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Targeted Therapies in Paediatric Brain Tumours

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Pediatric Neuro-oncology

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Abstract

Although improvements in survival have been observed in recent times, treatment outcomes for paediatric brain tumours still remain unacceptable; cure rates for certain tumour types remain dismal while for others, success can be achieved but only with a significant impact to the survivor’s quality of life. It is likely that further manipulation of conventional multi-modality treatments will only confer more toxicity without improving prognosis.

Biological research has tried to address this issue in recent years, generating numerous novel agents designed to target tumour-specific molecular pathways in the hope of improving anti-neoplastic effectiveness with minimal toxicity to the patient. This chapter reviews the current developments in such targeted therapies for childhood brain tumours, focusing on the three most common subgroups: medulloblastoma, glioma (low and high grade) and ependymoma. Future directions for this exciting therapeutic area are also highlighted.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pediatric Brain Tumor Program, Department of Hematology/Oncology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada

    John-Paul Kilday M.B.Ch.B., M.R.C.P.C.H., Ph.D.

  2. Department of Pediatrics, McGill University Health Center/McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada

    Nada Jabado M.D., Ph.D.

  3. Department of Hematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Eric Bouffet M.D.

Authors
  1. John-Paul Kilday M.B.Ch.B., M.R.C.P.C.H., Ph.D.
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  2. Nada Jabado M.D., Ph.D.
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  3. Eric Bouffet M.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eric Bouffet M.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, McMaster Children's Hospital, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

    Katrin Scheinemann

  2. Department of Haematology/Oncology, Garron Family Chair in Childhood Cancer Research, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Eric Bouffet

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Kilday, JP., Jabado, N., Bouffet, E. (2015). Targeted Therapies in Paediatric Brain Tumours. In: Scheinemann, K., Bouffet, E. (eds) Pediatric Neuro-oncology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1541-5_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1541-5_20

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  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-1541-5

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