Untreated Childhood Supratentorial Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumors and Pineoblastoma
Recurrent Childhood Supratentorial Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumors and Pineoblastoma

Untreated Childhood Supratentorial Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumors and Pineoblastoma

Untreated childhood supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors and pineoblastoma are tumors for which no treatment has been given. The child may have received drugs or treatment to relieve symptoms caused by the tumor.

Standard treatment of supratentorial neuroectodermal tumors or pineoblastoma in children 3 years of age and older may include the following:

• Surgery.
• Surgery followed by radiation therapy to the whole brain and spinal cord.
• Surgery followed by radiation therapy to the whole brain and spinal cord, and chemotherapy.

Some of the treatments being studied in clinical trials for supratentorial neuroectodermal tumors or pineoblastoma in children 3 years of age and older include the following:

• A clinical trial of chemotherapy given before or after radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy to delay or reduce the need for radiation therapy.

Standard treatment of supratentorial neuroectodermal tumors or pineoblastoma in children younger than 3 years of age may include the following:

• Surgery.
• Surgery followed by chemotherapy.

One of the treatments being studied in clinical trials for supratentorial neuroectodermal tumors or pineoblastoma in children younger than 3 years of age includes chemotherapy to delay or reduce the need for radiation therapy.

Information about these and other ongoing clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site ¹.

Check for clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with untreated childhood supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumor ² and untreated childhood pineoblastoma ³.

Standard treatment of recurrent childhood supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors and pineoblastoma may include the following:

• Surgery.
• Chemotherapy.

New treatments are being studied in clinical trials for recurrent childhood supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors and pineoblastoma. Information about this and other ongoing clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site ¹.

Check for clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with recurrent childhood supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumor ⁴ and recurrent childhood pineoblastoma ⁵.

Glossary Terms

Treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells.

A type of research study that tests how well new medical approaches work in people. These studies test new methods of screening, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of a disease. Also called a clinical study.

A fast growing type of brain tumor that occurs in or around the pineal gland, a tiny organ near the center of the brain.

One of a group of cancers that develop from the same type of early cells, and share certain biochemical and genetic features. Some primitive neuroectodermal tumors develop in the brain and central nervous system (CNS-PNET), and others develop in sites outside of the brain such as the limbs, pelvis, and chest wall (peripheral PNET). Also called PNET.

The use of high-energy radiation from x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, protons, and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation may come from a machine outside the body (external-beam radiation therapy), or it may come from radioactive material placed in the body near cancer cells (internal radiation therapy). Systemic radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance, such as a radiolabeled monoclonal antibody, that travels in the blood to tissues throughout the body. Also called radiotherapy and irradiation.

Cancer that has recurred (come back), usually after a period of time during which the cancer could not be detected. The cancer may come back to the same place as the original (primary) tumor or to another place in the body. Also called recurrence.

A column of nerve tissue that runs from the base of the skull down the back. It is surrounded by three protective membranes, and is enclosed within the vertebrae (back bones). The spinal cord and the brain make up the central nervous system, and spinal cord nerves carry most messages between the brain and the rest of the body.

In medicine, treatment that experts agree is appropriate, accepted, and widely used. Health care providers are obligated to provide patients with standard therapy. Also called standard of care or best practice.

Having to do with the upper part of the brain.

A procedure to remove or repair a part of the body or to find out whether disease is present. An operation.

An indication that a person has a condition or disease. Some examples of symptoms are headache, fever, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and pain.

An abnormal mass of tissue that results when cells divide more than they should or do not die when they should. Tumors may be benign (not cancerous), or malignant (cancerous). Also called neoplasm.