Brain tumours: Successes and challenges on the other side of the blood-brain barrier

摘要

Tumours of the central nervous system encompass a large variety of cancers, ranging from slow-growing to rapidly progressive. Although comparatively rare in adults, central nervous system malignancies are relatively common in children, adolescents and young adults, resulting in substantial and ongoing morbidity, significant loss of effective life-years and a heavy burden on family and carers. In fact, more children and adults under the age of 40 die from a brain tumour than from any other cancer. As such, their effect on the community is greater than the apparent low incidence would otherwise indicate. This article focuses on adult brain tumours and in particular glioblastoma. Glioblastoma is rare, but is an example of a disease where treatment has been improved through better understanding of its molecular characteristics, as well as through international clinical trials. We will also discuss some challenges in rare tumours where level one evidence for optimal management is unlikely to ever exist.