Foundations of Neuro-Oncology: A Multidisciplinary Approach

Neuro-oncology is a branch of medicine focused on the diagnosis and treatment of primary and secondary tumors of the nervous system as well as the neurologic complications of cancer and cancer treatments. In practice, neuro-oncologists require an intimate knowledge of the neurologic presentation and management of central nervous system tumors, including gliomas, meningiomas, primary central nervous system lymphoma, metastases to the nervous system, and others. The mainstays of treatment for most nervous system tumors include surgical intervention, radiation therapy, and medical treatment with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and/or targeted therapy. Interdisciplinary collaboration is thus critical to neuro-oncology. The prognosis for many central nervous system tumors, including gliomas and brain metastases, is often poor despite the advent of novel medical therapies. Efforts to develop more effective therapies are ongoing, and patient enrollment in clinical trials assessing the efficacy of new treatments is crucial to improve outcomes.