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Ependymomas in Adults

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Abstract

Ependymomas are rare primary central nervous system tumors in adults. They occur most commonly in the spinal cord, where histopathologic evaluation is critical to differentiate the grade I myxopapillary ependymoma from the grade II ependymoma or grade III anaplastic ependymoma. Brain ependymomas are either grade II or III. Treatment for all grades and types includes maximum surgical resection. For myxopapillary ependymoma, complete removal while maintaining capsule integrity may be curative. Some grade II ependymomas may be observed carefully after imaging confirms complete resection, but grade III tumors require adjuvant radiation treatment. Radiation commonly is given to the region of tumor, except in cases in which there is imaging or cerebrospinal fluid evidence of tumor dissemination. Chemotherapy has not been studied extensively, although most reports suggest only modest benefit. Ongoing laboratory studies have uncovered important signal transduction pathways that may be better therapeutic targets, leading to the development of clinical trials using targeted agents.

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Disclosure

Dr. Gilbert has served on advisory boards for Schering-Plough and Genentech and has also received research support from those companies. No other potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article were reported.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuro-oncology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77025, USA

    Mark R. Gilbert

  2. Division of Neuro-oncology, Departments of Neuroscience and Oncology, University and San Giovanni Battista Hospital, Turin, Italy

    Roberta Ruda & Riccardo Soffietti

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  1. Mark R. Gilbert
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  2. Roberta Ruda
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  3. Riccardo Soffietti
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Correspondence to Mark R. Gilbert.

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Gilbert, M.R., Ruda, R. & Soffietti, R. Ependymomas in Adults. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 10, 240–247 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-010-0109-3

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