title: Pediatric Brain Tumors: Innovative Genomic Information Is Transforming the Diagnostic and Clinical Landscape.
abstract: Pediatric neuro-oncology has undergone an exciting and dramatic transformation during the past 5 years. This article summarizes data from collaborative group and institutional trials that have advanced the science of pediatric brain tumors and survival of patients with these tumors. Advanced genomic analysis of the entire spectrum of pediatric brain tumors has heralded an era in which stakeholders in the pediatric neuro-oncology community are being challenged to reconsider their current research and diagnostic and treatment strategies. The incorporation of this new information into the next-generation treatment protocols will unleash new challenges. This review succinctly summarizes the key advances in our understanding of the common pediatric brain tumors (ie, medulloblastoma, low- and high-grade gliomas, diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, and ependymoma) and some selected rare tumors (ie, atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor and CNS primitive neuroectodermal tumor). The potential impact of this new information on future clinical protocols also is discussed. Cutting-edge genomics technologies and the information gained from such studies are facilitating the identification of molecularly defined subgroups within patients with particular pediatric brain tumors. The number of evaluable patients in each subgroup is small, particularly in the subgroups of rare diseases. Therefore, international collaboration will be crucial to draw meaningful conclusions about novel approaches to treating pediatric brain tumors.
authors: Amar Gajjar, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN; Daniel C. Bowers, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX; Matthias A. Karajannis, New York University (NYU) Perlmutter Cancer Center and NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY; Sarah Leary, University of Washington School of Medicine and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA; Hendrik Witt, German Cancer Research Center and University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; and Nicholas G. Gottardo, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children and The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. amar.gajjar@stjude.org.
authors: Amar
authors: A
authors: Gajjar
authors: Amar Gajjar, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN; Daniel C. Bowers, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX; Matthias A. Karajannis, New York University (NYU) Perlmutter Cancer Center and NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY; Sarah Leary, University of Washington School of Medicine and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA; Hendrik Witt, German Cancer Research Center and University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; and Nicholas G. Gottardo, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children and The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors: Daniel C
authors: DC
authors: Bowers
authors: Amar Gajjar, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN; Daniel C. Bowers, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX; Matthias A. Karajannis, New York University (NYU) Perlmutter Cancer Center and NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY; Sarah Leary, University of Washington School of Medicine and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA; Hendrik Witt, German Cancer Research Center and University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; and Nicholas G. Gottardo, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children and The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors: Matthias A
authors: MA
authors: Karajannis
authors: Amar Gajjar, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN; Daniel C. Bowers, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX; Matthias A. Karajannis, New York University (NYU) Perlmutter Cancer Center and NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY; Sarah Leary, University of Washington School of Medicine and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA; Hendrik Witt, German Cancer Research Center and University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; and Nicholas G. Gottardo, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children and The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Leary
authors: Amar Gajjar, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN; Daniel C. Bowers, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX; Matthias A. Karajannis, New York University (NYU) Perlmutter Cancer Center and NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY; Sarah Leary, University of Washington School of Medicine and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA; Hendrik Witt, German Cancer Research Center and University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; and Nicholas G. Gottardo, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children and The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors: Hendrik
authors: H
authors: Witt
authors: Amar Gajjar, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN; Daniel C. Bowers, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX; Matthias A. Karajannis, New York University (NYU) Perlmutter Cancer Center and NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY; Sarah Leary, University of Washington School of Medicine and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA; Hendrik Witt, German Cancer Research Center and University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; and Nicholas G. Gottardo, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children and The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors: Nicholas G
authors: NG
authors: Gottardo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000639:trends; D023281:Genomics / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007391:International Cooperation; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000639:trends*; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000639:trends*; D057285:Precision Medicine / Q000639:trends; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D017741:Survivors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult