LAANTERN Publications
Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT) for Brain Tumors: A Prospective Multicenter Analysis of 787 Patients from the LAANTERN Study
Leuthardt E, Chiang V, Hadjipanayis C, et. al., J Clin Oncol 0, JCO-25-02604; doi.org/10.1200/JCO-25-02604
This largest prospective, multicenter study of laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) enrolled 787 patients undergoing NeuroBlate System treatment across 25 U.S. centers, representing real-world clinical outcomes for primary and metastatic brain tumors. The findings demonstrate that extent of ablation (≥91%) significantly improved progression-free and overall survival in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma and recurrent metastatic disease. Notably, smaller lesion volumes were associated with improved outcomes, particularly among patients with recurrent brain metastases—findings that support the clinical benefit of earlier intervention.
Interstitial Thermal Therapy in Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
Landazuri P, Cheng JJ, Leuthardt E, et al. JAMA Neurology. Published online July 07, 2025.
The largest cohort to date of LITT for drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy encompassing 145 patients across 15 U.S. institutions. Findings reveal long-term seizure-freedom outcomes comparable to a historical control study of anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL), with 58.4% and 57.2% of patients achieving Engel 1 and International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) 1/2 seizure-freedom classifications at one and two years, respectively. Patients also experienced short hospitalizations, low readmission rates, and positive recovery outcomes, with nearly all discharged to their homes post-procedure.
Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT) for New and Recurrent Meningioma: A Prospective and Retrospective Case Series
Chiang VL, Pugazenthi S, Leidig WA, et al. Journal of Neurosurgery. March 8 2024:1-11.
This study of 20 prospective and retrospective patients with meningioma is the largest cohort of LITT-ablated meningioma cases to date. This analysis shows that, given the limited options for this patient population, minimally invasive laser ablation is a viable, safe option with few complications, especially when other treatment options are exhausted.
Efficacy of Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy for Biopsy-Proven Radiation Necrosis in Radiographically Recurrent Brain Metastases
Chan M, Tatter S, Chiang V, et al. Neuro-Oncology Advances, Volume 5, Issue 1, January-December 2023.
This cohort of 90 patients represents the largest prospectively gathered dataset for the use of LITT using NeuroBlate for radiation necrosis as a result of brain metastases. LITT was shown to be safe with a short hospital length of stay and facilitated a rapid cessation of steroids while positively affecting symptom management.
Efficacy of Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT) for Newly Diagnosed and Recurrent IDH Wild-type Glioblastoma
de Groot J, Kim A, Prabhu S, Rao G, et al. Neuro-Oncology Advances, Volume 4, Issue 1, January-December 2022.
Largest to-date study of clinical outcomes for patients with newly diagnosed and recurrent IDH wild-type glioblastoma post-LITT. LITT has been shown to be safe, with short hospital stays and survival outcomes comparable to those observed in open resection studies.
Laser Ablation of Abnormal Neurological Tissue Using Robotic NeuroBlate System (LAANTERN): 12-month Outcomes and Quality of Life After Brain Tumor Ablation
Kim AH, Tatter S, Rao G, et al. Neurosurgery: September 2020 – Volume 87 – Issue 3 – p E338-E346.
Evidence documenting survival and quality-of-life outcomes following NeuroBlate. This large study includes 223 patients from 14 centers across the US with both primary and metastatic lesions, including those with radiation necrosis. Quality of life and functional status were shown to stabilize or improve following LITT, with survival showing better-than-anticipated results.
A Prospective Multicenter Study of Laser Ablation for Drug-resistant Epilepsy – One-year Outcomes
Landazuri P, Shih J, Leuthardt E, et al. Epilepsy Research, Volume 167, 2020, 106473.
Post-LITT Engel seizure outcomes and quality of life for drug-resistant epilepsy patients were evaluated across a wide range of etiologies, such as mTLE, hypothalamic hamartoma, focal cortical dysplasia, and cavernoma. Short hospitalization, low rates of adverse events, and significantly improved quality-of-life measures following the procedure were noted. Engel I outcomes were achieved in 64.3% of patients at 1 year.
Laser Ablation of Abnormal Neurological Tissue Using Robotic Neuroblate System (LAANTERN): procedural safety and hospitalization
Rennert RC, Khan U, Bartek J, et al. Neurosurgery: April 2020 – Volume 86 – Issue 4 – p 538-547.
This publication reports on the procedural safety of the first 100 patients who underwent an LITT procedure with NeuroBlate. Outcomes demonstrated a LITT safety profile similar to published complication rates for stereotactic biopsy, patients spent little or no time in ICU, and a majority of patients were discharged home.
Patterns of Clinical Use of Stereotactic Laser Ablation: Analysis of a Multicenter Prospective Registry
Rennert RC, Khan U, Tatter SB, et al. World Neurosurgery, Volume 116, August 2018, p E566-E570.
This is the first publication from the LAANTERN study documenting the use of laser ablation on the first 100 patients. The data showed NeuroBlate was used in high- and low-grade gliomas, new and recurrent metastatic tumors, meningiomas, and focal epilepsy. Lesion location was also documented and included a wide range from deep-seated to superficial.