Pediatric brain tumors: Current treatment strategies and future therapeutic approaches

Sabine Mueller; Susan Chang

doi:10.1016/j.nurt.2009.04.006

. 2009 Jul;6(3):570–586. doi: 10.1016/j.nurt.2009.04.006

Pediatric brain tumors: Current treatment strategies and future therapeutic approaches

Sabine Mueller ^1,^✉, Susan Chang ²

PMCID: PMC5084192 PMID: 19560746

Summary

Pediatric CNS tumors are the most common solid tumors of childhood and the second most common cancer after hematological malignancies accounting for approximate 20 to 25% of all primary pediatric tumors. With over 3,000 new cases per year in the United States, childhood CNS tumors are the leading cause of death related to cancer in this population. The prognosis for these patients has improved over the last few decades, but current therapies continue to carry a high risk of significant side effects, especially for the very young. Currently a combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy is often used in children greater than 3 years of age. This article will outline current and future therapeutic strategies for the most common pediatric CNS tumors, including primitive neuroectodermal tumors such as medulloblastoma, as well as astrocytomas and ependymomas.

Key Words: Pediatric brain tumor, therapy, primitive neuroectodermal tumors, medulloblastoma, astrocytoma, ependymoma

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Pediatric brain tumors: Current treatment strategies and future therapeutic approaches

Sabine Mueller

Susan Chang

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Pediatric brain tumors: Current treatment strategies and future therapeutic approaches

Sabine Mueller

Susan Chang

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