title: Nimotuzumab for pediatric diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG) have a poor prognosis: the median survival rate is less than one year. Radiotherapy is the only effective treatment affording an overall survival of 6 - 9 months. So far, no improvement has been achieved with the addition of single/poly-chemotherapy regimens. An urgent need is to advance in this field, from both the biological and the clinical points of view.
  
  
  METHODS
  Among the few studies providing biological information on DIPG, Gilbertson's group demonstrated a significant increase in EGFR expression. The activity of nimotuzumab, a humanized anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody, was therefore studied within a Phase II trial in 47 relapsing pediatric patients with DIPG and high-grade gliomas, showing an interesting, persistent response, especially in the first group treated. A multicenter exploratory study combining nimotuzumab and radiotherapy showed disease control and an overall patient survival similar to previous experiences along with an improvement in the quality of patient survival and no severe side effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We recommend considering this combination in the armamentarium against DIPG. It might be improved by adding other target drugs/low-toxicity chemotherapy regimens with a synergistic effect with the anti-EGFR component.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Via Venezian, 1 20133 Milano, Italy. maura.massimino@istitutotumori.mi.it
authors.forename: Maura
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Massimino
authors.forename: Udo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bode
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Biassoni
authors.forename: Gudrun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fleischhack
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020295:Brain Stem Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D011149:Pons / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C501466:nimotuzumab