title: The changing management of low-grade astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas.
abstract: Low-grade gliomas are uncommon primary brain tumors that preferentially affect young to middle-aged adults. Although they are indolent tumors, low-grade gliomas cause considerable and progressive morbidity and are ultimately fatal. Surgery and radiotherapy are the primary therapeutic options for patients with these diseases. Chemotherapy is playing a larger role in the management of patients with low-grade gliomas. Patients with oligodendrogliomas or other low-grade gliomas that harbor a distinct genetic derangement characterized by allelic loss of chromosomes 1p and 19q appear to have a superior prognosis that is due in part to a more predictable and durable response to treatment. For this subset of patients with low-grade gliomas, treatment with initial chemotherapy and deferred radiotherapy is an increasingly attractive therapeutic approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Hospital, University of Toronto, 610 University Avenue, Room 5-110, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2M9, Canada.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agulnik
authors.forename: Warren P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Mason
mesh_terms: D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009837:Oligodendroglioma / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis