A Letter from the Administrator
Timothy D. Block, M.P.A./H.S.A.
Advances in Adult Brain Tumor
Classification continued from page 7
In Summary:
These highlights from Dr. Macaulay’s workshop regarding
new guidelines from the World Health Organization on
brain tumor classification may help you better understand
the language used to describe these tumors.
Depending on where they get their start, brain tumors fall
into two broad categories. Primary tumors arise from the
brain and its coverings. Metastatic tumors arise from other
organs in the body and migrate to the brain or its coverings.
Primary brain tumors can be further categorized through
MRI, surgical biopsy or removal.
• Those that resemble the supporting “glia” cells
of the brain itself are known as gliomas
• Those that resemble brain covering tissue are
called meningiomas
The same biopsied or excised tissue used to identify
tumor type can also be subjected to further testing
that helps to predict prognosis.
Among gliomas, the most common tumors are
glioblastomas – and these tumors are further
classified based on molecular tests. They may
be a contained mass or widely spread throughout
healthy tissues. The most common glioblastomas
lack mutation in certain genes (GbM-IDH-wt). They’re
very aggressive, and further molecular testing is
required to determine the best course of follow-up
herapy to minimize the risk of recurrence.
There are several subtypes of meningiomas, and they vary
in their degree of aggressiveness. Most are slow growing.
But some are prone to recur, and require close monitoring
or additional therapy. A variety of factors figure into the
grading of a meningioma for treatment protocols.
Moffitt routinely performs many sophisticated tests to
refine classification, diagnosis and treatment options for
patients with brain tumors. It’s hoped that this improved
ability to understand and classify the differences between
various types of brain tumors will lead to better clinical
trials and more targeted therapies.
Welcome to the 2018 edition of Neuron
News. The past year saw substantial
achievement by Moffitt’s Department of
Neuro-Oncology to improve both treatment
outcomes as well as clinical trials
for our patients. Last year, the number of
clinical trials offered to our patients grew
to 20, and our accruals increased to more
than 70 patients. Under the outstanding
leadership of Clinical Trials Director
Solmaz Sahebjam, MD, our program is constantly striving to offer
new developments for the benefit of our patients.
Several new Advanced Practice Professionals have joined our team
recently, including Ashleigh Schroering, PA-C, Kyle DeSantis, PA-C
and Caitlin Oline, ARNP. William Vance Borland RN, BSN, OCN is
the newest addition to our outstanding nursing team.
Our faculty is also growing. We recently hired a new Neurologist-
Neuro-Oncologist, Sepideh Mokhtari, MD, who joined our department
after completing her fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering.
We also recently acquired Edwin Peguero, MD, a Neurologist
as part of our Neurology team. Dr. James Liu joined the Department
as a Neurosurgeon in Jaunary 2018. Each and every one of
these new team members are extraordinarily talented and experienced,
providing our patients with the world class care they have
come to expect at Moffitt.
Our growing faculty is highly attuned to patients’ need for timely
access to care. Our physicians and their teams are available to
see qualified new patients within a day or two. In many cases
when circumstances warranted, we have even accommodated
patients on the same day. We are proud of this achievement and
commitment to the highest quality patient care, in a year when
the department’s clinical patient volumes were approximately
6600 visits and surgical volume approached 800 cases.
Once again this year, I am proud and humbled to be part of this
incredible team of compassionate healthcare professionals, who
care for our patients and support our physicians with exceptional
service every day. This department consistently delivers outstanding
care for our patients and continuously strives to improve clinical
and surgical treatments for the best patient outcomes. We look
forward to finding more opportunities to contribute to the prevention
and cure of cancer.
HELP DRIVE CANCER RESEARCH
Cancer touches all of us, regardless of ethnicity, age, gender or status.
When you order a Moffitt specialty license plate, you are helping
esearchers and scientists develop the medicines and protocols that
will advance cancer treatments and help cure patients.
ORDER YOUR PLATE TODAY
AT MOFFITTPLATE.org
MOFFITT.org 2018 ISSUE | NEURON NEWS 11
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