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| metastatic brain tumors
Metastatic brain tumors are the most common
form of brain tumor. In U.S, alone, there are an estimated 98,000
to 170,000 new cases diagnosed each year.
Unlike primary brain tumors, metastatic brain tumors
are tumors that spread to the brain from a different location
in the body. The most common cancers associated with brain metastases
are lung, colon, breast, and melanoma, as well as lymphoma. Most
often, metastatic brain tumors occur in multiple areas of the
brain, although some occur as solitary tumors.
Treatment for metastatic brain tumors varies based
on the location and the number of tumors present. Surgery to remove
some or all of the cancerous tissue, radiation, and/or radiosurgery
are the standard methods for treatment. Clinical trials are currently
being conducted to investigate the effects of chemotherapies and
radiation enhancers in metastatic brain tumors. Overall, prognosis
for metastatic brain tumors is poor. However, prognosis varies
by primary tumor type and the location and number of tumor. For
example, tumors arising from breast cancer are associated with
a better prognosis than those arising from colon cancers. Likewise,
patients with single tumors and few or no other metastases have
longer median survival than patients with multiple tumors and/or
metastases in other areas of the body.
For information about an ongoing clinical
trial evaluating  I-TM-601
in patients with recurrent or refractory metastatic tumors, click
here.
Reference:
1. Adult Brain Tumors: Treatment (PDQ?). National Cancer Institute.
Available at: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/adultbrain/healthprofessional.
Accessed 8/06.
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