[Glial tumors of the brain: classification, present-day aspects of immunopathogenesis and immunogenetic diagnostics]

Glial tumors of the brain present a complicated problem in neurosurgery due to the peculiarities of their growth biology, their prevalence, infiltrative growth and diagnostic difficulties. The complexity of treatment, which includes surgical removal of a tumor, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immune correction, makes the problem even more topical. Modem classification of glial neoplasms is of no less importance, because treatment depends on the histologic structure of a tumor. Thereupon, the authors of the article pay special attention to the modem WHO classification of gliomas. As immune diagnostics and treatment are indispensable in modern neurooncology, application of neurospecific oncologic markers is being widely introduced into clinical and scientific practice in many scientific centers. However, there are no objective tests to verify the diagnosis of astrocytic glioma with reliable accuracy. Hereditary syndromes associated with glial tumors have been distinguished and are being studied. The most interesting and promising direction is research into genetic anomalies in patients with glial processes.