Adjuvant Therapies for Subependymal Giant Cell Astrocytomas in Children

Chemotherapy

Complete resection of the tumor essentially entails a cure. However, in incompletely resected, recurrent, or growing residual tumors, mTOR inhibitors represent a particularly attractive therapeutic option.

• mTOR inhibition – everolimus: This agent selectively targets a molecular defect of SEGAs in patients with TSC. Everolimus is generally well tolerated in patients with SEGA associated with TSC; most drug-related adverse reactions are mild to moderate in severity[17]. The treatment needs to be continued for a long time and may have to be life long since regrowth is reported if treatment is discontinued. Additional research aimed at better understanding of aberrant cell signaling pathways may lead to the development of more effective therapeutics (31).

Radiation

• Not helpful: Radiation therapy has not been effective in preventing growth of SEGAs (29).