Brain Tumors
Pediatric Low-Grade Astrocytoma (PLGA) Program
Primary brain cancers develop from tumors that grow within the brain. They are the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in pediatric patients and arise from the most common type of solid tumors in children.
Most types of pediatric brain tumors are low-grade gliomas. They tend to be in younger children and can grow in any area of the brain. The most common type of low-grade gliomas in children are low-grade astrocytomas (LGAs). For example, of over 3,400 brain tumors diagnosed in a given year, about one thousand will be Pediatric Low Grade Astrocytomas (PLGAs).
Glioma stem cells
PLGAs are a form of glioma. Glioma is a type of brain cancer that begins in glial cells, which hold neurons in place and help them work properly. There are two different types of glial cells: the astrocyte and the oligodentrocyte. Astrocytomas are tumors that develop in astrocytes in the brain or spinal chord.
PLGAs are classified as slow-growing tumors and have a more positive prognosis than malignant, high-grade types of brain cancer. Whether or not PLGAs can be operated upon depends on their location in the brain. Standard therapies including surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiotherapy can have harmful side effects in children. These young patients need better, more effective treatments, but research has been hampered by limited access to tumor samples.
