1. ¹Department of Histology, Microbiology and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
2. ²Division of Neurosurgery, San Bortolo Hospital, Vicenza, Italy

Correspondence: Dr L Barzon, Department of Histology, Microbiology and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Padova, Via A Gabelli 63, I-35121 Padova, Italy. E-mail: luisa.barzon@unipd.it

Received 21 July 2005; Revised 21 October 2005; Accepted 24 October 2005; Published online 6 January 2006.

Abstract

Despite advances in surgical and adjuvant therapy, the prognosis for malignant gliomas remains dismal. This gloomy scenario has been recently brightened by the increasing understanding of the genetic and biological mechanisms at the basis of brain tumor development. These findings are being translated into innovative therapeutic approaches, including gene therapy, virotherapy, and vaccination, some of which have already been experimented in clinical trials. The advantages and disadvantages of all these different therapeutic modalities for malignant gliomas will be critically discussed, providing perspective for future investigations.