Trial Information

Molecular Analysis of Samples From Patients With Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma and Brainstem Glioma

High grade diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) accounts for approximately 80% of
pediatric brainstem tumors and 10% of pediatric brain tumors, and is the most lethal form of
brainstem gliomas in children. There is currently no effective therapy to treat these
tumors. We hypothesize that this tumor exhibits unique molecular abnormalities leading to
altered RNA and protein expression. The aim of this trial is to collect specimens from
pediatric patients with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma including serum, cerebrospinal
fluid, urine, brain tumor and other constitutional tissue, during therapy and/or at autopsy.
Our goal is to study this tissue to characterize the genetic abnormalities that lead to
tumor formation in order to identify key molecules as biomarkers which we can target to
design and test new and more effective treatments.