Astrocytoma
The Condition
A type of tumor in the brain or spinal cord that’s a result of abnormal growth of glial cells (cells that surround, protect, and help neurons send messages from your brain to your body). Astrocytomas are also categorized into four different grades based on aggressiveness of tumor: grade 4 or 3 is a high-grade astrocytoma (fast growing) and grade 2 or 1 is a low-grade astrocytoma (slow growing).
There are multiple types of astrocytomas in each of these grades:
- High-grade: glioblastoma (GBM), anaplastic astrocytoma, diffuse midline glioma, H3K27M-mutant
- Low-grade: pilocytic astrocytoma (PA), pilomyxoid astrocytoma (PMA), fibrillary/diffuse astrocytoma, pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (PXA)
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The Treatment
While generally individualized for your child based on tumor size, location, and grade, treatment may include some or all of the following: surgery to remove part or all of the tumor, chemotherapy to kill cancer cells, targeted therapy with oral medications, radiation therapy to kill cells and prevent them from growing, clinical trials, and supportive care.
The Nationwide Children’s Difference
Our Neuro-Oncology Program provides excellent care—supporting patients and their families with a multi-disciplinary team of providers dedicated to ensuring the best possible outcome. Oncologists, neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists, clinical psychologists, rehabilitation medicine doctors, neurologists, endocrinologists, ophthalmologists, therapists (physical, occupational, speech, art, music), social workers, dietitians, and pharmacists—all working together with one goal: recovery.
The Ongoing Research
As a national leader in oncology research and clinical trials, there are many ongoing studies to understand why these tumors develop and how to appropriately target them. We are members of all major pediatric brain tumor clinical trial consortia including Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium (PBTC), Collaborative Network of Neuro-Oncology Clinical Trials (CONNECT), Pacific Neuro-Oncology Consortium (PNOC), and the Children’s Oncology Group (COG). Currently, we have many open clinical trials testing new drugs in tumors, including astrocytomas.