Diffuse
Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG)
A
Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) is a tumor located in the pons (middle) of the brain stem. The brain stem is the bottom
most portion of the brain, connecting the cerebrum with the spinal cord. The majority of brain stem tumors occur in the pons
(middle brain stem) and are diffusely infiltrating, (they grow amidst the nerves), and therefore are not able to be surgically
removed. Glioma is a general name for any tumor that arises from the supportive tissue called glia, which help keep the neurons,
("thinking cells") in place and functioning well. The brain stem contains all of the "wires" converging
from the brain to the spinal cord as well as important structures involved in eye movements, face and throat muscle control
and sensation.
Source: The American Brain Tumor Association The median overall survival
of children diagnosed with DIPG is approximately 9 months. The 1 and 2 year survival rates are approximately 30% and less
than 10%, respectively. These statistics make it one of the most devastating pediatric malignancies.
Source:
Treatment of newly diagnosed diffuse brain stem gliomas in
children - David N. Korones.
The standard treatment for DIPG
is 6 weeks of radiation which often dramatically improves symptoms. Unfortunately, problems usually recur after 6 to 9 months,
and progress rapidly.
Source: St Jude Childrens Research Hospital
In their quest for a cure, DIPG
children must move from one experimental protocol to another enduring treatments with many side-effects which would be unacceptable
with any other diagnosis. The cruelty of this disease cannot be denied. Sparing their cognitive abilities, DIPG slowly robs
children of their motor functions resulting in partial paralysis, loss of voice and sight and finally ending with an inability
to eat and breathe. It is both heart wrenching and painful as they are fully aware of their decline often until their last
day. The cure starts now...
Source: The Cure Starts Now
We currently DO NOT know what causes
brain tumors. The major causes seem to be chromosomal and genetic abnormalities. Research so far has statistically proved
very few instances of possible environmental causes for childhood cancer. The Children's Oncology Group (COG) continues to
conduct epidemiology, cytogenetic, and microbiology studies in their quest for answers.
Funding for pediatric brain tumor research is critical since
treatments discovered for adult brain tumors may not be appropriate for children. Pediatric cancer research has been important
in understanding the basic biology of cancer, treating adults with cancer and providing principles of therapy and advances
for other diseases of children and adults. For example, chemotherapy was first shown to be effective in curing children with
cancer.
In recent years, the
amount of funding for childhood cancer clinical research from the federal government has been declining.
Source:
CureSearch
