High-Grade Glioma

High-grade Gliomas (HGG) or astrocytomas in children nearly always result in a dismal prognosis. Although novel therapeutic approaches are currently in development, preclinical testing has been limited, due to a lack of pediatric-specific HGG preclinical models. These models are needed to help test the effectiveness of different drug types in the laboratory. Medical advances over the last 40 years have increased the survival rates for many types of childhood cancers. However, the prognosis for patients diagnosed with a Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) has not improved. These highly-aggressive brain tumors defy treatment and have a 98% mortality rate,typically within nine months of a diagnosis. Located in the area of the brainstem that controls a child’s breathing, blood pressure, heart rate, and other vital functions, DIPG tumors cannot be removed through surgery. WHO 2016 Classification Diffuse astrocytic and oligodendroglial tumor.