The Second Gliomatosis Cerebri Conference


The Second International Gliomatosis Cerebri Conference Group convened at National Institutes of Health, Bethesda on June 22nd–23rd 2017.

Just like the First Gliomatosis Cerebri Conference, the group is composed of the family advocates for the research of Gliomatosis Cerebri cure, medical experts and scientists. Most members of the conference came from the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

The second Gliomatosis Cerebri Conference focused on the discussion of the progress made towards the understanding of GC and the development of meaningful collaborative projects to be implemented within the next two years.

During the conference, three provocative projects were identified: (1) sequencing and target identification, (2) evaluating the potential of immunotherapy, and (3) clinical translation”.

The Second Gliomatosis Cerebri Conference Provocative Projects

Project 1: Sequencing and target identification

This project focuses on GC tissue sequencing and target identification. The plan is creating an international GC registry for a comprehensive study on GC biology. According to their report, “GC is heterogeneous, often with a solid and an infiltrative portion, experts recommended that tumor tissue should be sampled from more than one site, with emphasis on tissue samples from any solid tumor component or central tumor as well as infiltrative part.”

Project 2: Evaluating the potential of immunotherapy

Focused on the evaluation of the potential of immunotherapeutic for patients with GC, particularly given the exceptional response of a patient with GC on a Phase 1 study of radiation therapy administered with the immunomodulatory agent, lenalidomide [18]. There are multiple unknowns in this patient population including baseline immune function, immunosuppressive mechanisms in the tumor microenvironment and if this differs from those with other malignant glioma phenotypes, and presence or absence of tumor-specific antigens. To identify target antigens, tumor samples need to be studied genetically with single-cell RNA sequencing and the exploration of tumors microenvironment. Several studies have described a synergistic effect of radiation therapy with immunotherapy and this opportunity should be explored in GC [19, 20].

It was further planned that projects on immunotherapy should be linked to the GC registry (Project 1) so that tumor tissue and response to immunotherapy can be systematically studied.

Project 3: Clinical Translation

This third project is to for GC-specific pre-clinical and patient-related research. However, the lack of understanding of the biology of GC made the group agree instead to initially focus first on preclinical studies on GC invasiveness. These clinical studies will then be subsequently projected to be built upon this work.

A 2-year timeline was also targeted for each of these provocative projects.

This article is solely based on the published –Gliomatosis Cerebri: a consensus summary report from the Second International Gliomatosis Cerebri Group Meeting, June 22–23, 2017, Bethesda, USA.

 

Mark W. Kieran,MD, PhD

Mark W. Kieran,MD, PhD

A new era in cancer is upon us. For the first time, the field of oncology has moved from defining tumor cells based on their outward appearance to a detailed sequence of the molecules inside the cells that provide important clues about what went wrong, and more importantly, how to potentially fix it.
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Jeffrey Greenfield, MD, PhD

Jeffrey Greenfield, MD, PhD

Since our first meeting in Paris two years ago, we have made much progress on the goals we set. Researchers around the world are sharing tissue samples and knowledge in ways unimaginable in other disciplines. Families have maintained their dedication of support though they still to mourn their own children.
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Andres Morales La Madrid

Andres Morales La Madrid

We are thrilled to be part of the second international Gliomatosis cerebri (GC) meeting, conceived and shaped with the same goals we had in the first meeting in Paris in 2015, the consolidation of global and collaborative research projects in GC. This 2nd Conference, we really hope we could join our efforts to face this challenge.
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Registry

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The GC Registry aggregates data and tissue samples from patients around the world. Intensive study of these samples and data will help unlock the mysteries of this terrible tumor.

COMMUNITY

Join the advocacy and become part of the community that was established to support groundbreaking research in finding a cure for Gliomatosis Cerebri. Partners are either family touched by Gliomatosis Cerebri or foundations supporting the same cause. Click below to learn how to join the community.

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