Clinical and molecular characteristics of pediatric low-grade glioma complicated with ventriculo-peritoneal shunt related ascites.

Introduction: Ventriculo-peritoneal shunt (VPS) related ascites is a rare complication of pediatric low grade gliomas (pLGG). Physiopathology of this complication is not fully understood and there is paucity of data regarding the molecular profile of pLGG gliomas complicating with ascites and the optimal management of this unusual event.

Methods: International multi-institutional retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with BRAF altered pLGG and ascites arising as a complication of VPS.

[Targeted therapies with BRAF inhibitors for pediatric low- and high-grade gliomas with BRAFv600e mutation. Prof. Dr. Juan P. Garrahan Hospital experience].

The BRAFV600E point mutation plays a key role in the tumorigenesis of many gliomas. Inhibiting its product is part of the innovative therapies emerging in recent years. Knowing the role of these treatments is essential.

Craniospinal irradiation as part of re-irradiation for children with recurrent medulloblastoma.

Background: Many studies have demonstrated in the last years that once medulloblastoma has recurred, the probability of regaining tumor control is poor despite salvage therapy. Although re-irradiation has an emerging role in other relapsed brain tumors, there is a lack of strong data on re-irradiation for medulloblastoma.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of patients aged 18 years or under, treated at least by a second course of external beam for recurrence medulloblastoma at Garrahan Hospital between 2009 and 2020.

Intracranial germ cells tumour: a single institution experience in Argentina.

Background: Intracranial germ cell tumor (iGCT) represents a rare and heterogeneous group, with variable incidence and diverse treatment strategies. Although multiagent chemotherapy with reduced radiotherapy strategy has been applied by several cooperative groups in North America and Western Europe, there is a paucity of data to understand if this combined regimen is suitable in low-middle income countries (LMIC).

Methods: We evaluate the outcome in a cohort of iGCT treated by SIOP-CNS-GCT-96 strategy at hospital J.

Treatment response of CNS high-grade neuroepithelial tumors with MN1 alteration.

Central nervous system high-grade neuroepithelial tumor with MN1 alteration (CNS HGNET-MN1) is a rare recently described entity. Fourteen CNS HGNET-MN1 patients were identified using genome-wide methylation arrays/RT-PCR across seven institutions. All patients had surgery (gross total resection: 10; subtotal resection: four) as initial management followed by observation alone in three patients, followed by radiotherapy in eight patients (focal: five; craniospinal: two; CyberKnife: one) and systemic chemotherapy in three patients.

Bevacizumab for pediatric radiation necrosis.

Background: Radiation necrosis is a frequent complication occurring after the treatment of pediatric brain tumors; however, treatment options remain a challenge. Bevacizumab is an anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody that has been shown in small adult cohorts to confer a benefit, specifically a reduction in steroid usage, but its use in children has not been well described.

Methods: We describe our experience with bevacizumab use for symptomatic radiation necrosis at 5 institutions including patients treated after both initial irradiation and reirradiation.