Management of malignant gliomas and primary CNS lymphoma: standard of care and future directions.
OBJECTIVE
This article review the current standard of care of astrocytic gliomas and primary CNS lymphoma and discusses promising new therapeutic targets.


RESULTS
Standard treatment modalities for primary malignant brain tumors include resection, radiation, local or systemic chemotherapy, and, most recently, antiangiogenic agents. However, these tumors often have a rapid course, and patients usually die within a few years of diagnosis. Improved surgical techniques and radiation and chemotherapy can prolong survival while maintaining quality of life, but these therapies remain inadequate.


CONCLUSIONS
The care of patients with malignant brain tumors is challenging. A better understanding of the pathogenesis of primary malignant brain tumors and the elucidation of aberrant molecular pathways are leading to novel treatment strategies and the ability to identify patients who may benefit from specific treatments.
Hospital Clinic/Institute of Biomedical Investigations, University of Barcelona, Spain. mrrosenf@clinic.ub.es
Myrna R
MR
Rosenfeld
Amy A
AA
Pruitt
D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends*; D008875:Middle Aged; D059039:Standard of Care