New Challenges in Neuro-Oncology: From Diagnosis to Treatment

Submission Deadline: 30 June 2025 View: 26 Submit to Special Issue

Guest Editors

Dr. Francesco Cuccia

Email: francesco.cuccia@arnascivico.it  

Affiliation: Radiation Oncology – ARNAS Civico Hospital, Palermo, 90100, Italy

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Research Interests: Stereotactic radiotherapy; spine metastases; central nervous system; brain tumors; pediatric oncology

Dr. Giuseppe Ferrera

Email: giuseppe.ferrera@arnascivico.it   

Affiliation: Radiation Oncology – ARNAS Civico Hospital, Palermo, 90100, Italy

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Research Interests: Radiotherapy; hypofractionation; gliomas; pediatric oncology

Dr. Giuseppe Carruba

Email: giuseppe.carruba@arnascivico.it   

Affiliation: Division of Research and Internationalization – ARNAS Civico Hospital, Palermo, 90100, Italy

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Research Interests: Cancer prevention; biomarkers; translational research

Dr. Livio Blasi

Email: livio.blasi@arnascivico.it   

Affiliation: Medical Oncology – ARNAS Civico Hospital, Palermo, 90100, Italy

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Research Interests: Brain tumors; spine tumors

Dr. Giuseppe Craparo

Email: giuseppe.craparo@arnascivico.it     

Affiliation: Neuroradiology – ARNAS Civico Hospital, Palermo, 90100, Italy

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Research Interests: Brain imaging; spine imaging; MRI; vascular disease

Summary

The concept of neuro-oncology encompasses a wide spectrum of diseases and challenges for the medical community in its entirety.

From the challenges of diagnosing primary brain tumors in terms of imaging modalities with the emerging role of PET-CT, to the interpretation of follow-up imaging especially after oncological treatments.

From a therapeutical perspective, especially for high-grade gliomas, major challenges are represented by the paucity of treatments with limited choices in terms of drugs and poor outcomes from conventional radiotherapy treatments. Nonetheless, molecular targets are on the horizon and the technological advances of radiotherapy lead the way to explore new treatment options.

Similarly, pediatric neuro-oncology and young adult patients represent another major challenge due to the need to build stronger evidence with prospective studies.

In the case of metastatic involvement of the central nervous system, we are witnessing a change of paradigm with the advent of new-generation treatments such as tyrosine-kinase inhibitors, immunotherapy, or PARP-inhibitors with a significant impact on clinical outcomes, highlighting the role of local therapies in the case of oligo progressive disease. Both for the brain and spine, stereotactic radiotherapy is a consolidated option in daily clinical practice, able to deliver safe and effective treatments in a favorable combination with systemic therapy.

This Special Issue starts from this point to collect evidence in the field of neuro-oncology exploring the new frontiers and evidence in the multidisciplinary management of central nervous system malignancies.  

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