Anaplastic oligoastrocytoma

The U.S. National Institutes of Health, through the National Library of Medicine, developed ClinicalTrials.gov to provide patients, family members, and members of the public with current information on clinical research studies. Currently, 30 clinical trials are identified as enrolling individuals with oligoastrocytoma. To find these trials, click on the link above and use "oligoastrocytoma" as your search term. After you click on a study, review its "eligibility" criteria to determine its appropriateness. Use the study’s contact information to learn more. Check this site often for regular updates.

You can also contact the Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison (PRPL) Office at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). We recommend calling 1-800-411-1222 to speak with a specialist, who can help determine if someone is eligible for any clinical trials.

Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office
NIH Clinical Center
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-2655
Toll-free: 1-800-411-1222
Fax: 301-480-9793
E-mail: prpl@mail.cc.nih.gov
Web site: http://clinicalcenter.nih.gov/

If someone is interested in enrolling in a clinical trial, helpful general information on clinical trials can be found at the ClinicalTrials.gov Web page. Resources on many charitable or special-fare flights to research and treatment sites and low- cost hospitality accommodations for outpatients and family members, as well as ambulance services, are listed on the Web site of the Office of Rare Diseases Research (ORDR), part of the National Institutes of Health.

Anaplastic oligoastrocytoma is a brain tumor that forms when two types of cells in the brain, called oligodendrocytes and astrocytes, rapidly increase in number to form a mass. These brain cells are known as glial cells, which normally protect and support nerve cells in the brain. Because an oligoastrocytoma is made up of a combination of two cell types, it is known as a mixed glioma. An oligoastrocytoma is described as anaplastic when the tumor grows quickly and the cancer cells within the tumor have the potential to spread into surrounding brain tissue or to more distant parts of the body. Oligoastrocytomas usually occur in a part of the brain called the cerebrum and are diagnosed in adults between the ages of 30 and 50. The exact cause of this condition is unknown.

Treatment of anaplastic oligoastrocytoma depends on the size and location of the tumor. If possible, treatment begins with surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible. Chemotherapy or radiation therapy may be needed following surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells.