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New Grant Aims to Jumpstart Treatment Development for Patients with Rare Pediatric Ependymal Tumors

— Categories: Categories: Categories: Categories: CERN Research Articles   Ependymoma Research Articles   Press Release   Ependymoma Community     Posted on February 7, 2024

National Brain Tumor Society (NBTS) is excited to announce that Johannes Gojo, MD, PhD, of Medical University of Vienna (Medizinischen Universität Wien), is the recipient of the first-ever CERN PFA Ependymoma Translational Research Award.

Funding Opportunity! Posterior Fossa A Ependymoma Translational Research Award

— Categories: Categories: CERN Research Articles   Press Release     Posted on June 23, 2023

National Brain Tumor Society (NBTS) is pleased to announce a request for proposals (RFP) for projects related to Posterior Fossa A (PFA) ependymoma, an underserved cancer that occurs primarily in young children and is generally associated with a poor outcome.

New Ependymoma Research Effort Included in NBTS Flagship Research Project, DNA Damage Response (DDR) Consortium

— Categories: Categories: CERN Research Articles   Press Release     Posted on April 12, 2023

National Brain Tumor Society’s DNA Damage Response (DDR) Consortium is a collaboration of world-class researchers advancing an emerging and promising, but underdeveloped, area of cancer research: a tumor’s DDR network.

CERN Seed Grant Launches New $3M Ependymoma Research Project

— Categories: Categories: Categories: CERN Research Articles   Ependymoma Research Articles   Press Release     Posted on August 18, 2022

Discoveries from the 2020 CERN Robert Connor Dawes Pediatric Fellowship, supported by the National Brain Tumor Society, to Dr. Chan Chung in Dr. Sriram Venneti’s laboratory at the University of Michigan, were instrumental in helping to win an esteemed $3 million R01 grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

Congratulations to Kendra Maass, the 2022 CERN and Robert Connor Dawes Scientific Fellowship Recipient

— Categories: Categories: CERN Research Articles   Press Release     Posted on January 25, 2022

Kendra Maass, from the Hopp Children's Tumor Center Heidelberg (KiTZ) and German Cancer Research Center (DFKZ), is the recipient of the 2022 CERN and Robert Connor Dawes Scientific Fellowship awarded by the National Brain Tumor Society. Research efforts will focus on unraveling the mechanistic dependencies of ependymoma tumor cells on extracellular vesicle pathways.

Common diabetes drug promising against rare childhood brain tumor in laboratory studies

— Categories: Categories: CERN Research Articles   Ependymoma Research Articles     Posted on November 12, 2021

In cell and mouse models, metformin suppressed tumor growth in group A posterior fossa ependymomas.

CERN 08-02 Clinical Trial Creates Significant Impact in the Ependymoma Community

— Categories: CERN Research Articles     Posted on December 11, 2020

The CERN Foundation supported a phase II clinical trial, CERN 08-02, for adults with recurrent ependymoma. A manuscript describing the results of the trial has been accepted for publication in Neuro-Oncology. Neuro-Oncology is the official journal of the Society for Neuro-Oncology.

CERN Foundation Awards 2020 Scientific Fellow

— Categories: Categories: CERN Research Articles   Press Release     Posted on January 17, 2020

At the 2019 CERN Foundation Annual Meeting, held during the Society for Neuro-Oncology’s Annual Meeting in November, the CERN Foundation announced the latest distinguished scientific fellowship award. The CERN and Robert Connor Dawes Scientific Fellowship awarded by the National Brain Tumor Society provides a competitive award for pediatric ependymoma research.

CERN Supports Research to Further Understand Ependymoma

— Categories: CERN Research Articles     Posted on October 17, 2019

CERN fellowship recipient, Dr. Kristian Pajtler, and collaborators, have made important discoveries.

CERN Supported Research Profiles Posterior Fossa Ependymomas

— Categories: CERN Research Articles     Posted on July 2, 2018

Of nine ependymoma molecular groups detected by DNA methylation profiling, the posterior fossa type A (PFA) is most prevalent. Researchers used DNA methylation profiling to look for further molecular heterogeneity among 675 PFA ependymomas.

CERN Foundation Awards 2018 Scientific Fellows

— Categories: Categories: CERN Research Articles   Press Release     Posted on February 12, 2018

At the 2017 CERN Foundation Annual Meeting, held during the Society for Neuro-Oncology’s Annual Meeting in November, the CERN Foundation announced two distinguished scientific fellowship awards. Both fellowships provide a competitive award for ependymoma research.

Clinical Presentation and Outcomes for Adult Ependymoma Patients

— Categories: CERN Research Articles     Posted on September 28, 2016

The Adult Ependymoma Outcomes project was initiated to capture pertinent patient information on various aspects of one’s care through self-reported experience to evaluate how this rare tumor impacts patients.

CERN Tissue Samples Used to Analyze the Impact of Surgery and Radiation on Ependymoma

— Categories: CERN Research Articles     Posted on June 8, 2016

Ependymoma is the third most common brain tumor in children. The current therapy for posterior fossa ependymoma in children is surgery followed by radiation therapy.

CERN Supported Research Uses New Approach to Calculate Drug Doses for Ependymoma Treatment

— Categories: CERN Research Articles     Posted on May 10, 2016

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital scientists have used sophisticated pharmacologic modeling and simulation to translate preclinical findings into a phase I clinical trial of a chemotherapy, 5-FU, for ependymoma treatment.

CERN Investigators Publish Paper on the Biology and Management of Ependymomas

— Categories: CERN Research Articles     Posted on January 4, 2016

Ependymomas are rare primary tumors of the central nervous system in children and adults that comprise histologically similar but genetically distinct subgroups.

CERN Investigators Publish Paper on 5-FU

— Categories: CERN Research Articles     Posted on August 6, 2015

A phase I study of the drug called 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) examined the pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerable dosing for children and young adults with recurrent ependymoma.

CERN Investigators Publish Paper on Phase II Study

— Categories: CERN Research Articles     Posted on May 14, 2015

In an open-label, two-stage, phase II study (CERN 08-01), CERN investigators aim to investigate the effect of bevacizumab and lapatinib in children with recurrent or refractory ependymoma.

CERN Investigators Publish Paper on the Molecular Classification of Ependymal Tumors

— Categories: CERN Research Articles     Posted on May 11, 2015

Ependymal tumors are currently classified and graded solely by histopathology (microscopic examination of tissue in order to study the manifestations of disease). This classification, however, is limited on predicting patients’ outcome.

CERN Principal Investigator Publishes Paper That Identifies Eighteen Genes That Contribute to Childhood Ependymoma

— Categories: CERN Research Articles     Posted on May 6, 2015

The CERN Foundation has supported a major discovery in the fight against ependymoma. This discovery, led by scientists from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, lays the foundation for developing new, much needed chemotherapy agents and finds evidence that anti-cholesterol drugs called statins slow growth of ependymoma tumor cells.

CERN Investigators Publish Paper on the Side Effects of Corticosteroids

— Categories: CERN Research Articles     Posted on February 9, 2015

Corticosteroids can have many side effects that impact the patient’s quality of life and functional status. (Corticosteroids are a class of chemicals that includes the steroid hormones that are produced in the adrenal cortex of vertebrates).

CERN Investigators Publish Paper on Symptoms and Socio-economic Impact of Ependymoma

— Categories: CERN Research Articles     Posted on October 31, 2014

Find out what we learned from our Ependymoma Outcomes Projects (patient symptoms, function status and costs encountered by patients and families).

CERN Principal Investigator Publishes Landmark Paper on Gene Sequencing

— Categories: CERN Research Articles     Posted on February 27, 2014

The CERN Foundation announces a major advance in the fight against ependymoma. Research funded by the CERN Foundation and led by scientists from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, has identified the most common genetic alteration ever reported in the brain tumor ependymoma.

CERN Investigators Publish New Paper on the Clinical Course and Progression-Free Survival of Adult Intracranial and Spinal Ependymoma Patients

— Categories: CERN Research Articles     Posted on January 23, 2014

Ependymomas are rare central nervous system tumors. Previous studies that described the clinical course of ependymoma patients were restricted to small sample sizes, often only including patients at a specific institution. The CERN Foundation investigators have established a the world’s largest collection of ependymoma tissues.

CERN Investigators Publish New Paper on the Impact of Recall Period on Primary Brain Tumor Patient’s Self-report of Symptoms

— Categories: CERN Research Articles     Posted on January 6, 2014

Understanding the severity of symptoms that patients with primary brain tumors report is an integral part of patient care and for evaluating treatment benefit in clinical studies.

New Paper Analyzes Outcomes in Non-Anaplastic Ependymoma Patients

— Categories: CERN Research Articles     Posted on December 11, 2013

CERN investigators are among the authors of a new paper in the “Journal of Neuro-Oncology” on the observation following gross-total resection for non-anaplastic supratentorial ependymoma.

CERN Investigators Publish Paper On Uncertainty, Mood States, and Symptom Distress in Patients with Primary Brain Tumors

— Categories: CERN Research Articles     Posted on August 1, 2013

Patients with primary brain tumors (PBTs) face uncertainty related to prognosis, symptoms, treatment response, and toxicity. The authors of this report examined the direct/indirect relations among patients’ uncertainty, mood states, and symptoms.

CERN Investigators Publish Paper About Mood Disturbance In Glioma Patients

— Categories: CERN Research Articles     Posted on July 1, 2013

Patients diagnosed with primary brain tumors such as ependymoma and glioma experience psychological distress throughout the illness trajectory. Determining which patient characteristics are associated with more severe mood disturbance throughout the course of the illness can help identify patients at risk and assist in developing targeted interventions based on these factors.

New Paper Published by CERN Investigator Addresses Advances In Ependymoma Treatment

— Categories: CERN Research Articles     Posted on December 13, 2012

CERN investigator has published a new paper in the journal ‘Current Treatment Options in Oncology’ on the diagnosis and management of adults and children with ependymoma.

CERN Investigators Publish Paper About Histological Predictors of Outcome in Ependymoma are Dependent on Anatomic Site Within the CNS

— Categories: CERN Research Articles     Posted on September 23, 2012

Ependymomas may originate in different compartments within the central nervous system. At present, the World Health Organization guidelines recommend a uniform grading scheme be used for ependymomas, independent of the anatomic site of origin.

CERN Investigators Publish Paper About Predictors of Survival Among Pediatric and Adult Ependymoma Cases

— Categories: CERN Research Articles     Posted on July 28, 2012

CERN investigators have published a paper about predictors of survival among pediatric and adult ependymoma cases: A study using surveillance, epidemiology, and end results data from 1973 to 2007.

CERN Investigators Publish Paper About Gene Expression in Infratentorial Ependymoma

— Categories: CERN Research Articles     Posted on May 12, 2012

In an exciting scientific breakthrough, a team of CERN Foundation researchers, led by Kenneth Aldape, M.D. at MD Anderson Cancer Center, have identified a prognostic gene expression signature in infratentorial ependymoma. These findings have been published in a recent issue of the journal Acta Neuropathologica.

CERN Investigators Publish Paper on Ependymoma Outcomes in Cancer Journal

— Categories: CERN Research Articles     Posted on November 15, 2011

A study by the CERN Foundation, led by researchers from the University of Texas Health Science Center and University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, has reported on the clinical course and current health status from one of the largest cohorts of adults with ependymoma.

CERN Investigators Publish Paper On Screening To Identify Treatment Leads for Ependymoma

— Categories: CERN Research Articles     Posted on September 13, 2011

In a very exciting breakthrough, a team of CERN Foundation researchers led by Richard Gilberston, Ph.D., M.D., Director of Comprehensive Cancer Center and EVP of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Co-Principal Investigator of the CERN Foundation, have identified new treatment leads for ependymoma.

CERN Investigators Publish Paper on Ependymoma Research Methods

— Categories: CERN Research Articles     Posted on July 13, 2011

A paper pertaining to ependymoma research has been published in the prominent Neuro-Oncology Journal. The paper was co-authored by CERN’s own Drs. Yung and Koul from MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Symptom Profiles in Adult Patients with Ependymoma: Report from the Ependymoma Outcomes Project

— Categories: CERN Research Articles     Posted on October 13, 2010

The Ependymoma Outcomes (EO) Project is an online survey designed to collect information on the clinical course and current health status of patients with ependymoma. Gathering accurate patient information through this online survey can assist in assessing treatment and health practices for a rare disease.

Adult Ependymal Tumors: Prognosis and The MDACC Experience

— Categories: CERN Research Articles     Posted on August 12, 2010

Ependymomas in adults are rare and often misdiagnosed. There are limited reports which have centralized confirmation of diagnosis and evaluation of prognosis. This study reports on a series of adult patients with confirmed ependymoma treated at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC).

CERN Scientists Make Advances in Understanding the Origin of Ependymoma

— Categories: CERN Research Articles     Posted on June 29, 2010

Members of the CERN Foundation, led by scientists from the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, have developed a new approach that uses genomic information from different species to understand the biology that drives the formation of these different cancer subtypes.

Ependymomas of the Adult: Molecular Biology and Treatment

— Categories: CERN Research Articles     Posted on December 21, 2008

This study reviews state of art and relevant advances in the molecular biology and management of ependymomas of the adult.

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