Treatment

The only approved standard of care for DIPG and DMG is radiation therapy. Radiation should begin as soon as possible after diagnosis in order to stall the progression of the tumor.

Clinical trials are the primary way researchers determine if a new treatment is safe and effective in people. There are currently multiple clinical trials available for DIPG and DMG patients that are showing promise.

Although chemotherapy has proven beneficial in fighting many types of cancers, there are specific challenges with DIPG and DMG that have inhibited this type of treatment from having the same success. In recent years, there have been developments showing promise in allowing chemotherapy to aid in DIPG and DMG treatment.

The blood-brain barrier poses a significant obstacle to treatment because it prevents toxins and other molecules in the bloodstream from entering brain cells. Newer delivery methods are being developed to disrupt the blood-brain barrier to allow more chemotherapy agents to pass. Studies are currently being conducted to investigate these new methods that deliver medication directly into the tumor.

Immunotherapy is a treatment that uses the body’s own immune system to fight cancer cells. Clinical trials using immunotherapy to treat DIPG and DMG patients are underway and showing promise.

In searching for a clinical trial, there may be instances in which a patient will not be allowed to enroll due to an inclusion/exclusion requirement. If this happens, there may be other options to explore that might enable access to the treatment.

Complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) are the use of medications or other products that are not considered standard of care. CAMs may be considered for cancer patients to help decrease cancer treatment side effects, but should be discussed with your medical team.