UT Southwestern Medical Center Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center offers brain cancer and spinal cord cancer patients some of the most advanced treatments available in the nation – all in a setting that allows our physicians to provide compassionate and effective medical care.

The Brain and Spinal Cord Cancer Program draws upon strong multidepartmental representation from physicians and researchers in neurology, neuroradiology, neurosurgery, radiation oncology, internal medicine, pediatrics, pathology and psychiatry. The program receives significant funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and is supported by The Annette G. Strauss Center for Neuro-Oncology.

UT Southwestern’s researchers and clinicians are nationally recognized leaders in the development and use of radiation therapies to precisely target brain and spinal cord tumors, such as meningiomas and glioblastomas, while sparing surrounding tissues. The rapid advancement of radiotherapy techniques and imaging technologies has enabled our specialists to determine the location, shape and size of brain and spinal cord tumors with an unprecedented level of precision.

Our radiation oncology specialists apply advanced technologies such as CyberKnife, Gamma Knife, Philips Brilliance, Synergy-S and Varian Linac With On-Board Imaging. These capabilities enable UT Southwestern’s specialists to more effectively plan, simulate, deliver and verify radiation treatments using state-of-the-art technology and techniques.

The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) resources available at UT Southwestern are among the most advanced in the nation. Our extensive MRI and PET facilities enable us to provide our patients with the best possible medical care.

Patients in our clinical trials program receive therapies years before they become available to the public. In addition, the clinical trials available may provide superior therapeutic results with fewer side effects when compared to conventional treatments. Patients’ doctors can discuss whether evaluation and diagnosis makes them a candidate for some of these groundbreaking therapies.