THE‘actress Kelley Mackknown to the public for his role in the series The Walking Deaddisappeared at only 33 years of age due to a Glioma. His death has brought attention to a little known but highly aggressive disease, which can affect even at a young age. In Italy, the cancer of the central nervous system represent 1.6% of all neoplasms, with about 6,100 new cases per year, and the gliomas make up about 40% of these diagnoses, according to the data of the Higher Institute of Health and the Italian Association of Tumor Registers (Source: Humanitas.it).
These neoplasms can Hit both children and adultspresenting itself with very variable levels of gravity. The degree of aggressiveness deeply affects prognosis and treatment options, ranging from surgical interventions to radiotherapy treatments, with an increasingly multidisciplinary and personalized approach (MSD manual source).
What is glioma and how it develops
Gloma is a tumor that originates from the gliali cells, fundamental for the functioning and protection of neurons. It can affect both the brain that, more rarely, the spinal cord. It is classified on the basis of aggression (from grade i to IV) and the type of cells involved (astrocytomas, oligodendnderiomi, ependymomas). The gliomas of Grado IV, such as the glooblastoma and the widespread midline midline that has affected Kelley Mack, are among the most serious and difficult forms to treat (Source: Veronesi Foundation).
The symptoms not to ignore
Gloma manifests itself with Different symptoms depending on the headquarters and extension of the tumor. The most common signals include persistent headacheespecially in the morning or by lying down, epileptic crisis, Nausea, vomiting and focal neurological disorders as weakness, DIfficolter in language, visual alterations and problems of coordination. In some cases they occur behavior changes or Memory loss. In the spinal gliomas, such as that diagnosed with the actress, i symptoms may include Lumbar pain and tingling in the legs, initially exchanged for muscle or inflammatory disorders.
Early diagnosis and multidisciplinary approach
Kelley Mack, actress of The Walking Dead, in a shot on the red carpet
Glioma diagnosis is based on imaging exams such as the magnetic resonance imaging with contrast and, in more complex cases, one biopsy To determine histology and the presence of molecular mutations. In recent years, the WHO classification has integrated genetic parameters such as Idh, 1p/19q and MGMT, essential to guide therapeutic choices and estimate the prognosis (Source: Veronesi Foundation).
Therapies available in Italy
The treatment of glioma provides for a Integrated approach, based on surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The surgery is indicated when the tumor is accessible, with the aim of removing as many as possible without compromising the neurological functions. Advanced techniques such as L‘Awake Surgery And neuronavigation are today used in the main Italian centers.
After the intervention, continue with radiotherapy and, in the most aggressive cases, with the Temozolomide based chemotherapydrug that has shown significantly increase survival In patients with glystoma.
The innovative care of the glioma
Innovative treatments such as the Protontherapy and Adrotherapy, Suitable for tumors located in critical and difficult to operate offices. These techniques are accessible in Italy in public and private centers of excellencelike the Cnao di PaviaThe Trento proton therapy centerThe Catania of Catania and theIeo Proton Center of Milan.
New frontiers: immunotherapy and experimental therapies
Next to traditional therapies, research is aiming on Immunotherapy and molecular target therapies. In some cases selected, as in children with widespread midline, clinical studies have led to a doubling of survival thanks to personalized experimental protocols, such as those started at the‘Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital of Rome.
Where to cure themselves: Italian centers of excellence
Italy has a network of high specialization centers for the diagnosis and treatment of brain tumors:
In Milan, l‘Carlo Besta Neurological Institute It is among the major European poles for neuro-oncology. Always in Milan, theNational Cancer Institute and the Polyclinic They offer avant -garde surgical and oncological treatments. The Gemelli Polyclinic of Rome It is a reference point for the Center-South, with a personalized approach supported by artificial intelligence. THE‘Veneto Oncological Institute (Padua) It is active in the experimentation of innovative protocols and molecular therapies.