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Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma: a reassessment

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Abstract

Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is a disease of childhood whose abysmal prognosis has remained unchanged for over 50 years. Biologic investigation has been stymied by lack of pretreatment tissue, as biopsy has been reserved for atypical cases. Recent advances in surgical and molecular-analytic techniques have increased the safety and potential utility of biopsy; brainstem biopsy has now been incorporated into several prospective clinical trials. These and other recent efforts have yielded new insights into DIPG molecular pathogenesis, and opened new avenues for investigation.

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Acknowledgments

Support was obtained from the Ellie Kavalieros DIPG Foundation (MWK) and the Ryan Harvey Fund (MWK).

Conflict of interest

NJR: none. MWK: Consulting/advisory board agreements with Novartis, Sanofi, Incyte, Boehringer, SigmaTau, and Merck Pharmaceutical.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, 4650 W Sunset Blvd, MS#54, Los Angeles, CA, 90027, USA

    Nathan J. Robison

  2. Pediatric Neuro-Oncology, Department of Pediatric Oncology, Boston Children’s Hospital, 450 Brookline Ave, SW331, Boston, MA, 02215, USA

    Mark W. Kieran

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Correspondence to Nathan J. Robison.

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Robison, N.J., Kieran, M.W. Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma: a reassessment. J Neurooncol 119, 7–15 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-014-1448-8

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