Chair: Lissa Baird, MD, FAANS
Co-Chair: Anthony Wang, MD

The field of pediatric neuro-oncology continues to expand at a rapid pace even relative to neuro-oncology in general, and multi-disciplinary pediatric neuro-oncology teams are more and more comprised of neurosurgeons, neuro-oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists and physiatrists with particular training in the care of children, in addition to expertise in clinical trials, translational development, pharmaceutical discovery and data science surrounding CNS tumors. Several developments of interest in pediatric neuro-oncology have taken place recently. The World Health Organization (WHO) classification of central nervous system tumors was updated in 2021 and continues to integrate histologic and molecular genetic features. In this regard, we continue to find that children are not just small adults, particularly in the classification of gliomas. The WHO added two new families of tumor types, one for “Pediatric-type diffuse low-grade gliomas,” and one for “Pediatric-type diffuse high-grade gliomas.” Each family contains a number of separate entities and sub-types defined by histologic features, molecular features or both. Interestingly, the term “glioblastoma” is no longer used in the setting of pediatric-type gliomas.

Another anticipated development is expected to be released by the end of 2022 — in development over the past two years, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network has prepared its first “Guidelines for Pediatric Central Nervous System Cancers.” Two specifically pediatric CNS tumor consortia are currently running clinical trials in the United States (PNOC and Connect), as well as two broader pediatric oncology consortia (COG and SIOPE). Each has opened new pediatric neuro-oncology trials in the past year. Finally, the NCI Cancer Moonshot Research Initiatives now include pediatric immunotherapy discovery and development, and research on the major drivers of childhood cancers with focus on fusion oncoproteins. The best possible care of pediatric neuro-oncology patients has always required collaborative networks of clinicians; more and more, that goal now also includes networks of scientists, researchers and experts in adult-type brain tumors as well.