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Primary Brain Tumors in the Elderly

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Abstract

The incidence of primary brain tumors is highest in elderly patients, and advanced age often is a negative prognostic factor. Nevertheless, large randomized studies in this population are scarce. Elderly patients with primary brain tumors also present unique challenges, such as the presence of multiple comorbidities and polypharmacy, decreased tolerance to chemotherapy, and an increased risk for radiation-induced neurotoxicity. This review gives an overview of the treatment options for older patients with glioblastoma and other gliomas, primary central nervous system lymphomas (PCNSLs), and meningiomas. Selected elderly glioblastoma patients with good performance status may benefit from aggressive treatment with surgical resection, radiotherapy, and possibly chemotherapy. For older patients with PCNSLs, high-dose methotrexate-based chemotherapy should be the mainstay option; whole-brain radiation therapy should be avoided in chemosensitive tumors because of the high risk of irreversible and progressive neurotoxicity. Meningiomas often may be followed up in elderly patients, as they usually are asymptomatic and have a slow growth rate. Treatment for elderly patients with primary brain tumors should be individualized, and age alone should not preclude the use of more aggressive treatments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA

    Lakshmi Nayak

  2. Neuro-Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, 9030 Old Georgetown Road, Room 221, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA

    Fabio M. Iwamoto

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  1. Lakshmi Nayak
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Correspondence to Fabio M. Iwamoto.

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Nayak, L., Iwamoto, F.M. Primary Brain Tumors in the Elderly. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 10, 252–258 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-010-0110-x

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