Developing chemotherapy for diffuse pontine intrinsic gliomas (DIPG)

Brainstem gliomas (BSG) account for 15 –20% of all childhood central nervous system (CNS) tumors (Stiller and Nectoux, 1994), and up to 85% of these cases are diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG) (Hargrave et al., 2006). At present, DIPG represents the biggest therapeutic challenge of all BSG subtypes. In addition to occupying crit ical pathways and nuclei, DIPG has a diffuse, infiltrative nature that has given it a reputation of being ‘untouchable’. Radiation is the standard treatment for DIPG; however, despite collaborative efforts to improve treatments, the survival rate of patients with DIPG has remained static over th e last 20 years: median survival is about 10 months and the two-year survival rate is less than 10% (Hargrave et al., 2006).
Source: Critical Reviews in Oncology Hematology - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Tags: Review Source Type: research