Primary Brain Tumour

1p19q-codeleted (tumour)	A brain tumour that has a combined loss of the short arm of chromosome 1 and the long arm of chromosome 19. Tumours that are 1p19q-codeleted tend to respond better to chemotherapy than 1p19q-intact tumours
1p19q-intact (tumour)	A brain tumour that does not have a combined loss of the short arm of chromosome 1 and the long arm of chromosome 19. Tumours that are 1p19q-intact tend to respond less well to chemotherapy than 1p19q-codeleted tumours
Adjuvant (treatment)	Additional treatment given after the primary treatment to reduce the chance of the cancer coming back; usually refers to radiotherapy and/or systemic therapy after surgery
Alkylating (chemotherapy)	A type of chemotherapy that interferes with the cell's DNA and inhibits cancer cell growth
Anaplastic	Cancer cells that divide rapidly and have little or no resemblance to normal cells
Astrocytoma	A tumour that begins in the brain or spinal cord in small, star-shaped cells called astrocytes
Biopsy	A medical procedure in which a small sample of cells or tissue is taken for examination under a microscope
Concurrent	At the same time
Coronavirus	A group of viruses that cause disease in mammals and birds but may also affect humans
COVID-19	A disease caused by a type of coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2
Chemotherapy	A type of cancer treatment using medicine that kills the cancer cells by damaging them so that they cannot reproduce and spread
Chromosome	The part of a cell that contains genetic information
DNA	The chemical that carries genetic information in the cells of your body
Dyspnoea	Shortness of breath
Ependymoma	A type of brain tumour that forms in cells lining the spinal cord central canal or the fluid-filled spaces of the brain
Gene	Piece of DNA responsible for making substances that the body needs to function
Glioblastoma	A fast-growing type of brain tumour that forms from glial cells, which surround and support nerve cells
Glioma	A type of brain tumour that begins in glial cells, which surround and support nerve cells
Grade	Cancer grade is based on how different tumour cells look from normal cells under a microscope, and on how quickly they grow. The grade will be a value between one and three and reflects the aggressiveness of tumour cells; the higher the grade, the more aggressive the tumour
Immune system	The organs and processes of the body that help to prevent and fight off infections
Intrathecal	Administered into the fluid-filled space between the thin layers of tissue that cover the brain and spinal cord
Intravenous	Administered into a vein
Immunosuppressive drugs	Types of drugs that suppress or reduce the strength of the body's immune system
Immunotherapy	A type of cancer treatment that stimulates the body’s immune system to fight the cancer
Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-mutant (tumour)	A brain tumour that has a mutation in an IDH gene. IDH-mutant tumours tend to be less aggressive than IDH-wild type tumours
Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-wild type (tumour)	A brain tumour that does not have a mutation in an IDH gene. IDH-wild type tumours tend to be more aggressive than IDH-mutant tumours
Lymphocyte	A type of white blood cell that forms part of our immune system
Lymphoma	A type of blood cancer that develops in a type of white blood cells called lymphocytes
Medulloblastoma	A fast-growing type of cancer that forms in the cerebellum, which is in the low, back part of the brain
Meningioma	A slow-growing type of cancer that forms in the thin layers of tissue that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord (meninges)
Methotrexate	A type of chemotherapy that is administered through a drip into a vein in your arm or chest, or orally
MGMT promoter methylation	A process by which the O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase gene is altered. This process makes tumours more susceptible to treatment with chemotherapy
Mutation	A permanent alteration in the DNA sequence that makes up a gene, such that the sequence differs from what is found in most people and alters the function of the related protein
Non-contrast enhancing (tumour)	A brain tumour that does not break down the blood-brain barrier and may not be fully visible on imaging, as the contrast agent used for imaging cannot flow into the brain
Oligodendroglioma	A rare, slow-growing tumour that begins in oligodendrocytes, which are cells that cover and protect nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord
Pandemic	A disease that is prevalent around the world
Radiotherapy	Treatment involving the use of high-energy radiation, which is commonly used to treat cancer
Recurrence	Return of a cancer
Resection	Surgery to remove tissue
Steroid	A type of drug used to relieve swelling and inflammation. Some steroid drugs also have antitumour effects
Systemic (therapy)	Drugs that spread throughout the body to treat cancer cells wherever they may be. They include chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy
Targeted therapy	A type of cancer treatment that uses drugs or other substances to precisely identify and attack cancer cells, usually while doing little damage to normal cells
Temozolomide	A type of chemotherapy that is administered orally
Tumour	A lump or growth of abnormal cells. Tumours may be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). In this guide, the term ‘tumour’ refers to a cancerous growth, unless otherwise stated
White blood cells	A type of blood cell that is part of the body’s immune system. White blood cells help the body fight infections

Related Links