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First Steps After Diagnosis of Cancer
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to The Cancer Information Network |
Adult
Brain Tumor Treatment Information
for Physicians
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Important: This
information is intended mainly for use by doctors and other health care
professionals. If you have questions about this topic, you can ask your
doctor, or call the Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER
(1-800-422-6237).
ADULT WELL-DIFFERENTIATED EPENDYMOMA
Myxopapillary ependymoma and well-differentiated ependymoma
These ependymomas are often curable.
Treatment options:
Standard:
- 1. Surgery alone if totally resectable.
2. Surgery followed by radiation therapy to known or suspected
residual tumor.[1,2]
Under clinical evaluation:
- At recurrence following surgery, patients should be considered for
reoperation and radiation therapy if not previously used. Patients who
have received radiation therapy should be considered candidates for
nitrosourea-based chemotherapies and for clinical trials that evaluate
new drugs and biological response modifiers.
References:
- Wallner KE, Wara WM, Sheline GE, et al.: Intracranial
ependymomas: results of treatment with partial or whole brain
irradiation without spinal irradiation. International Journal of
Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics 12(11): 1937-1941, 1986.
Shaw EG, Evans RG, Scheithauer BW, et al.:
Postoperative radiotherapy of intracranial ependymoma in pediatric and
adult patients. International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology,
Physics 13(10): 1457-1462, 1987.
Anaplastic ependymoma and ependymoblastoma
Malignant ependymomas have variable prognoses that depend on location and
extent of disease. Frequently, but not invariably, anaplastic ependymomas
have a worse prognosis than well-differentiated ependymomas. The rare
ependymoblastoma has a much worse prognosis.
Treatment options:
Standard:
- Surgery plus radiation therapy.[1,2]
Under clinical evaluation:
- Adjuvant chemotherapy before, during, and after radiation are
treatment
options being evaluated. At recurrence, patients should be considered
candidates for nitrosourea-based chemotherapies and for clinical trials
that evaluate new drugs and biological response modifiers.
References:
- Wallner KE, Wara WM, Sheline GE, et al.: Intracranial
ependymomas: results of treatment with partial or whole brain
irradiation without spinal irradiation. International Journal of
Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics 12(11): 1937-1941, 1986.
Shaw EG, Evans RG, Scheithauer BW, et al.:
Postoperative radiotherapy of intracranial ependymoma in pediatric and
adult patients. International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology,
Physics 13(10): 1457-1462, 1987.
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