Convection enhanced delivery for the treatment of malignant gliomas: symposium review.

In January 2003 a symposium was held to discuss the current state of progress and future challenges for the recently described technique of convection enhanced delivery (CED). The focus of the CED symposium was on the potential use of this novel drug delivery technology to enhance the delivery of chemotherapy to malignant brain tumors. The international panel of invited speakers included individuals who had a significant role in pioneering the concept of CED, were actively pursuing new areas of investigation into the uses of CED and/or who were directing the first clinical trials using CED in patients with malignant brain tumors. Topics covered included the physiology of the blood brain barrier, basic principles of CED, application of CED to the treatment of brain tumors, and research models that have been developed to further refine the technique of CED. Each speaker's talk has been abstracted and a list of relevant references has been compiled.