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Pre-radiation chemotherapy improves survival in pediatric diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas

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Abstract

Background

The median survival of patients with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) remains less than 1 year. The BSG 98 pre-irradiation chemotherapy protocol showed a significant increase in overall survival. In contrast to current treatment strategies, patients did not have to undergo surgical stereotactic biopsy, which can sometimes lead to complications, to be included in this protocol.

Materials and methods

We retrospectively reviewed all the cases of DIPG that were treated in our department from September 15, 2004 to September 15, 2014. We compared the group of patients who followed our BSG 98 protocol to those who were treated with new targeted therapy protocols where systematic biopsy was required.

Results

Patients in the BSG 98 protocol were treated with BCNU, cisplatin, and methotrexate, followed by radiation at disease progression. Targeted therapy protocols included radiation therapy along with treatment by erlotinib, cilengitide, or an association of nimotuzumab and vinblastine. Sixteen patients were treated with the BSG 98 protocol, and 9 patients were treated with new targeted therapy protocols. Median overall survival was significantly higher in the BSG 98 group compared to the targeted therapy group (16.1 months (95 % CI, 10.4–19.0) vs 8.8 months (95 % CI 1.4–12.3); p = 0.0003). An increase in the median progression-free survival was observed (respectively, 8.6 vs 3.0 months; p = 0.113).

Conclusion

The present study confirms that the BSG 98 protocol is one of the most effective current treatment strategies for DIPG. It may be used as the control arm in randomized trials investigating the use of innovative treatments and may be proposed to families who are averse to biopsy.

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Author notes

    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Institut d’Hématologie et d’Oncologie Pédiatrique, Lyon, France

      Z. Gokce-Samar, C. Faure-Conter & D. Frappaz

    2. Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Neurological and Neurosurgical Hospital Pierre Wertheimer, Hospice Civils de Lyon, 59 Boulevard Pinel, 69677, Lyon cedex, France

      P. A. Beuriat, F. Di Rocco, C. Mottolese & A. Szathmari

    3. Department of Radiotherapy, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France

      C. Carrie & L. Claude

    4. Department of Biostatistics, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France

      S. Chabaud

    5. Department of Radiology, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France

      C. Chabert

    6. Department of Oncology, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France

      D. Frappaz

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    1. Z. Gokce-Samar
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    Correspondence to P. A. Beuriat.

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    Z. Gokce-Samar and P. A. Beuriat contributed equally to this work.

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    Gokce-Samar, Z., Beuriat, P.A., Faure-Conter, C. et al. Pre-radiation chemotherapy improves survival in pediatric diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas. Childs Nerv Syst 32, 1415–1423 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-016-3153-8

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