[Current Status and Prospects of Clinical Trials for Ependymoma]

Due to the sharp decline in the birth rate in Japan, a severe decline in pediatric brain tumor cases is expected. Ependymoma accounts for 5.4% of pediatric brain tumors, and due to its poor prognosis, understanding treatment outcomes is crucial. However, in Japan, it is difficult to accurately understand treatment outcomes. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization's diagnostics have increasingly emphasized molecular diagnosis, making the establishment of a diagnostic system crucial. Although treatment guidelines have been published, due to trends in overseas clinical research, clinical practice does not necessarily conform to the 2022 guidelines. Amid changes in the medical system resulting from the rapid decline in the birthrate, this paper outlines the current status and outlook for clinical trials, both globally and in Japan.