Update on the therapeutic approaches to brain tumors.

Neuro-oncology is a rapidly growing field of study. The understanding of brain tumors has expanded in pace with advances in the field of molecular biology and genetics. Diagnoses are more accurate, biopsy and surgical intervention safer, radiotherapy more focused and chemotherapy safer and better tolerated. Novel strategies based on the understanding of brain tumor biology are emerging as targeted approaches to therapy. Despite all this, only a minority of patients with certain subsets of brain tumors have experienced prolonged survival. This review focuses on the standard and emerging therapies for the two most common categories of brain tumors: gliomas and meningiomas. Primary CNS lymphoma, while a relatively rare tumor, is also included as a topic of discussion as the achievements in its treatment represent the principal strides in the evolution of neuro-oncology.