Why haven't we solved intracranial pediatric ependymoma? Current questions and barriers to treatment advances

Neoplasia. 2023 May:39:100895. doi: 10.1016/j.neo.2023.100895. Epub 2023 Mar 20.

Abstract

Pediatric intracranial ependymoma has seen a recent exponential expansion of biological findings, rapidly dividing the diagnosis into several subgroups, each with specific molecular and clinical characteristics. While such subdivision may complicate clinical conclusions from historical trials, this knowledge also provides an opportunity for interrogating the major clinical and biological questions preventing near-term translation into effective therapy for children with ependymoma. In this article, we briefly review some of the most critical clinical questions facing both patient management and the construct of future trials in childhood ependymoma, as well as explore some of the current barriers to efficient translation of preclinical discovery to the clinic.

Keywords: Anaplasia; Chemotherapy; Childhood ependymoma; Pediatric brain cancer; Radiation; Translational barriers.

MeSH terms

  • Brain Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Brain Neoplasms* / therapy
  • Child
  • Ependymoma* / drug therapy
  • Ependymoma* / therapy
  • Humans
  • Prognosis

Supplementary concepts

  • Familial ependymoma