Combined Modality Therapy Of Central Nervous System Tumors

The American Cancer Society anticipates that 16,500 patients will be diagnosed with primary malignant tumors of the central nervous system in 2000, with about 200,000 individuals presenting with brain metastases. The advances in the treatment of solid tumors have contributed significantly to the major increase in metastatic cancers to the brain. Of the primary malignant tumors of the brain, more than 50% are high-grade gliomas; the incidence has been increasing among older patients over the past decade. Major developments in new technologies in the treatment of primary brain tumors as well as metastatic disease are covered in depth. Even though management is difficult, advances are being made. This book is a concerted effort to present data regarding basic science research efforts alongside their translation into clinical practice using combined, integrated multimodal programs of treatment. Progress has been made, but innovatice approaches need to be pursued.

Thoroughly revised to reflect the latest advances in neurosurgery, radiation oncology, chemotherapy, biological therapy, and the basic sciences, the Second Edition of this highly acclaimed volume is the most comprehensive, current reference on tumors of the central and peripheral nervous system. More than 100 of the foremost authorities present multimodality treatment strategies for specific tumor types and examine the mechanisms of tumorigenesis. Coverage includes state-of-the-art information on image-guided surgery, local delivery systems, intraoperative imaging, proton beam therapy, conformal systems, radiosurgery, new drugs and biological agents, and cell cycle deregulation and chromosomal abnormalities in tumorigenesis. This edition contains over 400 illustrations.

Though the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) tumors has been challenging, new advances have helped us better understand the molecular and genetic makeup of many tumor types, and new chemotherapies and immunotherapies have extended survival in patients with aggressive primary CNS tumors. This book discusses pediatric and adult tumors of the CNS, the classification schemes used to categorize them, advances in surgical techniques, and several important genetic alterations found in these tumors. We hope this book contributes to the reader’s understanding of these tumors and provides the most up-to-date and cutting-edge discoveries in this exciting field.

This comprehensive, yet practical, text is a ready collection of the most up-to-date information on primary CNS tumors. Authored by a carefully selected group of the world’s leading clinicians and scientists, the book is divided into three sections. The opening chapters cover general principles, including epidemiology, pathogenesis, tumor stem cells, supportive care, complications of therapy, and quality of life. The remaining two sections are comprised of treatment-oriented chapters covering the spectrum of gliomas and rarer tumor types. Each of these chapters presents multi-disciplinary therapeutic approaches and addresses specific disease concerns. Throughout, the authors incorporate the cutting-edge advances in molecular biology and genomics that are revolutionizing neuro-oncology. The result is an important clinical resource which provides evidence-based data and interpretation essential to intelligent therapeutic decision making.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of brain metastases, from the molecular biology aspects to therapeutic management and perspectives. Due to the increasing incidence of these tumors and the urgent need to effectively control brain metastatic diseases in these patients, new therapeutic strategies have emerged in recent years. The volume discusses all these innovative approaches combined with new surgical techniques (fluorescence, functional mapping, integrated navigation), novel radiation therapy techniques (stereotactic radiosurgery) and new systemic treatment approaches such as targeted- and immunotherapy. These combination strategies represent a new therapeutic model in brain metastatic patients in which each medical practitioner (neurosurgeon, neurologist, medical oncologist, radiation oncologist) plays a pivotal role in defining the optimal treatment in a multidisciplinary approach. Written by recognized experts in the field, this book is a valuable tool for neurosurgeons, neuro-oncologists, neuroradiologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, cognitive therapists, basic scientists and students working in the area of brain tumors.

Central nervous system (CNS) tumors are a heterogeneous group consisting of more than 100 tumor types originating from the brain, cerebellum, brain stem, spinal cord, and meninges. Despite the positive developments of recent years, especially in the treatment of high-grade brain tumors, treatment outcomes have not yet reached an acceptable level. However, due to advances in clinical and experimental studies, the genetic and molecular structures of many high-grade CNS tumors are now better understood. The World Health Organization’s 2021 Classification of CNS Tumors has aided the understanding of the genetic, molecular and immunological structures of these tumors as well as their interactions with their microenvironment. Targeted therapies and vaccines developed with immunotherapy protocols are promising developments. This book explores the natural history of CNS tumors and discusses relevant treatment protocols.

Considered one of the most devastating and frightening of all cancers, cancers of the central nervous system (CNS) attack the complex organs that control not only the CNS but also the peripheral nervous system and many of the voluntary and involuntary body systems, with 20% to 40% of CNS cancers metastasizing to the brain. Site-Specific Cancer Series: Central Nervous System Cancers, a new volume in the Series edited by Deborah Hutchinson Allen and Laurie L. Rice, details the cancers of the brain and spinal cord. Chapters examine issues such as anatomy and physiology of the brain and spine, patient assessment, pathology, histology, and molecular markers of primary brain tumors, and adult and pediatric cancers of the brain and spinal cord. Other issues include treatment modalities (surgical treatments, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy), as well as pediatric therapeutic modalities, symptom management and psychological issues, and the current state of evidence-based practice. You can use this new volume as a guide to treating your patients and to providing sensitive and realistic care that optimizes the quality of life and permits a sense of hopefulness to prevail when many patients with type of cancer feel only pain and fear.

This book elucidates the radiation therapy protocols and procedures for the management of adult patients presenting with primary benign and malignant central nervous system tumors. With the development of new treatment strategies and rapid advancement of radiation technology, it is crucial for radiation oncologists to maintain and refine their knowledge and skills. Dedicated exclusively to adult CNS radiation oncology, this textbook explores CNS tumors ranging from the common to the esoteric as well as secondary cancers of metastatic origin. The first half of the book is organized anatomically: tumors of the brain, spinal cord, leptomeninges, optic pathway, ocular choroid, and skull base. The second half covers primary CNS lymphoma, rare CNS tumors, metastatic brain disease, vascular conditions of the CNS, radiation-associated complications, and radiation modalities. Each chapter provides guidance on treatment field design, target delineation, and normal critical structure tolerance constraints in the context of the disease being treated. Learning objectives, case studies, and Maintenance of Certification Self-Assessment Continuing Medical Education-style questions and answers are incorporated throughout the book. This is an ideal guide for radiation oncologists, residents, and fellows, but medical students may also find value in the text.