Mixed Glioma
Mixed gliomas are brain tumors that affect more than one type of glial cell. The glial cells, which include astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and ependymal cells, provide support to the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Mixed gliomas are sometimes called oligoastrocytomas, as they most often affect the astrocytes and oligodendrocytes.
As part of the diagnostic process, physicians will grade a mixed glioma on a scale from 1 to 4, with grades 1 and 2 describing slow-growing tumors and grades 3 and 4 describing more aggressive tumors that grow faster and are more likely to spread.
Our Approach
Moffitt Cancer Center offers comprehensive diagnostic, treatment and supportive care services for patients with mixed gliomas. The multispecialty team that makes up our Neuro-Oncology Program includes neurosurgeons, medical oncologists, neuroradiologists, neuropathologists, radiation oncologists and many other specialists who are dedicated to treating mixed gliomas and other forms of brain cancer. Our cancer experts collaborate extensively to improve the prognosis and quality of life for our patients, each of whom benefits from an individualized treatment plan that is tailored to his or her unique needs.
If you are diagnosed with a mixed glioma, the course of treatment recommended for you will depend on many individual factors, including the size, location and grade of your tumor as well as your general health and medical history. Treatment for mixed gliomas may consist of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biological therapies, immunotherapies or a combination of two or more treatments.
Moffitt also offers a robust clinical trials program, which provides eligible patients with access to the latest treatments before those options are made widely available in other settings. As a member of the National Cancer Institute’s Adult Brain Tumor Consortium, Moffitt is committed to advancing research into the most effective diagnostic and treatment strategies for mixed gliomas and other types of brain cancer.
If you have been diagnosed with a mixed glioma and would like a second opinion or want to learn about your treatment options at Moffitt, call 1-888-663-3488 or fill out a new patient registration form online.