Final answer:
Astrocytomas are cancers of the CNS that arise from astrocytes and can grow rapidly due to uncontrolled cell growth caused by DNA mutations. Higher-grade astrocytomas proliferate faster, leading to a worse prognosis. Treatments may include angiogenesis inhibitors to disrupt the tumor's blood supply and slow its progression.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse's best response to a client with a growing astrocytoma would address how cancer cells like those in astrocytomas can proliferate at an accelerated rate. Astrocytomas are a type of glioma, a cancer arising from glial cells, such as astrocytes, in the central nervous system (CNS). These tumors are graded on a scale from I to IV based on their growth patterns and how aggressive they are, with higher grades indicating more rapid growth and a worse prognosis. Most astrocytomas are high-grade, which means they can grow very fast. These types of tumors can cause uncontrolled cell growth because of mutations in the cells’ DNA. As a result, the cells continue to divide and replicate without the usual checks and balances that keep normal cell growth in order.
In treating astrocytomas, angiogenesis inhibitors may be used to target the tumor's blood supply. Since all tissues, including malignant tumors, require a blood supply to deliver nutrients and oxygen, inhibiting angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels) can starve the tumor and slow or stop its growth. These drugs disrupt the tumor's ability to connect with blood vessels, effectively inhibiting its growth and potential to metastasize, or spread, to other areas of the body.