The Fourth Biennial Ependymoma Consensus was held at NIH, February 20 to 22, 2019. Neuro-oncology experts worldwide met to advance their knowledge and collaborate to find better treatments for people with ependymoma.

In its history, the Ependymoma Consensus has helped define areas of research for ependymoma and advance therapies for patients. Importantly, the consensus is an international collaboration. Participants recognize the complexity of ependymoma – a rare brain and spine cancer – and the need to work together to understand tumor genetics and molecular characteristics to advance treatments.

During the 2019 consensus, participants presented the latest research and advances in the field. Then, they gathered in three working groups to discuss preclinical models, the pathology and molecular classification of tumors, and to discuss clinical trial designs.  

READ MORE

CERN Advisor Mark Gilbert, M.D., presented the final report of the CERN 08-02 study at the Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Scientific Meeting. The phase II study of dose-dense temozolomide and lapatinib is the first prospective clinical trial in adult patients with ependymoma.

“The results are very dramatic,” Dr. Gilbert said. The report showed that the drug combination had objective responses and prolonged progression-free survival. For patients with spine tumors, improvements in performance status, disease-related symptoms and symptom interference was seen. For patients with brain tumors, improvements in performance status and stability of most disease-related symptoms was reported.

READ MORE