Learn about emerging treatments for DMG and DIPG. We’ve got it covered, from targeted therapy to cancer vaccines, gene therapy, steroids, drug combinations, and more.

  • March 9, 2020 

    Facilitating Access to Treatment for Children with Brain Cancer

    With: Leslie Jared, RN, MSN

    A Q&A with Leslie Jared, RN, MSN, Nurse Navigator at Cancer Commons. Email: leslie.jared@cancercommons.org Q: A midline glioma is a type of brain tumor that is particularly dangerous because of its nature and its location in the brain. It often afflicts children. An investigational drug called ONC201 has shown early promise in some patients whose tumors have a specific genetic mutation called H3 K27M.… Read more »

  • April 12, 2021 

    Sydney Researchers Identify/Advance Potential Revolutionary New Drug Treatment for Fatal Childhood CancerBookmark

    George Lundberg, MD

    A press release from the Children’s Cancer Institute outlines hopeful results from experiments performed in mice and 3-D computer models that investigated a new treatment for the rare childhood brain tumor diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). The treatment consists of a combination of the drugs difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) and AMXT 1501. This combo is already being tested in clinical trials in adults with cancer, and will soon be tested in children with DIPG.

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  • August 4, 2020 

    FDA Grants Rare Pediatric Disease Designation to ONC201 for the Treatment of H3 K27M-Mutant GliomaBookmark

    Erika Vial Monteverdi

    Press release from Oncoceutics curated by Executive Director Erika Vial Monteverdi.

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted Rare Pediatric Disease Designation to the drug ONC201 for treating a type of brain tumor known as “H3 K27M-mutant glioma,” which is primarily found in children. Alongside the Musella Foundation For Brain Tumor Research & Information, Inc, and the company xCures, Cancer Commons has been supporting this program to help patients in need.

    Go to full article published by Novocure on Business Wire.

    If you’re wondering whether this story applies to your own cancer case or a loved one’s, we invite you to get support from Cancer Commons.

  • July 11, 2020 

    Diffuse Midline GliomasBookmark

    George Lundberg, MD

    Curated by Editor in Chief George Lundberg, MD, who notes:

    This outline from the National Cancer Institute provides an overview of diffuse midline gliomas. Diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG), which occur primarily in children, are a subset of diffuse midline gliomas.
  • October 1, 2019 

    International Team Discovers Unique Pathway for Treating Deadly Children’s Brain CancerBookmark

    George Lundberg, MD

    Article from ScienceDaily curated by Editor in Chief George Lundberg, MD, who notes: 

    A genetic mutation known as PPN1D has been found to be a possible point of attack for research into the childhood cancer diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG).

    Go to full article published by ScienceDaily.

  • August 9, 2019 

    Brainstem GliomasBookmark

    George Lundberg, MD

    Curated by Editor in Chief George Lundberg, MD:

    A brainstem glioma is a very serious disease that is rare and mostly affects children. Diffuse pontine intrinsic glioma  (DPIG) is one type of brainstem glioma. For an authoritative, up-to-date, detailed, comprehensive, and unbiased overview of brainstem gliomas, check out this presentation and discussion. (You may be required to register for free to view it.)

     

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I learned more about my trial options from Emma in a week than I did in 3 years of previous care. Every metastatic patient should know about Cancer Commons. And I love how they use the data to speed up the N-of-1 success stories.

Michelle Kendall
Cancer Patient

Molecular testing helps match patients to the personalized treatments that are most likely to work for them. Keep up with new developments in molecular testing that could help guide DMG/DIPG treatment, such as tumor mutations and other biomarkers.

In a field as complex and dynamic as molecular oncology in 2020, Cancer Commons offers an amazing opportunity for patients with advanced cancer to obtain scientifically up-to-date additional options that may improve both the length and quality of their lives, all free of charge.

Gavin Gordon, PhD
Molecular Pathologist

Cancer affects many aspects of life, whether you’re newly diagnosed, in the midst of treatment, or in follow-up care. Learn about ways to maintain quality of life, such as palliative care and managing side effects.

  • October 14, 2019 

    Pediatric Palliative Care: A Specialty Comes of Age

    Sarah Friebert, MD

    For a child with cancer, palliative care can provide much-needed relief from stress and symptoms—for the patient and their family alike. Palliative care is given alongside cancer treatment, and is not synonymous with “end-of-life” care. In fact, anyone with a serious illness can benefit from palliative care, no matter their long-term outlook. Because of its importance for children with cancer, we are honored to… Read more »

  • February 11, 2020 

    ‘Impressed With Impact’ of Ketamine in Cancer Palliative CareBookmark

    George Lundberg, MD

    Article from Medscape curated by Editor in Chief George Lundberg, MD, who notes: 

    Depression is, for obvious reasons, common in patients with advanced cancer. The old, inexpensive drug ketamine—already approved for medical use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—seems rapidly effective, according to small studies.

    Go to full article published by Medscape.

    If you’re wondering whether this story applies to your own cancer case or a loved one’s, we invite you to get support from Cancer Commons.

  • October 7, 2019 

    Emphasizing Oncogeriatrics

    With: Nicolò Matteo Luca Battisti, MD

    A Q&A with Nicolò Matteo Luca Battisti, MD, Medical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom, and Chair of the Young Interest Group of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG); nicolo.battisti@gmail.com Q: Everyone knows that the practice of pediatric oncology is very different from adult oncology. How does the growing field of oncogeriatrics differ from usual adult oncology? A:… Read more »

  • December 3, 2018 

    Best Uses of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Patients with Cancer

    With: Val Jones, MD

    A Q&A with Val Jones, MD, Medical Director of Admissions, Saint Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute, Spokane, WA Originally published February 1, 2017 Q: Your principal practice in Spokane, Washington is physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R). What do you find to be the best uses of PM&R in patients with cancer at your facility? A: Rehabilitation medicine is one of the best-kept secrets in healthcare. Although the… Read more »

  • September 14, 2018 

    Huge Progress in Palliative Care

    With: Diane E. Meier, MD, FACP

    A Q&A with Diane E. Meier, MD, FACP, Director, Center to Advance Palliative Care; Professor of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; New York, NY; diane.meier@mssm.edu Originally published November 8, 2017 Q: You wrote in MedGenMed in 2007 that palliative care was the job of all hospitals. In October 2017 you were honored at the National Academy of Medicine for… Read more »

  • July 23, 2018 

    Cancer Pain and the Opioid Epidemic

    George Lundberg, MD

    A Q&A with Kevin Sevarino, MD, PhD, President-elect of the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry and Consulting Psychiatrist at Gaylord Hospital in Wallingford, CT Q: Opioid abuse, addiction, and overdose are huge American problems right now. Many cancer patents experience chronic pain. What is the best way to use opioids to manage chronic pain? [Note: The views expressed below represent the opinion of the author,… Read more »

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You’re not alone. Read how other patients and caregivers navigated diagnosis, treatment, and life with cancer. We hope their stories provide insights and hope for your own cancer journey.

More patient stories

Learn more about what’s new in advanced cancer research and treatment, including screening and statistics, using artificial intelligence to improve treatment, and other new horizons in cancer care.

  • April 7, 2021 

    Rankings of Most Common and Deadly Cancer Types Will Shift Over Next Two Decades

    In the next two decades, rankings of incidence and death across cancer types will undergo important changes in the U.S., according to new research led by Lola Rahib, PhD, Director of Scientific and Clinical Affairs at Cancer Commons, as well as the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) in collaboration with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Published today in JAMA Network Open,… Read more »

  • May 30, 2021 

    Cancer Support for LGBTQIA Patients Is MissingBookmark

    George Lundberg, MD

    This piece from ASCO Connection outlines the need for and a path to improvement in cancer care for LGBTQIA patients.

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  • March 29, 2021 

    Can Really Big Data Inform Precise Decisions for Individual Patients?

    With: Matvey B. Palchuk, MD, MS, FAMIA

    New technologies are transforming cancer research. By optimizing research protocols and leveraging data more efficiently and intelligently, these tools hold the promise to improve personalized cancer care. Here, our Curious Dr. George asks Matvey B. Palchuk, MD, MS, FAMIA, VP of Informatics at TriNetX, LLC, about the capabilities of his company’s platform. Curious Dr. George: Translational medicine has evolved to include personalized medicine and… Read more »

  • November 10, 2020 

    How to Learn About Cancer in a Classroom: Shaping Compassionate Doctors

    With: Marin Langlieb

    The patients and caregivers we serve here at Cancer Commons rely on their doctors to provide expert, compassionate care. Building the skills to give such care can begin early in a doctor’s education. Here, for a change of pace, our Curious Dr. George asks a future doctor about a unique experience that helped her learn how to connect with cancer patients. Marin Langlieb is… Read more »

  • September 9, 2020 

    Is Cancer the Best Way to Die?

    With: Richard Smith, CBE, FMedSci

    In 2014, the prestigious medical research journal The BMJ published a controversial piece called “Dying of cancer is the best death.” Here, our Curious Dr. George asks the author of that piece, Richard Smith, CBE, FMedSci, if and how his thoughts on death have since evolved. Dr. Smith was Editor of The BMJ from 1991 to 2004 and is currently Chair of the Lancet Commission… Read more »

  • August 21, 2020 

    The Power of Precision Medicine is Exemplified by Tempus

    With: Nike Beaubier, MDNamratha Sastry, PhD

    Tempus—a tech company & partner of Cancer Commons—empowers doctors to make data-driven decisions for their patients in real time. Learn how.

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The coronavirus pandemic presents unprecedented challenges to cancer patients. We can help you understand how COVID-19 might impact your treatment and other aspects of your cancer care.