European experts caring for young patients with a specific type of brain cancer have – for the first time – agreed and published freely-available guidance outlining how best to treat them.
The guidance (opens in a new tab) looks at current treatments for patients with a rare type of tumour called Central Nervous System Germ Cell Tumours – or CNS GCTs – which affect the brain. It highlights ways to improve care for CNS GCT patients as well as priorities for future research into this type of tumour.
CNS GCTs are most common in teenagers, although they can develop in patients aged from 0 to 30 years, with more males than females affected. The higher incidence of CNS GCTs in Asia suggests genetic factors may be important in their development.
Treatment – typically consisting of chemotherapy and radiotherapy – depends on the type of GCT and the patient’s age.
Symptoms for patients with these germ cell tumours of the brain can be quite subtle, such as low hormone levels, and therefore it can take many months in some cases for patients to be diagnosed, particularly as these are rare tumours. There are also different CNS GCT types which need different treatment approaches.
Matthew Murray, Paediatric Cancer Programme Co-Lead and Consultant Paediatric Oncologist at CUH and University of Cambridge
“Up until now, it has been difficult for all doctors and health care teams across Europe to access the best treatment information for individual patients, as these tumours are rare and complex. The new guidance will mean that doctors can freely access consistent advice,” continued Professor Murray who led the review.
Publication by the SIOP Europe Brain Tumour Group (opens in a new tab) in the European Journal of Cancer Paediatric Oncology marks the crossover between World Brain Tumour month (March) and Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month (April). Part of the European Reference Network for Paediatric Oncology (opens in a new tab), the group aims to reduce health inequalities across Europe by helping member states with fewer resources. This has been done by sharing knowledge and expertise as well as setting up Virtual ‘Tumour Boards’, to discuss complex cases with experts.
Being freely available, the guidance can be accessed by doctors anywhere in the world. They cover a patient’s journey from diagnosis through scans and investigations to treatment and follow-up. Recommendations are based on a wide range of data from different sources. They outline the importance of reducing toxicity for some patients with high survival rates (more than 90%) while improving survival among other types of patients who have a lower cure rate of about 70% overall.
“This review is key for doctors managing patients with germ cell tumours of the brain and highlights the need for further research into potential new treatments and approaches,” said Professor Murray.
“For example, we will soon be opening a new UK trial reducing the amount of chemotherapy we give to some patients, which if successful, will maintain excellent cure rates and reduce toxicity. We are also studying how much of the brain and spine needs to receive radiotherapy after chemotherapy to ensure improved outcomes for other patients,’ he concluded.