Hi Dr. Landolfi;
Here is the next question from the group. First though, I want to pass on the sincere "thanks" expressed by many of the group members for your assistance.
Adult ependymomas occur most frequently around 34 years of age - why then? Did we carry the cells from birth, and the tumor formed after that many years, or are our bodies more susceptible to causes after 34 years?
Thank you (as always)
Bruce
The doctor's response...
Ependymomas occur in childhood most commonly with another peak in the third decade of life. There is no clear understanding as to why they occur more commonly in these age distributions. This is true of other tumors as well when they occur. We all have ependymoma cells-these are the cells of origin for the tumor. What causes them to grow abnormally is unknown-genetic and environmental factors may play a role, but we just don't know.
Dr. Landolfi