Malignant brain tumors: A comprehensive guide

Malignant brain tumors are a complex medical condition that impacts thousands of lives each year. These aggressive cancers, also known as malignant neoplasms of the brain, often grow quickly and require swift medical intervention. While treatment poses significant challenges, ongoing progress in technology and medicine continues to improve patient outcomes.

At the Glioblastoma Foundation, we lead the charge in brain tumor research and patient care innovation. Our work at the Glioblastoma Foundation focuses on supporting patients, caregivers, medical professionals, and researchers in the treatment of malignant brain tumors.

In this article, we provide an in-depth exploration of these tumors, covering their characteristics, diagnosis methods, treatment approaches, and the newest advancements in the field.
From exploring risk factors to examining pioneering therapies, we aim to offer thorough information for anyone interested in brain health and the ongoing fight against brain cancer. We invite you to explore the complexities of malignant brain tumors with us as we shed light on both the hurdles we face and the encouraging breakthroughs that bring hope to this field.

Understanding Malignant Brain Tumors

A malignant brain tumor is a mass of abnormal cells in brain tissue. Doctors sometimes use another term to describe these tumors, which often leaves patients wondering, "What is malignant neoplasm of brain cells?" This medical term is simply another way to describe a malignant brain tumor, with "neoplasm" being a formal word for tumor.

Brain tumors come in different forms, and not all brain tumors are cancerous. They fall into two main categories: malignant (cancerous brain tumors) or benign (noncancerous brain tumors). In the,"malignant brain tumor" medical term, it's the word "malignant" that indicates the tumor is cancerous.

One type of malignant tumors that start in the brain are called gliomas. They form in the glial cells, which support and protect the brain’s nerve cells. These tumors tend to grow quickly and can spread to other parts of the brain and spinal cord. Unlike benign brain tumors, malignant brain tumors can invade nearby tissue, which is why they require immediate medical attention.

Malignant brain tumors can affect people of any age, but they’re more common in adults, especially those over 60. Different types of brain tumors have varying age patterns. For instance, glioblastomas appear more often in older adults, while other brain tumor types can occur in children and young adults. The diverse nature of brain tumor types means that no age group is entirely immune to these conditions.

Malignant Brain Tumor Symptoms

The signs of a malignant brain tumor can differ based on where the tumor is in the brain. Some people notice changes over time, while others may experience sudden symptoms. Here are common signs to watch for:

• Ongoing severe headaches or pressure in the head, which may worsen in the morning or with physical activity
• Seizures or convulsions
• Nausea and vomiting, especially in the morning
• Weakness or numbness in parts of the body, often on one side
• Difficulty with balance or coordination
• Dizziness or vertigo
• Changes in vision, such as blurry or double-vision
• Changes in thinking or personality, including memory issues or feeling confused
• Difficulty speaking or understanding others
• Loss of appetite or unintended weight loss

If you notice any of these signs in yourself or someone else, it's important to see a doctor as soon as possible. Early detection can lead to quicker and more effective treatment.

Understanding Malignant Brain Tumor Symptoms by Lobe

The brain is divided into several parts called lobes. Each lobe handles different body functions. When a malignant brain tumor grows in a lobe, it can affect how that part of the brain works. Here’s how brain tumor symptoms in different lobes might show up:

• Frontal lobe (front of the brain): Controls personality, decision-making, and voluntary movements. 
  • Changes in behavior 
  • Difficulty with planning or decision-making
  • Weakness or paralysis on one side of the body
• Parietal lobe (top of the brain): Manages sensation, awareness of space, and coordination. 
  • Difficulty with coordination 
  • Loss of feeling in parts of the body
  • Trouble understanding where things are around you
• Temporal lobe (sides of the brain): Responsible for hearing, memory, and understanding language.
  • Memory problems
  • Difficulty understanding what others say
  • Hearing loss
  • Unexplained feelings of fear or déjà vu
• Occipital lobe (back of the brain): Processes what we see.
  • Blurry or double vision
  • Partial or complete loss of sight
  • Hallucinations
• Cerebellum (lower back of the brain): Coordinates balance and movement.
  • Difficulty with balance
  • Dizziness
  • Shaking or tremors
  • Trouble with coordination.
• Brainstem (base of the brain): Controls basic life functions like breathing, heart rate, and consciousness.
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Slurred speech
  • Double vision
  • Changes in alertness

Knowing how malignant brain tumors affect different parts of the brain can help with early recognition. This can lead to quicker diagnosis and treatment, potentially improving outcomes.

What are the Types of Malignant Brain Tumors?

A malignant brain neoplasm can develop in various forms, each with unique characteristics and treatment needs. Here are the most common types:

• Glioblastoma (GBM):  These fast-growing malignant tumors make up about 50% of all malignant brain tumor cases. They grow quickly and invade nearby brain tissue, making them difficult to treat.
• Astrocytoma: These tumors grow from star-shaped brain cells called astrocytes, a particular type of glial cell. They range from low-grade (slow-growing tumors) to high-grade (fast-growing and malignant tumors), and treatment options depend on their grade and location.
• Ependymoma: These tumors start in the cells lining the spaces in the brain and spinal cord. They can block the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, which protects the brain and spine.
• Oligodendroglioma: This type of tumor forms in cells that make the protective myelin coating around nerve cells. They often grow more slowly than other brain tumors.
• Medulloblastoma: These fast-growing tumors develop in the lower back part of the brain. They mostly affect children and can spread to other parts of the brain or spinal cord through the cerebrospinal fluid.

Knowing the specific type of tumor helps doctors assess the potential for tumor removal and develop the most effective treatment plan.

What Happens if a Brain Tumor is Cancerous?

Brain tumors are either metastatic or primary. Metastatic brain tumors happen when cancer cells from another part of the body travel to the brain and start growing there. The most common cancers that metastasize to the brain are lung and breast cancer.

Primary brain tumors start in the brain itself. Brain tumors are graded on how harmful the cells are. Less harmful (benign) tumors are usually grade 1 and 2, while cancerous (malignant) tumors are grade 3 or 4. Malignant brain tumors can grow quickly and spread to other areas of the brain and spinal cord.

Left untreated, any symptoms you or a loved one may be experiencing can increase. If a brain tumor turns out to be cancerous, your doctors will likely want to start treatment as quickly as possible.

What Causes a Cancerous Tumor in the Brain?

The exact cause of malignant brain tumors remains largely unknown. However, researchers believe that a combination of genetic mutations and environmental factors may contribute to their development. In some cases, changes in DNA create abnormal brain cells that can trigger abnormal growth, forming a cancerous tumor in brain tissue. While the specific reasons for these mutations are not fully understood, certain factors may increase their likelihood.

Risk Factors 

Here is a list of the most common risk factors involved in the development of a malignant brain neoplasm:

• Radiation exposure: People who have been exposed to ionizing radiation from previous cancer treatments or nuclear accidents may have a higher chance of developing malignant brain tumors.
• Family history: About 5 to 10 percent of brain tumors happen in people with a family history of brain cancer, indicating a possible genetic predisposition.
• Age: The risk of developing a malignant brain tumor increases with age. Studies show the highest level of risk is among older individuals. 
• Gender: Some brain tumors are more common in men, while others, like meningiomas, happen more often in women. Glioblastomas are more common in men.
• Genetic conditions: Certain hereditary conditions, like neurofibromatosis or Li-Fraumeni syndrome, might make people more likely to develop brain tumors.
• Weakened immune system: People with a compromised immune system due to other illnesses or certain medicines might be more likely to get brain tumors.
• Chemical exposure: Prolonged exposure to industrial chemicals like solvents and pesticides might increase the risk, but research in this area is ongoing.

While this information is good to know, it’s essential to note that most people with these risk factors do not develop brain cancer, and many people diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor have no known risk factors at all.

Diagnosing a Malignant Neoplasm of the Brain

Doctors usually start with a neurological exam and use a variety of tools to look inside your brain. Here are the common ways they diagnose brain tumors:

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): MRI machines use powerful magnets and radio waves to create detailed images of the brain. This helps doctors find and check the tumor.
• Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan: CT scans use X-rays to make cross-section images of the brain. Doctors often use these in emergencies to quickly spot brain abnormalities.
• Biopsy: If doctors find something unusual, a neurosurgeon will take a biopsy of the tumor to determine whether it’s benign or malignant. This involves removing a small sample of tumor tissue and looking at it under a microscope to learn more about the tumor and how fast it might grow.
• Specialized tests: Doctors might do tests on the tumor sample to look for changes in genes or other markers. This can help them choose the best treatment.

Most malignant brain tumors fall under Grade III or IV, which means they grow fast and can be aggressive. Each of these tests helps doctors figure out the most effective brain tumor treatments.

Treatment Options for Malignant Brain Tumors

Treating a cancerous brain tumor usually involves a mix of therapies to target the tumor and stop it from spreading. A brain tumor treatment plan depends on the type, size, and location of the tumor, as well as the patient's overall health. Here are the main treatment options:

Surgery

The goal of surgery is to remove as much of the tumor tissue as possible without damaging healthy, normal tissue nearby. The more tumor that can be removed, the better the chances of survival. The best outcome is when doctors can remove 90 percent or more of the tumor. This is called a gross total resection. When the whole tumor can't be removed, doctors take out as much as they can. This helps reduce intracranial pressure on the brain and ease symptoms.

Radiation

Radiation therapy is used to destroy any remaining tumor cells left after surgery. It usually starts 3-6 weeks after surgery. The most common type is fractionated radiotherapy, where small doses of radiation are given over several weeks. This gives healthy cells time to recover between treatments. For some older adults or certain types of malignant tumors, doctors might use hypo-fractionated radiotherapy. This uses higher doses over a shorter time.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy drugs are often used alongside radiation therapy to kill cancer cells. Temozolomide (Temodar) is one of the most common chemotherapy drugs used to treat glioblastomas. These drugs can be administered through an IV, as a shot, or in pill form. They might be used alone or with other treatments to help control tumor growth and work more effectively.

Targeted Drugs

Other treatment options involve using targeted drugs to treat glioblastoma or repurposing existing therapies that have been approved for other conditions. Targeted therapies focus on specific changes in tumor cells that help them grow. These therapies can be more precise than chemotherapy, potentially causing less harm to healthy cells. The Glioblastoma Foundation is actively raising money to fund new clinical trials. These trials will test existing drugs to treat glioblastoma, a common type of cancerous brain tumor. Your donation will help us fulfill our mission to improve the current standard of care for this serious disease.

Life with a Highly Malignant Brain Tumor

Learning you have a highly malignant brain tumor can be overwhelming and affect you physically and emotionally. It can also leave patients, families, and caregivers searching for answers to questions about life expectancy, treatments, managing symptoms, and adjusting to the changes cancer brings. 

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions:

Can a Malignant Brain Tumor Be Cured?

In cases where tumors are found early, complete removal may be possible through gross total resection surgery. This has the potential to increase the odds of long-term survival. However, for aggressive tumors like glioblastomas, a complete cure is often not possible because the tumor spreads into nearby areas. Even so, effective treatment can significantly improve the quality of life for many patients.

How Quickly Do Malignant Brain Tumors Progress?

Progression rates can vary significantly depending on the type of tumor. Lower-grade malignant brain tumors may grow more slowly, while aggressive tumors like glioblastomas can grow and spread rapidly, often within months. The tumor’s growth rate is a critical factor in determining the treatment plan and prognosis for each patient.

Can You Survive a Malignant Brain Tumor?

According to the National Cancer Institute, the five-year survival rate among people diagnosed with brain and other nervous system cancers is 33.4%. However, the rate may be higher or lower depending on the type of cancer. Highly malignant tumors like glioblastomas, classified as grade IV, have a much lower five-year survival rate of approximately 5%.

What is the Life Expectancy for Malignant Brain Tumor Patients?

How long someone lives with a malignant brain tumor depends on the tumor’s type, size, and location. Your doctor can tell you more about treatment options and survival rates for your specific form of cancer. For glioblastoma patients receiving treatment, studies have shown most people live between 9 months and 14 months. The National Library of Medicine has found a few rare cases where patients lived much longer without the cancer coming back. However, this is not common. 

Caring for a Loved One Living with a Malignant Brain Tumor

Caregivers play a vital role in supporting patients with malignant brain tumors. They provide emotional support, physical help, and practical guidance. Caregivers often assist with daily tasks, manage medications, coordinate medical appointments, and offer companionship. By providing this care and support, caregivers can greatly improve their loved one's quality of life. However, helping someone cope with a brain tumor diagnosis and treatment can be stressful and demanding. Caregivers may face physical tiredness, emotional strain, and difficulty balancing caregiving with other responsibilities. Therefore, it's important for caregivers to pay attention to their own health and well-being. This might include taking regular breaks, staying connected with friends and family, and keeping up with their own medical check-ups. 

The Glioblastoma Foundation offers many resources to support caregivers, including educational materials, online support groups, and guidance on managing caregiver stress. By taking care of themselves, caregivers can continue to provide the best possible care for their loved ones.

The Glioblastoma Foundation Has Resources to Help

The mission of the Glioblastoma Foundation is to improve treatment options for patients with this devastating disease. We’re available to review your case and provide a list of clinical trials that may be right for your diagnosis and treatment plan.

Donations to the Glioblastoma Foundation go directly to fund the development of novel drug therapies for glioblastoma. We’re committed to funding new, more effective therapies to extend survival for patients diagnosed with glioblastoma and improve the standard of care for glioblastoma.

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