How Long Can You Live with Anaplastic Astrocytoma?

Anaplastic astrocytoma is a rare, cancerous (malignant) type of brain tumor that starts in star-shaped glial cells called astrocytes that surround and protect nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. 

About 20% of brain tumors are astrocytomas. 

Astrocytomas may be grouped by grade:

• Low-grade (grade I or II) astrocytomas tend to grow slowly
  • Non-infiltrating (grade I) astrocytomas
  • Grade II astrocytomas
• High-grade (grade III or IV) astrocytomas tend to grow quickly and spread into the surrounding normal brain tissue
  • Anaplastic (grade III) astrocytomas
  • Glioblastomas (grade IV)

Symptoms of anaplastic astrocytomas can vary depending on the location and size of the tumor and may include:

• Headaches
• Drowsiness
• Fatigue
• Vomiting
• Changes in personality or mental status
• Mood changes 
• Seizures
• Vision problems/vision loss
• Weakness in the arms and legs
• Problems with coordination
• Gait disturbances
• Memory problems
• Paralysis on the side of the body opposite the tumor (hemiplegia)
• Speech problems 
• Difficulties with communication through writing (agraphia)
• Problems with fine motor skills
• Sensory abnormalities such as tingling or burning sensations (paresthesias)
• Hormonal imbalances
• Back pain

The cause of most anaplastic astroctyomas is unknown and most occur sporadically. Factors that may contribute to the development of anaplastic astrocytomas include: 

• Genetic predisposition (though astroctyomas are usually not inherited)
• Immunologic abnormalities
• Environmental factors (e.g., exposure to ultraviolet rays, certain chemicals, ionizing radiation)
• Diet
• Stress

Some anaplastic astrocytomas are associated with a few rare, genetic disorders, such as:

• Neurofibromatosis type I
• Li-Fraumeni syndrome
• Turcot syndrome
• Tuberous sclerosis

Anaplastic astrocytoma is diagnosed with a patient history and physical examination, along with tests such as: 

• Computerized tomography (CT) scan 
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan
• Surgical removal and microscopic evaluation (biopsy) of tissue from a tumor may be used to confirm a diagnosis

Treatment for anaplastic astrocytoma may include one or more of the following: 

• Surgery 
  • Surgical removal of the tumor, usually via craniotomy (surgical opening made in the skull)
  • Surgery to help with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow blockage
  • Surgery to put in a ventricular access catheter
• Radiation therapy 
  • External beam radiation therapy (EBRT)
  • Three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT)
  • Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
  • Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) 
  • Conformal proton beam radiation therapy
  • Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS)/stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT)
  • Image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT)
  • Brachytherapy (internal radiation therapy)
  • Whole brain and spinal cord radiation therapy (craniospinal radiation)
• Chemotherapy 
  • Carboplatin
  • Carmustine (BCNU)
  • Cisplatin
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Etoposide
  • Irinotecan
  • Lomustine (CCNU)
  • Methotrexate
  • Procarbazine
  • Temozolomide
  • Vincristine
• Targeted drug therapy
  • Monoclonal antibody: bevacizumab (Avastin, Mvasi, Zirabev)
  • mTOr kinase inhibitor: everolimus (Afinitor)
• Other drug treatments 
  • Corticosteroids such as dexamethasone (Decadron) to reduce swelling around brain tumors and help relieve headaches and other symptoms
  • Anti-seizure drugs (anticonvulsants) to lower the chance of seizures