Medulloblastoma
Prepared with OnCo (onco.cc/prep/medulloblastoma/). 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
17 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 Molecular subgroup, MYC / MYCN amplification, TP53 mutation, Metastatic stageby MRI and CSF cytology, Extent of resection), 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 (≥3 years, m0, <1.5 cm² residual, no myc amp)), 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 (high risk (metastatic, residual, anaplastic, myc)), which of the standard options do you recommend and why?
- 8.Am I a candidate for Carboplatin, Cisplatin, Cyclophosphamide, and what side effects should I expect?
- 9.For my situation (infants (<3 years)), which of the standard options do you recommend and why?
- 10.Am I a candidate for Methotrexate, Cyclophosphamide, and what side effects should I expect?
- 11.For my situation (relapsed), which of the standard options do you recommend and why?
- 12.Am I a candidate for Temozolomide, Irinotecan (and liposomal irinotecan), Bevacizumab or related drugs, and what side effects should I expect?
- 13.Are there clinical trials I could join, for example of Proton therapy, Vismodegib, DNA methylation profiling?
- 14.Would a second opinion at a high-volume centre change anything, and can you help arrange it?
- 15.What supportive care (symptom control, nutrition, exercise, mental health, financial help) is available from the start?
- 16.I read that “Group 3 MYC-amplified and SHH TP53-mutant tumours: survival under 50%”. How does that affect my plan?
- 17.I read that “Relapse after craniospinal irradiation is rarely curable; it is where new approaches are most needed”. How does that affect my plan?
The words I may hear
- Blood-brain barrier (BBB): The tight seal around brain blood vessels that keeps most drugs out, one of the two main reasons brain cancer is so hard to treat.
- Li-Fraumeni syndrome (germline TP53): Li-Fraumeni syndrome is an inherited fault in the TP53 gene giving a lifetime cancer risk near 100% in women and ~75% in men, with sarcomas, breast cancer, brain tumours, adrenal cancer and leukaemias often in childhood.
Tests and results to bring
Biomarker results to ask for: Molecular subgroup (methylation profiling; IHC surrogates β-catenin, GAB1, YAP1), MYC / MYCN amplification, TP53 mutation (SHH), Metastatic stage (Chang M0-M4) by MRI and CSF cytology, Extent of resection (residual >1.5 cm²), Histology (desmoplastic/nodular, large cell/anaplastic), Germline testing (SUFU, PTCH1, TP53, BRCA2, PALB2, APC).
Scans and tests linked to this cancer: MRI, 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 (<3 years): Radiation-avoiding intensive chemotherapy (Head Start, HIT-SKK with intraventricular methotrexate); desmoplastic/SHH infants do well, Group 3 infants poorly. (Methotrexate, Cyclophosphamide, Autologous stem cell transplant (high-dose therapy))
- High risk (metastatic, residual, anaplastic, MYC): CSI 36 Gy ± concurrent carboplatin (ACNS0332 for Group 3), then multi-agent chemotherapy; high-dose chemotherapy with stem-cell rescue in some protocols. (Carboplatin, Cisplatin, Cyclophosphamide, Autologous stem cell transplant (high-dose therapy))
- Average risk (≥3 years, M0, <1.5 cm² residual, no MYC amp): Resection, CSI 23.4 Gy with boost to 54 Gy (proton where available), then cisplatin/vincristine/cyclophosphamide or lomustine-based chemotherapy (ACNS0331); WNT tumours receive reduced CSI in trials. (Cisplatin, Vincristine, Cyclophosphamide, Lomustine (CCNU), Proton therapy, IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam))
- Relapsed: Re-irradiation, temozolomide-irinotecan ± bevacizumab, SMO inhibitor (vismodegib/sonidegib) for SHH in post-pubertal patients, clinical trials; cure is rare. (Temozolomide, Irinotecan (and liposomal irinotecan), Bevacizumab, Vismodegib)
From the standard of care recorded for this cancer; which apply depends on your stage and biomarkers. Ask which the team recommends and why.