| Treatment and/or approach | Purpose | Information to note |
|---|---|---|
Observation | Watch the tumor to see if it changes in size; this can be referred to as “watch and wait” | No treatment is used |
Surgery | Remove as much tumor as possible without causing additional damage to the brain | May not be an option for everyone based on tumor location |
Chemotherapy | Attacks tumor cells in the body | Not as targeted, so it may also attack healthy cells |
Radiation | Kills tumor cells or slows their growth by damaging their DNA | May be avoided due to its side effects |
Targeted therapy = type of treatment that targets and attacks tumor cells with certain characteristics | Targets cancer-causing proteins involved in the growth of tumor cells | Limited available options for those with pLGG |
Treatment Options
Every child with pLGG has a different treatment experience
Lily, lives with pLGG.
Lives for dancing.
Most options available to treat pLGG, including chemotherapies and certain Targeted therapy = type of treatment that targets and attacks tumor cells with certain characteristics, are only approved by the FDA for use in adults
What is the difference between treatments that are “approved for” vs treatments that are “used in” pLGG?
Many of these options have been studied for effectiveness and safety in children with pLGG but have not been FDA approved specifically for children with pLGG.
pLGG, and all that it means for you and your loved ones, can represent change for your family. While surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and targeted therapies may be effective treatment options, it is important to know that they can all have a lifelong impact on your child’s quality of life.
These treatments may trigger harsh side effects. They may need to be taken once or twice a day or even require your child to go to the hospital for treatment.
Children are not little adults. They need FDA-approved treatment options that are safe, effective, and designed specifically for children living with pLGG.
Discover other pLGG experiences from people like you
Explore Their Stories
How might Genomic testing = Sometimes referred to as genetic testing, and used to identify types of alterations in genes including those in BRAF inform Targeted therapy = type of treatment that targets and attacks tumor cells with certain characteristics selection?
The majority of patients with pLGG have a BRAF = a gene that, when altered, may be a driver of pLGG growth Alteration = a type of genomic change (mutation or fusion) in the BRAF gene that may contribute to cancer development in their tumor. A BRAF = a gene that, when altered, may be a driver of pLGG growth Alteration = a type of genomic change (mutation or fusion) in the BRAF gene that may contribute to cancer development will fall into 1 of 2 categories: (1) a BRAF fusion = 1 of the 2 most common types of BRAF alterations in pLGG (ie, KIAA1549-BRAF fusion) or (2) a BRAF point mutation = 1 of the 2 most common types of BRAF alterations in pLGG (ie, BRAF V600E). Genomic testing can help identify the type of alteration that is causing a tumor.
Targeted therapy = type of treatment that targets and attacks tumor cells with certain characteristics are treatments that attack tumor cells based on their unique characteristics. Some Targeted therapy = type of treatment that targets and attacks tumor cells with certain characteristics block the action of certain proteins or other molecules involved in tumor cell growth.
For explanations of terms used throughout the site, please see the glossary.
