Diagnostic and therapeutic stratification of childhood brain tumors: implications for translational research

Recent advances in the categorization of childhood brain tumors have improved risk-based treatment planning. In several instances, new therapeutic strategies that incorporate these advances have resulted in meaningful improvements in progression-free and overall survival. Current studies are directed at further refining therapy based on clinical, biological, and molecular data; testing the effectiveness of a number of novel therapeutic strategies for high-risk tumors; and examining approaches to reduce sequelae of treatment among more favorable-risk tumor subsets. Because multiple tumor subtypes are individually relatively uncommon, most such studies are being conducted by large co-operative groups, such as the Children's Oncology Group, or by smaller brain tumor-focused consortia, such as the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium.