Neuroblastoma Research Paper

A person has a 0.55–0.7% chance of developing any type of brain tumor in their lifetime (Mohammadi and Schroeder 1). A brain tumor is a mass of abnormal cells located somewhere in the brain. Brain tumors can be caused by many different disorders including Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC). Some tumors caused by this disorder are inoperable. Inoperable brain tumors can now be treated using new advanced technology. Technological advances provide new hope for patients who have inoperable brain tumors and TSC.

Once a person has been diagnosed with brain cancer, treatment should begin immediately. Treatment for brain tumors involves any combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Some tumors require several different surgical procedures; some can be treated with radiation alone. Surgery is the best process to remove a brain tumor. Surgery attempts to remove most, if not all of the tumor. Once most of the tumor is removed, the rest of the tumor can be removed through a process called radiotherapy.

Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive form of malignant brain cancer in adults. On average, 8 of every 100,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with glioblastoma every year – representing approximately 2% of all cancers diagnosed [1]. Glioblastoma tumors form when astrocytes, star-shaped cells which support and protect the brain, re-enter the cell cycle and start to rapidly divide. Because the brain is supported by a large network of blood vessels, tumors grow quickly and are difficult to remove surgically. Present treatments for glioblastoma are limited to surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy; however, despite these interventions tumors are likely to regrow. Consequently, typical survival time following glioblastoma diagnosis is less than 2 years.

Glioblastoma (pronounced like gleO blastoma) is an incurable brain cancer,Survival rate is usually measured in months.This became a word that was instantly defined, researched, dissected, feared, and tried to comprehend and understand by family,friends and acquaintances of Larry McKee (McKee)who was personally affected from this single word, it was quickly added to their vocabulary, because of the of the events that transpired on October 22, 2011 that forever changed lives “Glioblastomas are tumors that arise from the astrocytes- the star-shaped cells that make up the “glue-like,” or supportive tissue of the brain. These tumors are usually highly malignant (cancerous) because the cells reproduce quickly and they are supported by a large network of blood vessels.”(A.B.T A..) He was diagnosed with stage four.

Brain cancer develops from cells within the brain. The brain controls the vital functions of the body, including, speech, movement, thoughts, feelings, memory, sight, hearing, and more. Brain cancer affects people in many different ways. Brain cancer is diagnosed at the local stage in 76.6% of people. The 5-year survival for localized brain and other nervous system cancer is 36.3%. Brain cancer will cause anything from headaches to balance and walking problems, changes in your vision, muscle twitches, memory problems, and nausea and vomiting.

     Several tests can be run once symptoms are noticed to earmark the disease with a proper diagnosis. Some of the tests include; a biopsy of the tumor, X-rays, a CT scan, a skeletal survey, bone scans or bone marrow aspiration (fluid sample) and biopsy (tissue sample). Once diagnosed, the treatments begin to hinder any advancement the cancer would or could make. Possibly removing the cancer completely through surgery is a possibility, while others include chemotherapy, radiation treatment, and bone marrow transplantation. Many times these treatments can be used concurrently with one another.

Tumors can be classified into three types: 1) benign 2) pre malignant 3) malignant tumor. Benign tumors are those which are incapable of abrupt expanding and affecting the other healthy brain tissues. Premalignant tumor is a pre cancerous stage, if not treated properly it may lead to cancers. It is often considered as a disease. Malignant tumor grows rapidly with time an ultimately leads to death of patient. Malignant is a medical term describing a sever growth of a disease. The most common primary brain Tumors are gliomas, wherein 70% are in the group of malignant gliomas, glioblastoma multiform (GBM).The GBM is one of the highest malignant human

Glioma is a tumor that is a type of brain cancer. Glioma tumors are made up by cells called glial cells. Glial cells normally provide nutrition, oxygen, and structural support to the brain. Three types of glial cells can produce tumors. Gliomas are named after the type of glial cell that is involved in the tumor. A tumor is formed when the glial cells grow into an abnormal mass of tissue. Gliomas are one of the most common types of brain tumors that occur in adults.

Neuroblastoma was Dr. Audrey Evan’s main point of medical research, which is one of the most common cancers in children and the most common in infancy. Neuroblastoma is a

There are different types of cancers. There is Leukemia, Breast cancer, Throat Cancer, and more. Then, theres the cancers that not a lot of people think about. Cancers that exist, but are unknown to most people. They are very rare and not a lot of people have it, but it’s still there affecting people in the same ways, even worse, that any known cancer affects people. One of the is Central Nervous System AT/RT Cancer.

Medical science believes mutated genes are the primary cause of spinal cord tumors. The question on whether this condition is inherited is not endorsed, although there are two inherited health conditions linked to spinal cord tumors is neurofibromatosis and von Hippel-Lindau disease.

Neuroblastoma is a tumor that is most commonly found within infants. Age, stage, and biological features encountered in tumor cells are an important prognostic factors. The differences in outcome for patients with neuroblastoma are striking. Unfortunately, approximately 70-80% of patients older than 18 months present with metastatic disease, usually in the lymph nodes, liver, bone, and bone marrow. Less than half of these patients are cured, even with the use of high-dose therapy followed by autologous bone marrow or stem cell rescue. The root word neuro derives from the latin dialect meaning nerves, and blastoma meaning cancer that is on going,

Retinoblastoma is an ocular malignancy occurring during childhood, which can affect both eyes and is extremely dangerous if it is left untreated. A loss of sight and even death can result from a lack of treatment. It affects around 1 in 15,000 children and is responsible for 2.5% to 4% of the total paediatric cancers making it the most common cancer of the eye in children [1] [2]. It is caused by a deletion mutation on chromosome 13 causing the inactivation of the retinoblastoma gene (RB1) [3]. The condition can be inherited from the patient’s parent, however there is also a non-heritable form of the disease which occurs spontaneously [2]. The heritable form of retinoblastoma shows autosomal dominance. If diagnosed early, the

Sporadic cancers - These are just cancers which happen by chance and your choices. It has no relation to your genes or you family. There are approximately 60% of cancers are sporadic.

Neuroblastoma is the most common solid extracranial cancer in children under the age of five. Mainly a neuroendocrine cancer, neuroblastoma is prevalently found in neuronal tissue of the adrenal glands as well as the ganglia in the spine. It is believed that neuroblastoma arises from neuronal crest cells; immature cells that branch off the neural tube in embryonic development (Roberts et al., 1998). Though 98% of all neuroblastoma cases are sporadic, there is a small percentage of the cancer that is inheritable. One of the genes believed to contribute to familial neuroblastoma is MYCN. MYCN, which encodes a transcription factor, is observed to be duplicated multiple times through out the genome of neuroblastoma cells, both familial and sporadic.