Group 3 and group 4 medulloblastoma (non-WNT/non-SHH)
Prepared with OnCo (onco.cc/prep/medulloblastoma-group-3-4/). Orientation, not medical advice; your team knows your case.
My details
What I know, what is unclear, changes to discuss
Saved in this browserMy questions
19 on the sheet- 1.What is my exact diagnosis, stage, and grade, and which tests established them?
- 2.Which biomarkers have been tested on my tumour (for example DNA methylation profiling, MYC and MYCN amplification, Isochromosome 17q, Chromosome 11 loss and whole chromosome 17 gain, Metastatic staging by spinal MRI and CSF cytology), and what were the results?
- 3.Which subtype is my cancer, and does that change the recommended treatment?
- 4.Is germline (inherited) genetic testing recommended for me or my family?
- 5.For my situation (average risk (aged 3 or over, no metastases, residual under 1.5 square centimetres)), which of the standard options do you recommend and why?
- 6.Am I a candidate for Cisplatin, Vincristine, Cyclophosphamide or related drugs, and what side effects should I expect?
- 7.How do the results of COG ACNS0331 apply to someone like me?
- 8.For my situation (high risk (metastatic, residual disease or myc amplification)), which of the standard options do you recommend and why?
- 9.Am I a candidate for Carboplatin, Cisplatin, Vincristine or related drugs, and what side effects should I expect?
- 10.For my situation (infants under three), which of the standard options do you recommend and why?
- 11.Am I a candidate for Methotrexate, Cyclophosphamide, Vincristine or related drugs, and what side effects should I expect?
- 12.For my situation (relapsed), which of the standard options do you recommend and why?
- 13.Am I a candidate for Temozolomide, Irinotecan (and liposomal irinotecan), Bevacizumab, and what side effects should I expect?
- 14.For my situation (survivorship), which of the standard options do you recommend and why?
- 15.Are there clinical trials I could join, for example of DNA methylation profiling, Proton therapy, Temozolomide, Bevacizumab?
- 16.Would a second opinion at a high-volume centre change anything, and can you help arrange it?
- 17.What supportive care (symptom control, nutrition, exercise, mental health, financial help) is available from the start?
- 18.I read that “MYC and MYCN have no inhibitor, and relapse is almost always fatal”. How does that affect my plan?
- 19.I read that “Craniospinal radiotherapy dose cannot be reduced in young children without losing cures”. How does that affect my plan?
The words I may hear
- Medulloblastoma molecular groups (WNT, SHH, group 3, group 4): Medulloblastoma is four diseases under one microscope: the WNT group is almost always cured, the SHH group depends on age and TP53, and groups 3 and 4 carry most of the deaths, so the group now steers how much radiation and chemotherapy a child receives.
- Late effects and survivorship toxicity: Health problems appearing months or decades after treatment ends: heart damage, infertility, second cancers, lymphoedema, dry mouth, memory problems, weak bones.
Tests and results to bring
Biomarker results to ask for: DNA methylation profiling (non-WNT/non-SHH subgroups I to VIII), MYC and MYCN amplification, Isochromosome 17q, Chromosome 11 loss and whole chromosome 17 gain (low-risk group 4), Metastatic staging by spinal MRI and CSF cytology (Chang M stage), Residual tumour on postoperative MRI, Large-cell/anaplastic histology.
Scans and tests linked to this cancer: DNA methylation profiling.
Bring copies of scan reports, pathology and blood results, and a list of every medicine and supplement.
The treatments I may be offered
- Infants under three: Intensive chemotherapy with methotrexate, then high-dose consolidation with stem cell rescue, to avoid or delay craniospinal radiotherapy. (Methotrexate, Cyclophosphamide, Vincristine, Carboplatin, Thiotepa, Autologous stem cell transplant (high-dose therapy))
- High risk (metastatic, residual disease or MYC amplification): 36 Gy craniospinal radiotherapy with boost, daily carboplatin during radiotherapy for group 3 (ACNS0332), then cisplatin, vincristine and cyclophosphamide. (Carboplatin, IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam), Proton therapy, Cisplatin, Vincristine, Cyclophosphamide)
- Average risk (aged 3 or over, no metastases, residual under 1.5 square centimetres): Maximal safe resection, 23.4 Gy craniospinal radiotherapy with tumour-bed boost (ACNS0331 showed 18 Gy is inferior), then cisplatin, vincristine and cyclophosphamide or lomustine. (Proton therapy, IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam), Cisplatin, Vincristine, Cyclophosphamide, Lomustine (CCNU), COG ACNS0331)
- Relapsed: Temozolomide with irinotecan, bevacizumab, re-irradiation or high-dose chemotherapy; almost never curative; early-phase trials. (Temozolomide, Irinotecan (and liposomal irinotecan), Bevacizumab, Autologous stem cell transplant (high-dose therapy), IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam))
- Survivorship: Neurocognitive, endocrine, hearing, vascular and second-tumour follow-up for life. (Late effects and survivorship toxicity, Survivorship care and late-effects surveillance)
From the standard of care recorded for this cancer; which apply depends on your stage and biomarkers. Ask which the team recommends and why.