Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41134453›Full record

ArticleJournal of neuro-oncology2025

Diffuse pontine glioma (DPG): shorter or longer treatment time?

Mithra Ghalibafian, Sajad Mirzaei, Yasaman Sadeghi, Negar Afsar, Shaghayegh Hassas Yeganeh, Mandana Tasbihi, Morteza Ashrafi, Negin Jafariyan Lahijani, Eric Bouffet

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Article in Journal of neuro-oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Mithra GhalibafianDepartment of Radiation Oncology, MAHAK Pediatric Cancer Treatment and Research Center, Tehran, Iran. m.ghalibafian@mahak-charity.org.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3426-7427
Sajad MirzaeiDepartment of Radiation Oncology, MAHAK Pediatric Cancer Treatment and Research Center, Tehran, Iran.
Yasaman SadeghiMAHAK Hematology Oncology Research Center (MAHAK-HORC), MAHAK Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1301-6063
Negar AfsarMAHAK Hematology Oncology Research Center (MAHAK-HORC), MAHAK Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Shaghayegh Hassas YeganehDepartment of Radiation Oncology, MAHAK Pediatric Cancer Treatment and Research Center, Tehran, Iran.
Mandana TasbihiMAHAK Hematology Oncology Research Center (MAHAK-HORC), MAHAK Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2586-6129
Morteza AshrafiMAHAK Hematology Oncology Research Center (MAHAK-HORC), MAHAK Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1762-9986
Negin Jafariyan LahijaniMAHAK Hematology Oncology Research Center (MAHAK-HORC), MAHAK Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Eric BouffetDivision of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6832-6539

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeDiffuse intrinsic pontine glioma is a lethal disease with a median overall survival (OS) of less than one year. Currently, no curative treatment exists, and radiotherapy primarily aims for symptom palliation. Hypofractionated radiotherapy (HR) has been proposed to enhance quality of life through shorter treatment duration, fewer hospital visits, and reduced costs, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, many LMIC institutions continue to use 54 Gy in 30 fractions. The study aims to identify patients who may benefit from HR.

methodsWe reviewed data from MAHAK patients treated between April 2010 and February 2020. Diagnosis was based on clinical symptoms and MRI imaging; biopsy was not mandatory.

resultsAmong 108 identified patients, 34(32%) underwent a biopsy, with high-grade glioma or glioblastoma diagnosed in 18(53%). H3K27M mutation was found in two patients, while others were not evaluated. No seeding was detected at diagnosis. Thirty-one patients (29%) received 50-54 Gy using normal fractionation, while the remainder received HR. Median OS was 9.6 months (range 1-67). No significant impact of fractionation was observed. Seventy-eight (72%) patients received chemotherapy, which showed no benefit. Eleven patients received re-irradiation at progression, showing a post-progression OS of 6 months. Poor-risk factors included age over 4 years, symptom duration < 3months, simultaneous triad signs, and absence of hydrocephalus (p < 0.05).

conclusionGiven their shorter life expectancy, poor-risk patients may benefit from HR. We propose a scoring system based on prognostic factors to guide decisions between HR and normal fractionation.

Indexed as

Brain Stem NeoplasmsDiffuse Intrinsic Pontine GliomaGliomaRadiation Dose HypofractionationAdolescentAdultAgedChildFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMaleMiddle AgedPrognosisRetrospective StudiesSurvival RateConventional radiotherapyDiffuse intrinsic pontine gliomaHypofractionated radiotherapyLMICScoring system

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.