Alternative therapies for children with brain stem gliomas: immunotherapy and gene therapy

Alternative means are needed for the treatment of childhood brain stem gliomas. Both immunotherapy and gene therapy have and will be, in the future, evaluated for these patients. Results, to date, with immunotherapy have been sparse and variable. Restorative immunotherapy, especially the use of beta-interferon, has shown some promising results. However, in one recently completed trial, the combination of beta-interferon plus hyperfractionated radiotherapy in newly diagnosed patients did not apparently result in improved survival. Gene therapy, still in its infancy, also may be potentially applicable to the treatment of children with brain stem gliomas.