Glioma describes a type of brain tumor that originates in the glial cells in the brain --- those cells that do not carry nerve signals. Glial cells make up the supportive tissues in the brain, including the portion of the brain known as the cerebellum, which functions in the coordination of movement. Because of the space constraints in the brain, glioma tumors, which grow quickly, destroy healthy brain cells. Doctors diagnose approximately 18,000 glioma tumors each year in the United States. Many patients die within 12 months, so receiving prompt treatment is important, according to the Society for Neuroscience.
Surgical Removal
Treatment for many cases of glioma begins with surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible. During the surgery, doctors strive to reduce the pressure on the brain while preserving healthy tissue, according to MayoClinic.com. Because the cerebellum lies under the cerebral cortex, surgical removal may prove difficult. Surgeons may perform a biopsy, a procedure to remove cells from the tumor, to determine the specific type of cells present in order to chart the best course of treatment.
Radiation Therapy
Many patients with glioma tumors can benefit from radiation therapy, the use of high energy waves that target the rapidly dividing cells of cancer. Doctors can deliver radiation therapy in several different ways, depending on the size and location of the tumor. External beam radiation therapy delivers the radiation from outside the body, which allows for a large area of treatment. Fractionalized stereotactic radiotherapy delivers significantly smaller doses of radiation. This course of therapy minimizes damage to the healthy tissues, according to MayoClinic.com.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy utilizes toxic drugs to target and kill cancer cells. Patients with rapidly growing, aggressive tumors like those classified as glioblastoma, may benefit from the addition of chemotherapy along with the radiation. One difficulty in treating brain tumors with chemotherapy is finding medications that can cross the blood brain barrier. The blood brain barrier acts as a filter, protecting the brain from harmful substances in the blood. Doctors must use medications to disrupt the blood brain barrier in order to allow the chemotherapy agents to reach the tumor, according to the American Brain Tumor Association.
Molecular Targeted Therapy
Molecular targeted therapy uses medications developed to specifically target the tumor cells and block the receptors found on the cell surfaces. Blocking these receptors inhibits the cell from interacting with proteins or the genetic material in the cell, inhibiting the growth and progression of the tumor.
