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The Oligodendroglioma Roundtable

Supported by a generous donation from the estate of Louise C. Jacobs as a memorial to her grandson, Matthew, the Oligodendroglioma Roundtable brought together oligodendroglioma experts from all across the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands.

Approximately 2,000 people per year are diagnosed with this type of brain tumor. Although oligodendroglioma is a member of the group of brain tumor referred to as “gliomas” --  primary brain tumors arising from the glial, or supportive tissue of the brain --  the outcome for subtypes of this tumor can have a much different course than that of other gliomas. Research commonly focuses on the more common glioma called “glioblastoma multiforme,” a particularly aggressive brain tumor affecting larger numbers of the population. 

In contrast, oligodendroglioma is typically a slower growing tumor whose treatment may cause as many, if not more, effects than the tumor itself. According to the Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States, oligodendrogliomas and their variant, oligoastrocytomas, represent about 12% of all gliomas.

Challenges unique to research into this tumor type include a small, dispersed population that makes data collection difficult; the growing impact of the molecular neurosciences and its impact on the histopathologic classifications of this tumor type;  the need for larger-scale research studies capable of validating observations made in smaller studies; and the limited number of researchers focused on this highly specialized disease entity.  

The focus of the ABTA/Jacobs Oligodendroglioma Roundtable was to set priorities for future research into this tumor and to share the outcomes of the meeting with the brain tumor research community.  A detailed summary of the proceedings will be prepared for submission for publication in a scientific journal.  

The roundtable was chaired by Nina Paleologos, MD, of NorthShore University Health Systems, Evanston, Illinois; and the keynote  was delivered by J. Gregory Cairncross, MD, Head of the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Calgary, Foothills Hospital. 

Roundtable participants included Lauren Abrey, MD, Vice Chairman and Director of Clinical Research, Department of Neurology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York;  John Henson, MD,  Director of Neurology,  Medical Director of the Center for Advanced Brain Tumor Treatment,  Swedish Medical Center, Seattle, Washington;  Robert Jenkins, MD, PhD, Professor of Laboratory Medicine at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota;  Jonathan Knisely, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Therapeutic Radiology at the Hunter Radiation Therapy Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut;  Andrew Lassman, MD, Director of the Fellowship Program in Neuro-Oncology, Department of Neurology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York;  Bridget McCarthy, PhD, Associate Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Illinois School of Public Health, Chicago; David Mcdonald, MD, Associate Professor of Neurology, University of Western Ontario, London Health Sciences Centre, Canada;  Christina Meyers, PhD,  Professor and Chief, Section of Neuropsychology at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas;  Arie Perry, MD, Professor, Division of Neuropathology and Medical Director of the Anatomic Pathology FISH Lab, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri;  Martin van den Bent, MD, Professor, Department of Neuro-Oncology,  Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center  at Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands;  and Michael Vogelbaum , MD, PhD,  Associate Director of the Brain Tumor and Neuro-Oncology Center and the Director of the Center for Translational Therapeutics at the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.

Scientific articles on this tumor can be retrieved from Neuro-oncology, the scientific journal of the Society for Neuro-oncology. Visit http://neuro-oncology.dukejournals.org/, and type the word “oligodendroglioma” in the keyword search box. Please remember that most medical journals require a subscription or payment for new articles, but this site contains a wealth of resources with open access.
 
The American Brain Tumor Association offers several resources for obtaining information about oligodendroglioma and oligoastrocytoma.  Please visit the Oligodendroglioma portal at our web site:   http://www.abta.org/index.cfm?contentid=263.  Survivorship resources are accessible at http://www.abta.org/index.cfm?contentid=22.

New treatments, such as those discussed at the roundtable, are offered in organized studies called “clinical trials.” Those interested in new research treatments for oligodendroglioma or oligoastrocytoma can obtain a listing of both treatments and study sites by calling the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service at 800-422-6237. In addition to the Cancer Information Service, you can also search online for these studies.  Visit http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/brain/  or  www.clinicaltrials.gov.

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March, 2009