WNT-activated medulloblastoma
Prepared with OnCo (onco.cc/prep/medulloblastoma-wnt/). 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
16 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 Nuclear beta-catenin immunohistochemistry, CTNNB1 exon 3 mutation, Monosomy 6, DNA methylation profiling, APC germline testing), 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 (non-metastatic, standard therapy), 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.For my situation (non-metastatic, de-escalation trials), which of the standard options do you recommend and why?
- 8.Am I a candidate for Cisplatin, Vincristine, Cyclophosphamide, and what side effects should I expect?
- 9.For my situation (metastatic or residual disease), which of the standard options do you recommend and why?
- 10.Am I a candidate for Carboplatin, Cisplatin, Cyclophosphamide or related drugs, and what side effects should I expect?
- 11.For my situation (survivorship), which of the standard options do you recommend and why?
- 12.Are there clinical trials I could join, for example of Proton therapy, DNA methylation profiling, Germline (hereditary) testing?
- 13.Would a second opinion at a high-volume centre change anything, and can you help arrange it?
- 14.What supportive care (symptom control, nutrition, exercise, mental health, financial help) is available from the start?
- 15.I read that “How far craniospinal radiotherapy can be reduced without losing cures”. How does that affect my plan?
- 16.I read that “Whether adult and metastatic WNT tumours share the childhood prognosis”. 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: Nuclear beta-catenin immunohistochemistry, CTNNB1 exon 3 mutation, Monosomy 6, DNA methylation profiling, APC germline testing, Spinal MRI and CSF cytology staging.
Scans and tests linked to this cancer: Germline (hereditary) testing, 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
- Non-metastatic, standard therapy: Maximal safe resection, 23.4 Gy craniospinal radiotherapy with tumour-bed boost (protons where available), then cisplatin, vincristine and cyclophosphamide or lomustine. (Proton therapy, IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam), Cisplatin, Vincristine, Cyclophosphamide, Lomustine (CCNU), DNA methylation profiling)
- Non-metastatic, de-escalation trials: 15 Gy (SJMB12) or 18 Gy (ACNS1422) craniospinal radiotherapy with reduced boost and fewer chemotherapy cycles, judged against historical survival. (Proton therapy, Cisplatin, Vincristine, Cyclophosphamide, DNA methylation profiling, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Children's Oncology Group (COG))
- Metastatic or residual disease: High-risk therapy: 36 Gy craniospinal radiotherapy with boost and intensified chemotherapy, as for other groups. (Carboplatin, Cisplatin, Cyclophosphamide, Vincristine, IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam))
- Survivorship: Neurocognitive, audiological, endocrine 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.