Pediatric High-grade Glioma: Biologically and Clinically in Need of New Thinking

Overview

Journal Neuro Oncol

Publisher Oxford University Press

Specialties Neurology
Oncology

Date 2016 Jun 11

PMID 27282398

Citations 198

Authors

Chris Jones

Matthias A Karajannis

David T W Jones

Mark W Kieran

Michelle Monje

Suzanne J Baker

Oren J Becher

Yoon-Jae Cho

Nalin Gupta

Cynthia Hawkins

Darren Hargrave

Daphne A Haas-Kogan

Nada Jabado

Xiao-Nan Li

Sabine Mueller

Theo Nicolaides

Roger J Packer

Anders I Persson

Joanna J Phillips

Erin F Simonds

James M Stafford

Yujie Tang

Stefan M Pfister

William A Weiss

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

High-grade gliomas in children are different from those that arise in adults. Recent collaborative molecular analyses of these rare cancers have revealed previously unappreciated connections among chromatin regulation, developmental signaling, and tumorigenesis. As we begin to unravel the unique developmental origins and distinct biological drivers of this heterogeneous group of tumors, clinical trials need to keep pace. It is important to avoid therapeutic strategies developed purely using data obtained from studies on adult glioblastoma. This approach has resulted in repetitive trials and ineffective treatments being applied to these children, with limited improvement in clinical outcome. The authors of this perspective, comprising biology and clinical expertise in the disease, recently convened to discuss the most effective ways to translate the emerging molecular insights into patient benefit. This article reviews our current understanding of pediatric high-grade glioma and suggests approaches for innovative clinical management.

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