Integrated clinical and molecular landscape of disseminated pediatric low-grade glioma

Authors

• Adrian B. Levine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
• Julie Bennett, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
• Prabhumallikarjun Patil, Emory University School of Medicine
• Ian Burns, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
• Robert Siddaway, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
• Cyril Li, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
• Joseline Haizel- Cobbina, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
• Mansuba Rana, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
• Richard Yuditskiy, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
• Andrew Son, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
• Yoshiko Nakano, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
• Palak Patel, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
• I-Chen Ho, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
• Michelle Ku, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
• Naureen Mushtaq, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
• Syed Ibrahim Bukhari, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
• Khurram Minhas, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
• Alexander T. Lyons, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Document Type

Article

Department

Haematology/Oncology; Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Abstract

Abstract: Background Pediatric-type low-grade gliomas (PLGG) are the most common central nervous system (CNS) tumor in children. Many are indolent and have excellent outcomes; however, some inexplicably spread throughout the CNS leading to increased morbidity and mortality.
Methods: To better understand this rare and difficult-to-treat entity, as well as the features associated with dissemination in CNS tumors, we assembled a large international cohort (n = 269) of patients with disseminated PLGG with detailed clinical and molecular characterization, including DNA sequencing and methylome profiling.
Results: We identified three subgroups of patients based on the temporal and spatial distribution of dissemination. Tumors with diffuse leptomeningeal spread without a primary tumor mass and those occurring in infants had the worst clinical outcomes. The genetics overlapped substantially with that of non-disseminated PLGG, suggesting that non-genetic mechanisms are an important contributor to dissemination. Therapeutically, targeted RAS/MAPK-pathway inhibition was more effective than conventional chemotherapy as first or second-line treatment.
Conclusions: In sum, this cohort increases our clinical and biological understanding of this rare disease, provides insights for improving patient care, and directs future clinical trials and basic science research.

Publication (Name of Journal)

Neuro-Oncology

DOI

10.1093/neuonc/noaf245

Recommended Citation

Levine, A. B., Bennett, J., Patil, P., Burns, I., Siddaway, R., Li, C., Cobbina, J. H., Rana, M., Yuditskiy, R., Son, A., Nakano, Y., Patel, P., Ho, I., Ku, M., Mushtaq, N., Bukhari, S. I., Minhas, K., Lyons, A. T. (2025). Integrated clinical and molecular landscape of disseminated pediatric low-grade glioma. Neuro-Oncology, 28(2), 535-551.
Available at: https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_radiat_oncol/153