Review

Department of Pediatric Oncology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, Great Ormond Street, London, WC1N 3JH, UK.

Email the corresponding author at darren.hargrave@nhs.net

Published Online:24 Nov 2012https://doi.org/10.2217/cns.12.15

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Abstract

SUMMARY Pediatric diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) has a dismal prognosis that has not seen a change in outcome despite multiple clinical trials. Possible reasons for failure to make progress in this aggressive childhood brain tumor include: poor understanding of the underlying molecular biology due to lack of access to tumor material; absence of accurate and relevant DIPG preclinical models for drug development; ill-defined therapeutic targets for novel agents; and inadequate drug delivery to the brainstem. This review will demonstrate that systematic studies to identify solutions for each of these barriers is starting to deliver progress that can turn pessimism to optimism in DIPG.

Papers of special note have been highlighted as: ▪ of interest ▪▪ of considerable interest

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Financial & competing interests disclosure

D Hargrave has previously held (paid and unpaid) consultancy agreements and contributed to advisory boards with the following organizations: Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline, Hoffman-La Roche, Merck Sharp & Dohme and Novartis. However, the author confirms that all opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and not influenced by any external agency or organization. The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

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Pediatric diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma: can optimism replace pessimism?

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