From the Research
The treatment approach for blastoma typically involves a multimodal strategy combining surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, with a focus on personalized treatment based on the patient's age, tumor stage, histological subtype, and molecular characteristics, as highlighted in recent studies 1. The goal of treatment is to remove as much of the tumor as possible, reduce tumor burden, and manage treatment side effects.
- Initial treatment usually begins with surgical resection to provide tissue for diagnosis and reduce tumor burden.
- Following surgery, chemotherapy regimens are tailored to the specific type of blastoma, with common agents including cisplatin, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, etoposide, and vincristine, often administered in cycles over several months.
- Radiation therapy may be added, particularly for residual disease or high-risk cases, though it's often limited or delayed in young children due to long-term developmental effects. Key considerations in treatment planning include:
- The patient's age, with pediatric cases generally having better outcomes than adult presentations of these rare malignancies.
- Tumor stage, histological subtype, and molecular characteristics, which can influence treatment intensity and prognosis.
- The potential benefits and risks of different treatment approaches, including the use of targeted therapy, ablation therapy, and other innovative treatments, as discussed in recent reviews 1. Overall, the prognosis for blastoma varies significantly depending on the specific type of tumor, tumor location, stage at diagnosis, and patient age, emphasizing the need for personalized treatment approaches and ongoing research into new and effective therapies 1.