What is the treatment of Adult Brain Cancer?

Treatment Options by Type of Adult Brain Tumor

Astrocytic Tumors

Brain Stem Gliomas

Treatment of brain stem gliomas is radiation therapy, including hyperfractionated radiation therapy.

Pineal Astrocytic Tumors

Treatment of pineal astrocytic tumors may include the following:

    * Surgery and radiation therapy, with or without chemotherapy.
    * A clinical trial of external radiation therapy with or without radiosensitizers, intraoperative radiation therapy, or hyperthermia therapy.
    * A clinical trial of external radiation therapy, followed by new anticancer drugs and biologic therapy.

Pilocytic Astrocytomas

Treatment of pilocytic astrocytoma is usually surgery with or without radiation therapy.

Diffuse Astrocytomas

Treatment of diffuse astrocytoma may include the following:

    * Surgery with or without radiation therapy.
    * A clinical trial of radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy for tumors that could not be completely removed by surgery.
    * A clinical trial of radiation therapy given when the tumor progresses.
    * A clinical trial to compare high-dose and low- dose radiation therapy.

Anaplastic Astrocytomas

Treatment of anaplastic astrocytoma may include the following:

    * Surgery and radiation therapy, with or without chemotherapy.
    * A clinical trial of external radiation therapy and one of the following:
          o Hyperfractionated radiation therapy.
          o Accelerated-fraction radiation therapy.
          o Stereotactic radiosurgery.
          o Radiosensitizers.
          o Hyperthermia therapy.
          o Internal radiation therapy.
          o Intraoperative radiation therapy.
    * A clinical trial of external radiation therapy, followed by new anticancer drugs and biologic therapy.
    * A clinical trial of chemotherapy combined with hyperfractionated radiation therapy or internal and external radiation therapy.
    * A clinical trial of chemotherapy placed into the brain during surgery.

Glioblastoma

Treatment of glioblastoma may include the following:

    * Surgery and radiation therapy, with or without chemotherapy.
    * Chemotherapy placed into the brain during surgery.
    * Radiation therapy given at the same time as chemotherapy.
    * A clinical trial of external radiation therapy and one of the following:
          o Hyperfractionated radiation therapy.
          o Accelerated-fraction radiation therapy.
          o Stereotactic radiosurgery.
          o Radiosensitizers.
          o Hyperthermia therapy.
          o Internal radiation therapy.
          o Intraoperative radiation therapy.
    * A clinical trial of external radiation therapy, followed...