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Treating anaplastic astrocytomas

As these grade 3 astrocytomas are faster growing and more aggressive, the usual course of treatment is surgery followed by radiotherapy and sometimes chemotherapy.

This page is about treating grade 3 astrocytomas. We also have information on:

Make the right choices for you

Our Step by Step interactive guide outlines what happens following a diagnosis, to answer your questions and help you to understand what to expect.

Radiotherapy

If you are relatively fit, a long course of radiotherapy over several weeks may by suggested. If not, a shorter course may be more suitable. Radiotherapy is very rarely used in children under three years old.

Chemotherapy

Where chemotherapy is suggested, chemotherapy drugs are sometimes put inside a polymer wafer and inserted into the brain during surgery. The polymer gradually dissolves over 2-3 weeks, releasing the chemotherapy drug (usually carmustine) directly into the brain. Wafers are used to target cells which couldn’t be removed by surgery. You may also hear these implants referred to as Gliadel® wafers.

Your oncologist may also recommend a drug called temozolomide (Temadol®). Both carmustine and temozolomide stop the tumour cells copying their DNA (genes), which needs to happen before the cells can divide. This in turn stops the tumour cells dividing.

Tessa Jowell BRAIN MATRIX

The Tessa Jowell BRAIN MATRIX is a study which aims to improve knowledge of glioma and identify potential new treatments. Participants in the study will have their tumour tested in a lab to uncover its molecular profile.


More information

Astrocytoma factsheet – PDF

Our fact sheet gives you an overview of astrocytomas in adults, how they are treated and answers some of the questions you may have about this type of tumour.


If you have further questions, need to clarify any of the information on this page, or want to find out more about research and clinical trials, please contact our team:

Support and Information Services

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A member of our Support & Information Team provides support over the phone to somebody affected by a brain tumour diagnosis

Get support

If you need someone to talk to or advice on where to get help, our Support and Information team is available by phone, email or live-chat.

Alfie’s story

Three years ago, Alfie had a grade 1 pilocytic astrocytoma completely removed.  Now he shares his experiences with fatigue and how he manages day to day.

Share your experiences and help create change

By taking part in our Improving Brain Tumour Care surveys and sharing your experiences, you can help us improve treatment and care for everyone affected by a brain tumour.