Brain and Central Nervous System Cancers

Brain and central nervous system (CNS) cancers affect both children and adults. Among children, CNS tumors are the second most commonly diagnosed type of cancer. It is a condition that is most commonly diagnosed in Caucasians and, in particular, Caucasian males. The causes of primary brain and central nervous system tumors are not known.

Treatment options for brain and CNS tumors may vary depending on the patient's age, size and location of the tumor, stage of disease, and other medical conditions, and should be discussed with the patient's physician.

Brain Cancer Clinical Trials

The Center for Cancer Research (CCR), NCI's largest division doing research on campus, conducts brain tumor clinical trials at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Md. NCI accepts referrals to brain tumor clinical trials conducted in Bethesda, Md., through its Clinical Trials Referral Office (formerly called the Clinical Studies Support Center) at 1-888-NCI-1937 (1-888-624-1937).

NCI is currently conducting the following trials for patients with brain and central nervous system cancers. Click on the trials below for additional details, including a summary of eligibility criteria, treatment plan, and information on how to contact the principal investigators and their staff directly.