Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 5/10/2010

Question
Could you please explain the difference between Grade iii Anaplastic Astrocytoma and Grade iii Anaplastic Oligoastrocytoma in terms of prognosis/life expectancy. This Grade iii AOA has already recurred and he is involved in a clinical trial in hopes of a better outcome/prognosis.

Answer
A grade III (3) anaplastic astrocytoma case has a very bad prognosis with a survival time around a couple of years (with full treatment). A grade IV (4) case is even worse with a survival time with full treatment of around one year. An oligoastrocytoma is a mixture of 2 different tumors. An oligodendroglioma and an astrocytoma. An oligodendroglioma has a better prognosis with a longer survival time than an astrocytoma. So even though the worst component is the most determining factor a mixed tumor has a somewhat longer survival time and therefore a better prognosis than a pure astrocytoma. However once such a mixed tumor has recurred (in fact it is the same with a pure oligodendroglioma) its prognosis is also very bad and there is no real difference to an astrocytoma of the same grade (the higher the grade the worse the prognosis). I do hope I have managed to explain it clearly!




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