Current neurology and neuroscience reports
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A prerequisite for the efficacy of any cancer drug is that it reaches the tumor in therapeutic concentrations. This is difficult to accomplish in most systemic solid tumors because of factors such as variable hypoxia, intratumoral pressure gradients, and abnormal vasculature within the tumors. ⋯ Many approaches to overcome, circumvent, disrupt, or manipulate the BBB to enhance delivery of drugs to brain tumors have been devised and are in active investigation. These approaches include high-dose intravenous chemotherapy, intra-arterial drug delivery, local drug delivery via implanted polymers or catheters, BBB disruption, and biochemical modulation of drugs.