Seminars in oncology
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Malignant gliomas are a heterogeneous group of tumors that are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The development of the malignant phenotype is the result of a complex series of events that influence gene expression, angiogenesis, and invasion and favor the growth of tumor cells. ⋯ However, there is no satisfactory regimen available for adjuvant or salvage chemotherapy for these neoplasms. An overview of the biologic mechanisms, grading systems, and treatment options for anaplastic astrocytoma and glioblastoma multiforme is presented.
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Seminars in oncology · Jun 2000
Issues in assessing and interpreting quality of life in patients with malignant glioma.
Although primary brain tumors are relatively uncommon types of adult cancer, their location and resistance to treatment can significantly affect the patient's physical and cognitive function. Consequently, quality of life (QOL) issues are extremely important in the design and evaluation of clinical trials of high-grade glioma treatment. ⋯ Recent attempts to better evaluate QOL in brain tumor patients have led to the development of brain tumor-specific QOL instruments, such as the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer's Quality of Life Questionnaire-Brain Cancer Module and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Brain, which offer more insight into the QOL aspects of cancer and its treatment. Instruments such as quality time without symptoms or toxicity (Q-TWiST) provide a means of integrating both quality of time of survival and absence of symptoms or toxicity.