Neuromodulation in Neuro-Oncology: A Scoping Review

Background: Neuromodulation is a rapidly developing field with growing interest in its application in neuro-oncology, particularly since the publication of the EF-14 trial which demonstrated a survival benefit conferred by tumour treating fields (TTF) in patients with glioblastoma. In addition, the emerging field of cancer neuroscience has postulated the role of neural–tumour communication in tumour aetiology, which is theoretically targetable by neuromodulation strategies. This scoping review therefore aims to comprehensively evaluate current or future applications of neuromodulation in managing patients with brain tumours, encompassing preclinical and clinical studies. Methods: The MEDLINE database was queried for all relevant articles from inception to 1 December 2024. A synthesis of findings was performed, broadly categorised to preclinical and clinical research. Findings: The database search returned 3296 results, from which 187 full-text articles were further assessed. A total of 79 studies met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were included. The results from preclinical studies (n = 18) were stratified according to modality which included electrical therapy, electroporation, electromagnetic field (EMF) and deep brain stimulation (DBS). Similarly, clinical studies (n = 61) were classified to preoperative modalities such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct stimulation (tDCS), and postoperative modalities such as TMS, TTF, EMF and spinal cord stimulation (SCS). Interpretation: The application of neuromodulation as adjunctive therapy in the context of neuro-oncology is an emerging field, with encouraging results in various modalities across a wide range of applications from surgical planning and functional rehabilitation, to its therapeutic potential. Further research is urgently needed to harness the potential of neuromodulation in improving patient outcomes.