Brain SPOREs
Primary brain tumors originate in one (or more) cell types in the brain or spinal cord, and some of the most common include gliomas (such as astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas, and ependymomas) and meningiomas. In 2016, there were an estimated 165,813 people living with brain and other nervous system cancer in the United States. By 2020, it is estimated that there will be 23,890 new cases of cancer of the brain and nervous system and 18,020 deaths. Five-year survival rates by stage at diagnosis are 35.7% for localized tumors, 20.2% for regional tumors, and 32.4% for distant tumors.
The Brain Cancer SPORE program was initiated in 2002. Current advances have been made in the treatment of brain tumors and are part of ongoing studies in the Brain Cancer SPORE program, including improved prognostic testing, tumor vaccines, and other immunotherapeutic approaches.