High-Grade Gliomas: Diagnosis and Treatment (Current Clinical Oncology)

This is truly an exciting time in the field of neuro-oncology, particularly in the area of hi- grade gliomas. The management of patients with high-grade gliomas has historically been one of the most challenging and disheartening fields in medicine, where failure is the rule and longevity is the exception. The jaded often state that despite purported advances in surgical and radiotherapeutic techniques and a myriad of clinical trials of medical therapies, the s- vival statistics for glioblastoma have not changed in the last three decades. The nihilism associated with these tumors is such that some practitioners still advise against treatment or even biopsy, recommending palliative care with the diagnosis based only on history and an MRI scan. If the current state-of-the-art in the diagnosis and management of high-grade gliomas was truly so bleak, there would be no reason to compile and publish a monograph on the subject. The fact is that we have recently entered an era where real progress is being made in our understanding and treatment of high-grade gliomas that is directly benefiting some patients. We are slowly but surely chipping away at this problem. One approach has exploited correlations between particular molecular markers and therapeutic response. The first such “breakthrough” in high-grade glioma was the observation that loss of chromosomes 1p and 19q uniformly predict chemosensitivity in anaplastic oligodendrogliomas (1).

Leaders in the field provide the latest information on the diagnosis and management of high-grade gliomas in this new groundbreaking text. The entire spectrum of issues pertaining to high-grade gliomas is covered, from the basics of clinical characteristics and management to the state-of-the-art in diagnosis and therapeutics. Forefront areas of clinical investigation are also covered with the promise of leading us to the treatments of tomorrow. The authors evaluate the latest molecular diagnostic techniques and their use with current histology. They later explore the most current imaging techniques for the diagnosis and monitoring of treatment, as well as the latest treatment strategies including surgery, radiation, and cytotoxic chemotherapy. All physicians treating brain tumors including neurosurgeons, neurologists and radiation oncologists will benefit from the coverage herein of the meaningful advances in our understanding of the biology of high-grade gliomas that are now leading to better, more rational, patient-specific treatments.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:Celso Agner, MD, MSc(University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine)
Description:Current strategies in the diagnosis and management of high grade gliomas have ameliorated the negativity associated with the overall outcomes of these tumors. The discussion of molecular biology strategies is the highlight of this much needed book.
Purpose:The authors' main goal is to overcome the negative preconceptions about high grade gliomas and to demystify the treatment options.
Audience:Neurosurgeons, neurologists, and radiation oncologists are the main target audience. The authors are highly credible in the field.
Features:As in most neuro-oncology books, a review of past and present classifications is covered first. A special section on neuroimaging modalities discusses the impact of the most recent advances in MRI and spectroscopy on the understanding of underlying cerebral function. In addition to individual chapters on specific high grade gliomas, the book offers a discussion of the molecular approach to high grade gliomas as well as of the different new modalities of treatment, including convection chemotherapy and immunotherapy. A brief overview of the most recent trials is also provided. Over 50 authors contribute the 27 chapters in this book.
Assessment:This is a superb book that should be acquired by most neurosurgical, neurological, and radiological libraries.

Front Matter....Pages i-xiii Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Histologic Classification of High-Grade Gliomas....Pages 3-35 Molecular Classifications....Pages 37-42 Front Matter....Pages 43-43 Pediatric High-Grade Glioma....Pages 45-58 Adult High-Grade Glioma....Pages 59-69 Front Matter....Pages 71-71 Computerized Tomography....Pages 73-104 Magnetic Resonance Imaging....Pages 105-132 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy....Pages 133-140 Imaging Tumor Biology....Pages 141-159 Nuclear Imaging of Gliomas....Pages 161-186 Magnetoencephalography....Pages 187-195 Front Matter....Pages 197-197 General Considerations....Pages 199-211 Surgical Techniques....Pages 213-230 Radiation Therapy....Pages 231-244 Brachytherapy....Pages 245-256 Radiosurgery....Pages 257-266 Chemotherapy....Pages 267-282 Nursing Considerations....Pages 283-300 Front Matter....Pages 301-301 Convection-Enhanced Delivery....Pages 303-314 Immunotoxins for Glioma Therapy....Pages 315-335 Small Molecule Agents....Pages 337-356 Front Matter....Pages 301-301 Cytokine Immuno-Gene Therapy for Malignant Brain Tumors....Pages 357-372 Monoclonal Antibodies....Pages 373-389 Clinical Trials of Oncolytic Viruses for Gliomas....Pages 391-403 Biological Modifiers....Pages 405-417 Gene Therapy....Pages 419-430 Boron Neutron Capture Therapy of Brain Tumors....Pages 431-459 Photodynamic Therapy....Pages 461-484 Back Matter....Pages 485-495 In this book, leading authorities present a broad overview of the microbial pathogens and toxins associated with foodborne illness while discussing pathogenicity, clinical epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment. The volume covers all the bacterial pathogens, viruses, protozoans, and parasites, as well as microbial toxins. Accompanying CD-ROM contains ... "[a]ll illustrations, both black and white and color."--Page xiii