Medications are typically a part of brain tumor treatment. They’re often used along with other types of treatments. Types of medications used include chemotherapy drugs, corticosteroids, and seizure medications.
A brain tumor is an area of brain tissue where cells begin to grow and divide uncontrollably. Tumors can be either noncancerous or cancerous.
If possible, surgery is used to treat many brain tumors. But various medications may be used as well. This article explores the different medications used to treat brain tumors.
Can brain tumors be treated with medication alone?
If you have a brain tumor, it’s unlikely that you’ll only receive medication as a part of your treatment plan. In fact, you may have several types of treatment, which can include some combination of surgery, radiation therapy, or medication.
Medications for brain tumors can be used to shrink the tumor or to alleviate symptoms. Here’s a closer look at the different types of medications.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy (chemo) uses drugs that target the growth and division of cancer cells. When cancer cells can’t divide properly, they eventually die. Chemo is often used in combination with other treatments such as surgery or radiation therapy.
There are a few ways that chemo may be used for brain tumors:
- to shrink a cancer before surgery (neoadjuvant therapy)
- to help destroy remaining cancer cells after surgery (adjuvant therapy)
- as the main treatment for a cancer, especially if:
- surgery isn’t possible
- your cancer is more advanced
- your cancer has come back
For many cancers, chemo is given directly into your bloodstream (intravenous [IV]) or by mouth (oral). While some chemo drugs can be given this way for brain tumors, many can’t due to the
The BBB is a natural barrier that protects your brain from potentially harmful substances, including some medication. Because of it, chemo may need to be given in other ways, including:
- into the cerebrospinal fluid (intrathecal)
- directly into the brain, sometimes using a dissolvable wafer that’s placed during surgery
Some examples of chemo drugs that can be used alone or in combination for brain tumors are:
- carmustine
- lomustine
- procarbazine
- temozolomide
- vincristine
Have a discussion with your doctor when
Side effects of chemotherapy
The common side effects of chemo can include:
- fatigue
- nausea and vomiting
- diarrhea
- reduced appetite
- mouth sores
- hair loss
- low blood counts, which can cause:
- higher infection risk
Targeted therapy
According to the
Bevacizumab (Avastin), which is given by IV infusion, and everolimus (Afinitor), which is given orally, are two examples of targeted therapy drugs that can be used for brain tumors.
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids are medications that reduce inflammation. They’re used to lower swelling in the brain, which can lead to increased intracranial pressure that can cause symptoms such as headache and nausea.
Corticosteroids are taken orally. The
Side effects of corticosteroids
Some of the
- abdominal irritation
- increased appetite
- weight gain
- difficulty sleeping
- changes in mood
- higher infection risk
- high blood pressure
- high blood sugar
Seizure medications
It’s possible for some brain tumors to lead to seizures. Because of this, seizure medications can be used to help lower the risk of seizures in people with a brain tumor.
Seizure medications are taken orally. Some examples of commonly used seizure medications for brain tumors are:
- levetiracetam (Keppra)
- lacosamide (Vimpat)
- lamotrigine (Lamictal)
- valproic acid (Belvo, Depakote, Dyzantil, Convulex, Syonell)
Side effects of seizure drugs
The specific side effects that you may experience can vary by seizure drug. Some of the common general side effects of seizure drugs are:
- feelings of fatigue or weakness
- dizziness
- headache
- nausea
- blurry vision
- changes in weight
- mood disorders
- cognitive difficulties, which can include issues with thinking, memory, or attention
Along with medications, there are several other treatments that are used for brain tumors. These include:
- surgery to remove the tumor
- radiation therapy, which can be used:
- as the main treatment for a tumor, particularly if surgery isn’t possible or medications haven’t been effective
- to kill remaining tumor cells after surgery
- to alleviate symptoms caused by a brain tumor
alternating electric fields therapy , which is used for some types of brain tumors and uses electric fields to interfere with the growth of tumor cells
Potential future treatments being researched
Immunotherapy is a potential future treatment for brain tumors. It harnesses your body’s immune system to attack cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone. This treatment works well on other cancers but traditionally hasn’t been effective against brain tumors due to the BBB.
Are brain tumors curable?
Treatment of brain tumors can be challenging for
- The brain is a crucial organ, and a surgeon may not be able to safely remove a tumor depending on its location.
- The BBB reduces the effectiveness of many types of conventional drug treatments.
- The unique environment and characteristics of some brain tumors may make them more resistant to both conventional and novel treatments.
That said, brain tumors can sometimes be removed completely using surgery, radiation therapy, or medications when they’re caught early. This can become more challenging if a tumor is more advanced or is growing quickly.
Your outlook can depend on many factors, including:
- the type of brain tumor you have
- the location of the tumor
- the size of the tumor
- how fast the tumor is growing
- the type of treatment used and how the tumor responds to it
- your age and overall health
According to the
The tables below show the 5-year relative survival rates for select types of
5-year relative survival rates for adult brain tumors
| Tumor type | 5-year relative survival rate: Ages 20–44 | 5-year relative survival rate: Ages 45–54 | 5-year relative survival rate: Ages 55–64 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diffuse astrocytoma | 73% | 46% | 26% |
| Anaplastic astrocytoma | 58% | 29% | 15% |
| Glioblastoma | 22% | 9% | 6% |
| Oligodendroglioma | 90% | 82% | 69% |
| Anaplastic oligodendroglioma | 76% | 67% | 45% |
| Ependymoma or anaplastic ependymoma | 92% | 90% | 87% |
| Meningioma | 84% | 79% | 74% |
5-year relative survival rates for childhood brain tumors
| Tumor type | 5-year relative survival rate |
|---|---|
| Pilocytic astrocytoma | about 95% |
| Diffuse astrocytoma | about 80%–85% |
| Anaplastic astrocytoma | about 25% |
| Glioblastoma | about 20% |
| Oligodendroglioma | about 90% |
| Ependymoma or anaplastic ependymoma | about 75% |
| Embryonal tumors | about 60%–65% |
What is a relative survival rate?
A relative survival rate gives you an idea of how long someone with a specific condition may live after their diagnosis compared with someone without the condition. For example, a 5-year relative survival rate of 74% means that someone with that condition is 74% as likely to live for 5 years as someone without the condition.
It’s important to remember that these figures are estimates. Talk with a doctor about your specific situation.
Medications are one of the treatments used for brain tumors. They can be used to shrink the tumor or to manage symptoms associated with the tumor.
The types of medications used for brain tumors include chemotherapy, targeted therapy, corticosteroids, and seizure medications. These are often used along with other brain tumor treatments such as surgery and radiation therapy.
Your outlook for brain tumors can vary greatly based off of factors such as the type of tumor you have as well as your age and overall health. Your medical care team can give you a better idea of your specific outlook.