  |
First Steps After Diagnosis of Cancer
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Welcome
to The Cancer Information Network |
Adult
Brain Tumor Treatment Information
for Physicians
|
 |
|
Important: This
information is intended mainly for use by doctors and other health care
professionals. If you have questions about this topic, you can ask your
doctor, or call the Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER
(1-800-422-6237).
ADULT BRAIN STEM GLIOMA
Brain stem gliomas have a relatively poor prognosis that is correlated
with histology (when biopsies are performed), location, and extent of tumor.
The overall median survival time of patients in studies has been 44-74
weeks.[1-5] The best results have been
attained with hyperfractionated radiation therapy.[5]
Treatment options:
Standard:
- Radiation therapy.[1-5]
Under clinical evaluation:
- At recurrence, patients should be considered for clinical trials that
evaluate new drugs and biological response modifiers.[6,7]
References:
- Greenberger JS, Cassady JR, Levene, MB: Radiation
therapy of thalamic, midbrain and brain stem gliomas. Radiology 122(2):
463-468, 1977.
Levin VA, Edwards MS, Wara WM, et al.:
5-Fluorouracil and 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea (CCNU)
followed by hydroxyurea, misonidazole and irradiation for brain stem
gliomas: a pilot study of the Brain Tumor Research Center and the
Children's Cancer Study Group. Neurosurgery 14(6): 679-681, 1984.
Allen JC, Bloom J, Ertel I, et al.: Brain tumors
in children: current cooperative and institutional chemotherapy trials
in newly diagnosed and recurrent disease. Seminars in Oncology 13(1):
110-122, 1986.
Eifel PJ, Cassady JR, Belli JA: Radiation therapy
of tumors of the brainstem and midbrain in children: experience of the
Joint Center for Radiation Therapy and Children's Hospital Medical
Center (1971-1981). International Journal of Radiation Oncology,
Biology, Physics 13(6): 847-852, 1987.
Shrieve DC, Wara WM, Edwards MS, et al.:
Hyperfractionated radiation therapy for gliomas of the brainstem in
children and in adults. International Journal of Radiation Oncology,
Biology, Physics 24(1): 599-610, 1992.
Fulton DS, Levin VA, Wara WM, et al.: Chemotherapy
of pediatric brain-stem tumors. Journal of Neurosurgery 54(6): 721-725,
1981.
Rodriguez LA, Prados M, Fulton D, et al.:
Treatment of recurrent brain stem gliomas and other central nervous
system tumors with 5-fluorouracil, CCNU, hydroxyurea, and
6-mercaptopurine. Neurosurgery 22(4): 691-693, 1988.
|
 |
|
Top
10 Questions after Cancer
Diagnosis - Virtual
Hospital provides this informative lecture hitting
all the major points about diagnosis and
treatment. |
| |
Ask
a Physician -
From
Mayo Health - Do
you have specific questions or concerns? Click
here to ask a specialist, or browse frequently
asked questions about cancer. |
| |
Web
casts - Alphacancer
provides discussions between leading health
professionals on a particular topic.
Currently available topics include breast cancer
and colon cancer. |
|
|
 |
|
|
Questions
about cancer or its treatment?
Get answers from a board-certified oncologist.
