Pineocytoma (World Health Organization [WHO] grade II), pineoblastoma (WHO grade IV), and pineal parenchymal tumors of intermediate differentiation are diverse tumors that require special consideration. Pineocytomas are slow growing and carry variable prognoses for cure. Pineoblastomas are more rapidly growing and have worse prognoses. Pineal parenchymal tumors of intermediate differentiation have unpredictable growth and clinical behavior. (Refer to the Pineal parenchymal tumors section in the Classification section of this summary for more information.)

STANDARD TREATMENT OPTIONS:

1. Surgery plus radiation therapy for pineocytoma.[1,2]
2. Surgery plus radiation therapy and chemotherapy for pineoblastoma.[1,2]

TREATMENT OPTIONS UNDER CLINICAL EVALUATION:

• Patients with brain tumors that are either infrequently curable or unresectable should be considered candidates for clinical trials that evaluate radiosensitizers, hyperthermia, or intraoperative radiation therapy in conjunction with external-beam radiation therapy to improve local control of the tumor. Such patients are also candidates for studies that evaluate new drugs and biological response modifiers following radiation therapy.

Information about ongoing clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site.

References:

1. Stein BM, Fetell MR: Therapeutic modalities for pineal region tumors. Clin Neurosurg 32: 445-55, 1985.
2. Rich TA, Cassady JR, Strand RD, et al.: Radiation therapy for pineal and suprasellar germ cell tumors. Cancer 55 (5): 932-40, 1985.