Medical therapy of gliomas

Medical therapies are an important part of adjunctive therapy for gliomas. In this chapter we will review the chemotherapeutic and targeted agents that have been evaluated in clinical trials in grade II-IV gliomas in the last decade. A number of randomized phase III trials were completed and reported. There has been a clear success in oligodendroglial tumors and low grade glioma. Although some progress has been made in glioblastoma, considerable work involving the multidisciplinary collaboration of basic science, translational and clinical investigators needs to be done to improve the outcome of patients with anaplastic astrocytoma and glioblastoma. In addition, tailoring treatment based on molecular cytogenetic characteristics is a major focus of research into precision based medicine for glioma.