Father in Law's Glioblastoma

    
      Re: Father in Law's Glioblastoma
    


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Posted by CCF Neuro MD on August 02, 1997 at 16:47:34:

In Reply to: Father in Law's Glioblastoma posted by Jim on July 11, 1997 at 20:23:34:

: My Father in law was diagnosed with a greater than 150cc Glioblastoma Multiforme
  tumor.  He has started radiation treatments and had one treatment BCNU (which
  we decided not to repeat based on how sick it made him and the information that
  its beneficial impacts, if any, were very small).  Are there any clinical trials
  that offer some level of hope for effective treatment of this sized tumor?  All
  that we read indicates that there is virtually no chance of survival following
  the normal treatment protocols....
===================================================================================
Hello, Jim,
As you have realized, your father-in-law's brain tumor is very difficult to treat, especially at such a big size.  In general, the treatment is unsatisfactory.  At operation, only part of the tumor can be removed; their multicentricity and diffusely infiltrative characterdefy the scalpel.  Partial resection, so called debulking, seems to prolong survival.  Usually a maximally feasible resection is combined with external beam radiation and chemotherapy.  
  As far as newer treatment modelities, the ones currently under investigation include steeotactic radiotherapy, brachytherapy, photodynamic therapy, and immunotherapy.  Although these techniques have improved the quality of survival for many patients, the median survival following diagnosis and adjuvant treatment still remains only about a year.  More recently, genetically engineered viruses for gene transduction and targeted cell killing have been used successfully in the experimental treatment of glioblastoma mulitforme.  However, this genetic therapy is still at the level of research.  The future looks rather promising, though.  This is considered as only the first step towards the full understanding the genetics of this kind of malignency.
  Another new strategy is the utilization of Gamma knife.  This involves a full evaluation by the group of experts in the field.  Our clinic foundation owns the very first gamma knife in Ohio, and one of the few in the nation.  If you are interested in coming here for an evaluation for your father-in-law, please call toll free at [phone] ask for Gamma knife center.  Good luck!
  This information is provided for general medical education purposes only.  Please consult your physician for the diagnosis and treatment options of your specific medical condition.