Anaplastic gliomas: radiation, chemotherapy, or both?

Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2012 Aug;26(4):811-23. doi: 10.1016/j.hoc.2012.04.003. Epub 2012 May 11.

Abstract

The optimal treatment of anaplastic gliomas is controversial. Options for treatment include radiation, chemotherapy or a combination of modalities. This article describes how treatment algorithms for anaplastic gliomas have evolved and interprets the results of recent studies. The available evidence indicates that patients can be treated with either chemotherapy or radiation as initial therapy, with use of the other treatment modality at relapse. Whether subpopulations exist for whom one treatment modality is superior to the other at initial diagnosis must be studied prospectively.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Brain Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Brain Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Glioma / drug therapy
  • Glioma / radiotherapy
  • Glioma / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Grading