a brain tumor, glioblastoma, astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, meningioma, ependymoma, or brain metastases, we can help arrange a second opinion in Israel, expert review of MRI and pathology, and consultation with the right specialist team.
We assist international patients with online consultations, medical file review, treatment planning, and organization of care in Israel. Contact us to receive a personalized review of your case and learn which treatment options may be most relevant for your diagnosis.
