Childhood Astrocytoma
Childhood Brain Stem Glioma
Childhood Central Nervous System Embryonal Tumors
Childhood Central Nervous System Germ Cell Tumors
Childhood Craniopharyngioma
Childhood Ependymoma
Childhood Medulloblastoma
Childhood Spinal Cord Tumors
Childhood Supratentorial Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumors and Pineoblastoma
Childhood Visual Pathway and Hypothalamic Glioma

A link to a list of current clinical trials is included for each treatment section. For some types or stages of cancer, there may not be any trials listed. Check with your doctor for clinical trials that are not listed here but may be right for you.

Childhood astrocytomas include both low-grade and high-grade astrocytomas. See the PDQ summaries on Childhood Cerebral Astrocytoma/Malignant Glioma Treatment ¹, Childhood Cerebellar Astrocytoma Treatment ², and Childhood Visual Pathway and Hypothalamic Glioma Treatment ³.

See the PDQ summary on Childhood Brain Stem Glioma Treatment ⁴ for information.

Childhood central nervous system (CNS) embryonal tumors include ependymoblastoma, medulloblastoma, medulloepithelioma, pineal parenchymal tumors, pineoblastoma, and supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors.(See the PDQ summaries on Childhood Medulloblastoma Treatment ⁵ and Childhood Supratentorial Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumors and Pineoblastoma Treatment ⁶ for information.)

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with childhood embryonal tumor ⁷.

Treatment of childhood CNS germ cell tumors may include:

• Radiation therapy, usually to the whole brain and spine.
• Chemotherapy.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with childhood central nervous system germ cell tumor ⁸.

Treatment of childhood craniopharyngioma may include the following:

• Surgery and/or radiation therapy, which may include internal or external radiation therapy or stereotactic radiosurgery.
• Regional chemotherapy.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with childhood craniopharyngioma ⁹.

See the PDQ summary on Childhood Ependymoma Treatment ¹⁰ for information.

See the PDQ summary on Childhood Medulloblastoma Treatment ⁵ for information.

Treatment of childhood spinal cord tumors may include the following:

• Surgery with or without radiation therapy.
• Chemotherapy. (In very young children, chemotherapy is used only for low-grade tumors.)

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with childhood spinal cord neoplasm ¹¹.

See the PDQ treatment summary on Childhood Supratentorial Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumors and Pineoblastoma Treatment ⁶ for information.

See the PDQ summary on Childhood Visual Pathway and Hypothalamic Glioma Treatment ³ for information.

Glossary Terms

A tumor that begins in the brain or spinal cord in small, star-shaped cells called astrocytes.

CNS. The brain and spinal cord. Also called CNS.

Treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells.

A type of research study that tests how well new medical approaches work in people. These studies test new methods of screening, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of a disease. Also called a clinical study.

Central nervous system. The brain and spinal cord. Also called central nervous system.

A benign brain tumor that may be considered malignant because it can damage the hypothalamus, the area of the brain that controls body temperature, hunger, and thirst.

A mass of rapidly growing cells that begins in embryonic (fetal) tissue. Embryonal tumors may be benign or malignant, and include neuroblastomas and Wilms tumors. Also called embryoma.

A type of radiation therapy that uses a machine to aim high-energy rays at the cancer from outside of the body. Also called external-beam radiation therapy.

A type of tumor that begins in the cells that give rise to sperm or eggs. Germ cell tumors can occur almost anywhere in the body and can be either benign or malignant.

When referring to cancerous and precancerous growths, a term used to describe cells that look abnormal under a microscope. These cells are more likely to grow and spread quickly than cells in low-grade cancerous and precancerous growths.

When referring to cancerous and precancerous growths, a term used to describe cells that look nearly normal under a microscope. These cells are less likely to grow and spread quickly than cells in high-grade cancerous or precancerous growths.

A malignant brain tumor that begins in the lower part of the brain and that can spread to the spine or to other parts of the body. Medulloblastomas are a type of primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET).

The essential or functional elements of an organ.

PDQ is an online database developed and maintained by the National Cancer Institute. Designed to make the most current, credible, and accurate cancer information available to health professionals and the public, PDQ contains peer-reviewed summaries on cancer treatment, screening, prevention, genetics, complementary and alternative medicine, and supportive care; a registry of cancer clinical trials from around the world; and directories of physicians, professionals who provide genetics services, and organizations that provide cancer care. Most of this information, and more specific information about PDQ, can be found on the NCI's Web site at http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq. Also called Physician Data Query.

A type of brain tumor that occurs in or around the pineal gland, a tiny organ near the center of the brain.

A fast growing type of brain tumor that occurs in or around the pineal gland, a tiny organ near the center of the brain.

One of a group of cancers that develop from the same type of early cells, and share certain biochemical and genetic features. Some primitive neuroectodermal tumors develop in the brain and central nervous system (CNS-PNET), and others develop in sites outside of the brain such as the limbs, pelvis, and chest wall (peripheral PNET). Also called PNET.

The use of high-energy radiation from x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, protons, and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation may come from a machine outside the body (external-beam radiation therapy), or it may come from radioactive material placed in the body near cancer cells (internal radiation therapy). Systemic radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance, such as a radiolabeled monoclonal antibody, that travels in the blood to tissues throughout the body. Also called radiotherapy and irradiation.

Treatment with anticancer drugs directed to a specific area of the body.

A column of nerve tissue that runs from the base of the skull down the back. It is surrounded by three protective membranes, and is enclosed within the vertebrae (back bones). The spinal cord and the brain make up the central nervous system, and spinal cord nerves carry most messages between the brain and the rest of the body.

The bones, muscles, tendons, and other tissues that reach from the base of the skull to the tailbone. The spine encloses the spinal cord and the fluid surrounding the spinal cord. Also called backbone, spinal column, and vertebral column.

The extent of a cancer in the body. Staging is usually based on the size of the tumor, whether lymph nodes contain cancer, and whether the cancer has spread from the original site to other parts of the body.

A type of external radiation therapy that uses special equipment to position the patient and precisely give a single large dose of radiation to a tumor. It is used to treat brain tumors and other brain disorders that cannot be treated by regular surgery. It is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. Also called stereotaxic radiosurgery, radiosurgery, and radiation surgery.

Having to do with the upper part of the brain.

A procedure to remove or repair a part of the body or to find out whether disease is present. An operation.

An abnormal mass of tissue that results when cells divide more than they should or do not die when they should. Tumors may be benign (not cancerous), or malignant (cancerous). Also called neoplasm.