Gupta T, Mani S, Chatterjee A, Dasgupta A, Epari S, Chinnaswamy G. Risk-stratification for treatment de-intensification in WNT-pathway medulloblastoma: finding the optimal balance between survival and quality of survivorship.
Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2024;
24:589-598. [PMID:
38761170 DOI:
10.1080/14737140.2024.2357807]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Advances in molecular biology have led to consensus classification of medulloblastoma into four broad molecular subgroups - wingless (WNT), sonic hedgehog (SHH), Group 3, and Group 4, respectively. Traditionally, children >3 years of age, with no/minimal residual tumor (<1.5 cm2) and lack of metastasis were classified as average-risk disease with >80% long-term survival. Younger age (<3 years), large residual disease (≥1.5 cm2), and leptomeningeal metastases either alone or in combination were considered high-risk features yielding much worse 5-year survival (30-60%). This clinico-radiological risk-stratification has been refined by incorporating molecular/genetic information. Contemporary multi-modality management for non-infantile medulloblastoma entails maximal safe resection followed by risk-stratified adjuvant radio(chemo)therapy. Aggressive multi-modality management achieves good survival but is associated with substantial dose-dependent treatment-related toxicity prompting conduct of subgroup-specific prospective clinical trials.
AREAS COVERED
We conducted literature search on PubMed from 1969 till 2023 to identify putative prognostic factors and risk-stratification for medulloblastoma, including molecular subgrouping. Based on previously published data, including our own institutional experience, we discuss molecular risk-stratification focusing on WNT-pathway medulloblastoma to identify candidates suitable for treatment de-intensification to strike the optimal balance between survival and quality of survivorship.
EXPERT OPINION
Prospective clinical trials and emerging biological information should further refine risk-stratification in WNT-pathway medulloblastoma.
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