J Clin Neurol.  2019 Jan;15(1):1-8. 10.3988/jcn.2019.15.1.1.

Therapeutic Interventions in Adult Low-Grade Gliomas

Affiliations
  • 1American University of Beirut, Faculty of Medicine, Beirut, Lebanon.
  • 2Department of Internal Medicine, Naef K. Basile Cancer Institute, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon. ha157@aub.edu.lb

Abstract

Treating adult low-grade gliomas (LGGs) is particularly challenging due to the highly infiltrative nature of this type of brain cancer. Although surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy are the mainstay treatment modalities for LGGs, the optimal combination management plan for a particular patient based on individual symptoms and the risk of treatment-induced toxicity remains unclear. This review highlights the competency and limitations of standard treatment options while providing an essential therapeutic update regarding current clinical trials aimed at implementing targeted therapies with morbidity rates lower than those for current LGG treatments and also augmenting the killing of cancerous cells while maintaining an improved quality of life.

Keyword

low-grade glioma; chemotherapy; targeted therapy; brain cancer; radiotherapy; clinical trials

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Brain Neoplasms
Drug Therapy
Glioma*
Homicide
Humans
Quality of Life
Radiotherapy

Figure

  • Fig. 1 General treatment algorithm for LGG. Low-risk patients are those with successful GTR and age <40 years. High-risk patients are those with either STR or age ≥40 years. GTR: gross total resection, LGG: low-grade glioma, STR: subtotal resection.


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