Immunotherapy Shows Promise in Treating Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma in Children

Researchers at University Hospital in Madrid, Spain, have reported promising results in using immunotherapy to treat diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) in children. The study, published in the European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy, details the case of three patients who underwent treatment with oncolytic viruses followed by immune checkpoint inhibitors and an antiangiogenic agent. The patients showed good tolerance and disease stabilization for approximately 5 months, although subsequent clinical worsening required a change in treatment.

Key Takeaways:

• The study was conducted at the Paediatric Oncology and Haematology Unit of HM Hospitales/Centro Integral Oncologico Clara Campal (CIOCC) in Madrid, Spain.
• Three patients with DIPG were treated with immunotherapy, including oncolytic viruses, immune checkpoint inhibitors (pembrolizumab, anti PD-1), and an antiangiogenic agent (bevacizumab).
• The patients showed good tolerance and disease stabilization for approximately 5 months after immunotherapy.
• The treatment resulted in subsequent clinical worsening, which required clinicians to change the patients' treatment.
• Immunotherapy combined with conventional antineoplastic treatments is proposed as a promising future therapeutic option for DIPG in children.
• Further research is needed to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of immunotherapy in the pediatric population.

Statistics:

• 3 patients with DIPG were treated with immunotherapy in the study.
• The patients showed disease stabilization for approximately 5 months after immunotherapy.
• The treatment resulted in subsequent clinical worsening, which required clinicians to change the patients' treatment.

Sources:

• Clinical Experience With Immunotherapy In Patients With Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma. European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy, 2025;32(2):190-192.
• Example: University Hospital Hm Monteprincipe.