About the Brain Tumor Program
Our pediatric neuro-oncology treatment group of seven full-time, dedicated neuro-oncologists is one of the largest such groups dedicated to treating pediatric brain tumors, neurofibromatosis and associated tumors. In the pediatric neuro-oncology treatment setting, each patient sees one assigned attending physician. This allows the physician to gain a deep understanding of the patient's unique needs and the patient to enjoy continuity of care by one physician.
Surgery for pediatric brain tumors
When operating on a brain tumor, the goal of CHOP’s neurosurgery team is to be aggressive in removing as much of the cancer as possible, while being careful not to damage delicate structures in the brain.
Our pediatric neuro-oncology research
Our program has an extensive laboratory and clinical research program designed to identify new therapies for medulloblastoma, gliomas and infant brain tumors. As part of the Children's Oncology Group and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium, we develop and conduct our own institutional clinical trials and participate in cooperative group clinical trials.
Some current areas of research focus for our group include:
- Defining the genetic landscape of medulloblastoma
- Identifying mechanisms by which BRAF gene activation leads to development of pediatric astrocytomas
Diagnostic testing and services
Our pediatric neuro-oncology diagnostic facilities provide magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance spectroscopy and positron emission tomography. Additional diagnostic and support services include neuropsychology, physical therapy and rehabilitation medicine, social services and home health care.
Future directions
Our future research focus for pediatric neuro-oncology will be personalized medicine. By performing a genomic analysis of every brain tumor, we will be able to identify new treatment-relevant pathways for identifying biological factors that predict which patients require intensive versus less intense therapy.
