Archive for brain tumor
How the stars aligned for CeCe’s spinal cord tumor care
Last spring, 6-year-old CeCe was on vacation in Florida when she told her parents, Mike and Mary, that her neck hurt. After the family returned home to the Chicago area, her neck pain persisted despite Tylenol and rest — and she developed another concerning symptom. “We noticed that she wasn’t using her right hand to ... Read More about How the stars aligned for CeCe’s spinal cord tumor care
Mapping ‘neighborhoods’ in aggressive childhood brain tumors
The third-most common kind of childhood brain tumor, supratentorial ependymoma, is an aggressive cancer that often returns after surgery and radiation therapy. By learning more about the makeup of these tumors, Boston Children’s researchers hope to better understand how to treat them and prevent recurrence. In a new study published in Nature, and led by ... Read More about Mapping ‘neighborhoods’ in aggressive childhood brain tumors
‘Challenge accepted’: Sophia takes on a brain tumor
In 2023, Sophia Mordini landed the role of a lifetime. A competitive dancer, the 12-year-old would play Clara in her company’s production of “The Nutcracker.” But the performance was bittersweet: Just two weeks after the curtain fell that December, she underwent surgery to remove a very large and complex brain tumor. ‘We knew something was ... Read More about ‘Challenge accepted’: Sophia takes on a brain tumor
Forecasting the future for childhood cancer survivors
Children are much more likely to survive cancer today than 50 years ago. Unfortunately, as adults, many of them develop cardiovascular disease, secondary cancers, or both, believed to result from the toxic effects of chemotherapy and radiation. But the full risk picture for survivors hasn’t been clear. “Patients want to know how long they’ll live ... Read More about Forecasting the future for childhood cancer survivors
Pediatric high-grade gliomas: Research reveals effective targeting with avapritinib
Pediatric high-grade gliomas, particularly H3K27M diffuse midline gliomas (DMG), are aggressive malignant brain tumors with a poor prognosis. Previous research suggests that platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) appears to play a multifaceted role in the pathogenesis of both adult and pediatric high-grade gliomas. Not only are genetic alterations of PDGFRA common in patients with ... Read More about Pediatric high-grade gliomas: Research reveals effective targeting with avapritinib
First-of-their-kind findings turn conventional wisdom about diffuse hemispheric glioma on its head
Diffuse hemispheric glioma, H3G34-mutant (DHG-H3G34) is a type of high-grade glioma that typically affects adolescents and young adults. The lack of targeted treatments contributes to a very poor prognosis for patients with these malignant brain tumors. But what if some of what we thought we knew about DHG-H3G34 turned out to be wrong? That’s the ... Read More about First-of-their-kind findings turn conventional wisdom about diffuse hemispheric glioma on its head
‘We’re going to Boston’: Why Aydan’s family temporarily relocated for craniopharyngioma care
One evening in October 2022, 2-year-old Aydan Arguello arrived at Boston Children’s Hospital. It wasn’t a routine visit, but instead the final stop in an urgent journey from his home in South Florida. Months earlier, the toddler had been diagnosed and treated for a large brain tumor — but it was a related concern that led ... Read More about ‘We’re going to Boston’: Why Aydan’s family temporarily relocated for craniopharyngioma care
After surgery for a brain tumor, Jenny is moving ahead — and giving back
“It might sound weird,” says Jenny Eckert, “but I’m very grateful that I got hit in the face with a soccer ball.” A year and a half ago, Jenny, then 9, was playing soccer when she accidentally took a hit to the head — twice. Concerned about a possible concussion, her parents, Vanessa and Scott, brought ... Read More about After surgery for a brain tumor, Jenny is moving ahead — and giving back
Keeping pace: ‘Superhero’ Zachary hasn’t let a brain tumor break his stride
Zachary Sonnek, 11, loves being active, whether that means running or playing baseball, golf, or hockey. “He’s always been ‘go, go, go,’” says his mother, Nicole. So two years ago, when he told his parents he occasionally had trouble breathing, they initially thought he just needed to pace himself. Although he had a clean bill ... Read More about Keeping pace: ‘Superhero’ Zachary hasn’t let a brain tumor break his stride
This two-handed robot goes deep into the brain
Robots have become common partners in the OR, enabling surgeons to operate through small incisions and manipulate tools endoscopically, avoiding invasive open surgery. But in neurosurgery, robots’ capabilities have been more limited. While they can assist with relatively simple procedures like inserting an electrode, more invasive and complex operations like removing a tumor still require ... Read More about This two-handed robot goes deep into the brain