Primary Brain Tumors

There are several different types of cells in the brain and central nervous system. They are broadly divided into two categories: neurons (nerve cells) and glial cells, which include everything else. The majority of malignant brain tumors are gliomas, which means they mutate from the different types of glial cells.

Malignant brain tumors are composed of cancerous cells that can metastasize, or spread into other tissues. Benign brain tumors do not spread, although they can grow and squeeze important parts of the brain.

There are more than 150 different kinds of brain tumors — just a few are mentioned below. Because some types of brain tumors are quite rare, it’s important to seek treatment at a center with specialists, like the neuro-oncologists at Hollings, who spend all of their time treating and researching brain tumors.

Glioma

About a third of brain tumors are gliomas. “Glioma” is a broad category that includes tumors that develop from glial cells, including astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and ependymal cells.

Gliomas can be slow-growing or fast-growing and aggressive. Your doctor may order imaging scans, a biopsy, blood tests or other tests to diagnose and identify the type of brain tumor that you have.

• Astrocytomas develop from astrocytes. Glioblastoma is a type of astrocytoma.
• Oligodendrogliomas develop from oligodendrocytes. They are a rare brain tumor.
• Ependymomas develop from ependymal cells. They are a rare brain tumor.

Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma is an aggressive type of astrocytoma. Almost half of malignant brain tumors are glioblastomas (also called glioblastoma multiforme or GBM). Most of the time, patients are diagnosed with a glioblastoma as their main tumor. Sometimes, an astrocytoma that started off as a less aggressive form will develop into a glioblastoma.

The median age at diagnosis is 64 — that means that half of glioblastoma patients are older than 64 years when they are diagnosed.

Treatment for glioblastoma usually includes surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. For adults 22 years and older, Hollings offers the Optune Gio, a wearable device that delivers electrical fields into the skull to disrupt glioblastoma cells while they’re reproducing.

Researchers across the country are looking for new treatments for glioblastoma, and Hollings offers a portfolio of clinical trials that target different aspects of glioblastoma.

CNS lymphoma

Central nervous system lymphoma, or CNS lymphoma, is a rare cancer. Lymphomas are cancers in the lymphatic system, which runs throughout the body, and they are divided into two categories: Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

There are many types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Overall, this category of cancer is one of the top 10 most common cancers in the U.S. CNS lymphoma is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, but it is one of the rare types and accounts for about 2% of all non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It is a cancer in the lymph tissue in the brain or spinal cord.

Lymphomas are usually treated by hematologist-oncologists — doctors who specialize in blood cancers. For CNS lymphoma, our neuro-oncology team works closely with the hematology oncology team to provide you with the latest advancements in cancer care.

Primary brain tumor symptoms

The symptoms of a cancerous brain tumor often depend on where the tumor is located. Some possible symptoms include:

• Seizures — about a quarter of glioblastoma patients go to a doctor because they are having unexplained seizures.
• Vision changes — double vision, blurry vision or loss of vision in one area.
• Mood, personality or behavior changes.
• Leg or arm weakness.
• Facial weakness.
• Headaches that occur in the morning or that disappear after vomiting.
• Confusion or problems with thinking.

Primary Brain Tumor Risk Factors

Most people with brain tumors have no known risk factors. However, there are a few things that can increase the risk.

• Genetic conditions. There are some genetic conditions that increase the risk of cancer, including brain tumors. Some of these include Li-Fraumeni syndrome, neurofibromatosis and von Hippel-Lindau disease.
• Weakened immune system. People with weakened immune systems, whether because of HIV/AIDS, treatments after an organ transplant to reduce the risk of organ rejection, Epstein-Barr virus (the virus that causes mononucleosis) or other immune system conditions, can have an increased risk of CNS lymphoma.
• Radiation. People who received radiation to the head to treat a cancer when they were children are at greater risk of developing a brain tumor in adulthood.

Clinical Trials for Brain Tumors

Clinical trials help us to find better treatments. A clinical trial might be testing whether a treatment is more effective or has fewer side effects or could be looking for biomarkers that would help doctors to better match treatments to specific patients.

Clinical trials are especially important for people with brain tumors. Sometimes, they can offer a chance for a promising treatment option before it’s widely available. Our team works diligently to ensure that we have an array of clinical trials available.

Hollings has been a member of the Brain Tumor Trials Collaborative since its inception. This collaboration among 33 institutions across the country develops and runs clinical trials investigating treatments for a variety of brain tumors.

In addition, Hollings is a member of several other collaborative research groups, such as the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, SWOG and the National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP), and works with industry partners to bring clinical trials here. This means that you will have access to the latest therapies for brain tumors right here in South Carolina.

Learn more about clinical trials at Hollings and see our current brain tumor clinical trials.

Referrals and Support

Refer a Brain Tumor Patient

To refer a brain tumor patient to Hollings, please call patient referral coordinator Kelly Fehr at 843-985-0577.

Nurse Navigator Support

Our brain tumor nurse navigator, Janequa McKnight, BSN, RN, will help you understand what to expect during treatment and answer questions you may have.