Headway against Brain Tumors with Molecular Targeting of IDH-Mutant Gliomas
David Schiff
Abstract
Approximately 2500 persons in the United States receive a diagnosis of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)–mutated grade 2 glioma each year.1 These patients tend to be young (median age, 40 years), and most have tumor-related epilepsy and grapple with a tumor that may affect cognition, employment, and other aspects of life. These tumors typically become refractory to treatment and are eventually fatal, belying their designation as “low-grade” gliomas. Both fractionated radiotherapy and alkylator-based chemotherapy help control these tumors but convey a substantial risk of permanent toxic effects. With radiation therapy, such effects include fatigue, alopecia, radiation necrosis, and particularly, cognitive dysfunction; chemotherapy . . .