Integrated Molecular and Clinical Characterization of Disseminated Pediatric Low-Grade Glioma: A Pediatric Low-Grade Glioma Task Force Initiative

Award: $197,550 over 1 year (2022-2023, PLGA Fund)
Principal Investigators: Dr. Michael Dewan, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt and Drs. Cynthia Hawkins and Uri Tabori, The Hospital for Sick Children

Disseminated pediatric low-grade gliomas (dPLGGs) have been observed to exhibit distinct biologic behavior with some tumors appearing as upfront disseminated cystic solid tumors throughout the brain and spine, large single tumor with dissemination in the membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord, or start as a single tumor which later disseminates to other parts of the brain and spine. This study aims to characterize the genetic alterations found in dPLGGs in view of these three clinically important subgroups using next-generation genomic technologies and correlate this with the clinical features and outcome of the disease. Identification of drivers of metastasis/dissemination will allow early identification of these aggressive tumors, facilitate risk stratification of newly diagnosed PLGGs and management of the disease.