1. Why study Brain tumour Biology???
Richard Grundy

4. Overview
Paediatric oncology is one of the medical success stories of the 80’s-90’s
Steady improvement on the overall survival of children with cancer BUT not CNS tumours – Only 50% survive
10,000 life years lost and considerable morbidity
Plateau and Stasis : More recently small advances only are being made and for some tumours little progress at all
Fight Fire with Fire

5. Children’s Brain Tumours : The Issues
Brain tumours are relatively rare

6. Children’s Brain Tumours : The Issues
Poor understanding
of disease biology
Brain tumours are relatively rare

7. Children’s Brain Tumours : The Issues
Poor understanding
of disease biology
No accurate disease stratification
Broadly based treatment strategies
Brain tumours are relatively rare

8. Children’s Brain Tumours : The Issues
Poor understanding
of disease biology
High Mortality/
Morbidity
No accurate disease stratification
Broadly based /aggressive treatment strategies
Brain tumours are relatively rare

9. Children’s Brain Tumours : The Issues
Low Priority for
Molecular research
Poor understanding
of disease biology
High Mortality/
Morbidity
No accurate disease stratification
Broadly based treatment strategies
Brain tumours are relatively rare

10. Children’s Brain Tumours : The Issues
Lack of molecular targets for new treatment approaches
Low Priority for
Molecular research
Poor understanding
of disease biology
High Mortality/
Morbidity
No accurate disease stratification
Broadly based treatment strategies
Brain tumours are relatively rare

11. Children’s Brain Tumours : The Issues
Lack of molecular targets for new treatment approaches
Low Priority for
Molecular research
Poor understanding
of disease biology
High Mortality/
Morbidity
No accurate disease stratification
Broadly based treatment strategies
Brain tumours are relatively rare

12. Key Hypotheses
Tumours arising in different anatomical locations are genetically distinct entities.
Tumours arising indifferent age groups have distinct genetic aberrations.
Tumours of different histological grade have distinct genetic fingerprints.
Genetic markers can predict outcome in childhood CNS tumours.
Tumourigenesis arises from disordered neural development and involves distinct tumour specific pathways.
Development of large data sets linked to clinical parameters will enable the discovery of novel targets for therapy.

13. Biological studies
Using Biological studies to better understand or find :
‘Markers’ that help us predict outcome or best treatment
pathways involved in the development of brain tumours
Where Brain tumours come from
New Drug Treatments

14. Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre
Improved Patient Management & Outcome
High resolution Molecular analysis
of tumour samples
Identification of molecular ‘fingerprint’
International & National
Clinical Trials
& Biological
studies
Understanding ‘Why’ in the context of the
Normal development
of the Brain
Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre
Improved
Diagnostic
& Prognostic
Imaging
Fingerprint’ provides
Novel prognostic
Markers & targets
for therapy
Why Does
Treatment Fail ?
Need New Drug
Development
and Delivery