ABSTRACT
Brain cancer accounts for approximately 1.4% of all cancers and 2.3% of all cancer-related deaths. The dangerous aspect of these tumors is that they can interfere with normal brain function that is essential for life. Despite the increase in the number of epidemiological studies on brain cancer, there is little consensus on the nature and magnitude of the risk factors for it. Any central nervous system cell can become cancerous. Primary brain tumors are currently classified in a manner that reflects their histological appearance and location. Astrocytomas, the most frequent and most invasive brain tumors in children and adults, arise and take their name from the astrocyte cells. The identification of the genetical alterations found in astrocytomas led to the recognition that the nonrandom series of genetical changes that take place reflects increase of malignancy and clinical grade. Ependymomas are tumors arising from the cell lining of the brain ventricles or ependymal cells.
