Gliomas

Gliomas represent some of the most difficult tumours to understand and most challenging to treat. As illustrated in this book, the difficulty in understanding them is apparent in various ways. They have significant diversity in histology, genomic alternations, protein expression, clinical presentation, radiographic appearance, treatment approaches, and ideas of how to cure them. Our current understanding of the genetic mutations and signalling pathways that drive these tumours has greatly expanded our knowledge and at the same time, our uncertainty about how to combat these tumours. Added to this complexity is the fact that we are typically talking about tumours that infiltrate through an organ that many of us consider the "seat of our souls," where we must exercise the utmost caution in how we deliver treatments with great risks. This book begins with an introduction to this complex topic with a broad overview of grading criteria, histological features, common genomic alterations and affected signalling pathways, and current treatments. Most exciting is an extensive discussion on new therapeutic concepts and delivering mechanisms that arise from the complex field of nanotechnology where nanoparticles, nanotubes, and nanocrystals may someday become the Trojan horse.