A domestic research team reclassified pediatric malignant brain tumor patients to match World Health Organization (WHO) standards. As a result, more than half of the pediatric patients had a different type of disease from adults. Pediatric malignant brain tumors account for 20% of all childhood cancers. With the new classification, tailored treatment for pediatric patients is expected to benefit.
A research team led by Professors Kim Seung-gi and Kim Ju-hwan in pediatric neurosurgery at Seoul National University Hospital said in the international journal Neuro Oncology Advances on Aug. 9 that "a review of 78 patients previously diagnosed with glioblastoma or primitive neuroectodermal tumor found that 41 were reclassified as pediatric high-grade glioma."
Pediatric high-grade glioma is a malignant tumor that arises in glial cells of the brain. It grows rapidly and recurs frequently, making a cure difficult even with treatment. It is a completely different disease from glioblastoma that occurs in adults. In its 2021 revision of central nervous system tumor classifications, the World Health Organization newly introduced the category of pediatric diffuse high-grade glioma. This category is divided into four types.
The research team obtained these results by reexamining patients who underwent surgery at Seoul National University Children's Hospital from 1997 to 2023 and were diagnosed with glioblastoma, primitive neuroectodermal tumor, and other conditions. The researchers said, "With the existing diagnostic system, it was difficult to clearly distinguish patient prognoses," adding, "Applying the latest standards can improve clinical prediction."
The team analyzed clinical and genomic information from 61 patients, including those newly diagnosed with pediatric high-grade glioma. Among the 48 patients for whom genomic analysis was possible, 34 (71%) had genetic mutations. There were also patients with syndromes that are genetically prone to cancer, such as Li-Fraumeni syndrome. The research team said, "When pediatric high-grade glioma is diagnosed, germline genetic testing and family counseling are essential," which suggests this.
References
Neuro Oncology Advances (2025), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/noajnl/vdaf175