Pediatric Study Finds Alternatives for Radiation of Low-Grade
Brain Tumors Chemotherapy may help delay cranial radiation and
minimize damaging side effectsM. D. Anderson News Release
10/06/08 A multi-institutional study led by researchers at The
University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center has found that
using chemotherapy alone and delaying or avoiding cranial
radiation altogether can be effective in treating pediatric
patients with unresectable or progressive low-grade glioma. The
study was presented Sunday at the 40th annual International
Society of Pediatric Oncology Meeting in Berlin, Germany. Low-
grade glioma is the most common brain tumor in children. If
eligible for surgery, overall survival rate for these children
is 95 percent. However, for patients with tumors in locations
that prevent surgical removal or whose tumor is progressive
after surgery, prognosis is worse. A majority of pediatric
oncologists use cranial radiation to treat patients with
unresectable or progressive brain tumors. Althoug