Key Points
- ISPNO 2024 took place from June 28 to July 2, 2024, in Philadelphia, PA.
- Three abstract presentations highlighted the potential of focused ultrasound to treat pediatric brain tumors.
The 21st International Symposium on Pediatric Neuro-Oncology (ISPNO) took place from June 28 to July 2, 2024, in Philadelphia, PA. This annual gathering brought together global experts in pediatric neuro-oncology.
ISPNO is the largest multi-disciplinary scientific meeting focused on pediatric central nervous system tumors. Clinicians and researchers from neuro-oncology, neurosurgery, radiation oncology, neurology, neuropathology, neuroradiology, neuropsychology, neuroscience, rehabilitation medicine, and nursing all attend ISPNO. Advocates and supporters of the pediatric neuro-oncology community join the scientific and medical community at this meeting.
Randy Schrecengost, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of Targepeutics, attended the symposium and noted, “Despite the promise that focused ultrasound holds for medulloblastoma, it remains an understudied area. The poster from Natasha Sheybani’s lab at the University of Virginia described their medulloblastoma model and how they are using it to efficiently deliver immunotherapy across the blood-brain and blood-tumor barriers.”
Additionally, two abstracts presented preliminary data from Children’s National Hospital stemming from their phase 2 clinical trial exploring the safety and efficacy of sonodynamic therapy (SDT) combined with MRI-guided focused ultrasound in children with DIPG.
Focused Ultrasound Presentations
- DIPG-73: Focused Ultrasound for Treatment of Children Diagnosed with Diffuse Midline Gliomas presented by Ayda Woldegerima (Children’s National Hospital).
- MDB-108: MRI-guided Focused Ultrasound Blood-Brain/Tumor Barrier Disruption for Augmentation of Antibody Delivery to High-Risk Medulloblastomas presented by Stefanyda Maslova (University of Virginia).
- TRLS-17. Interim Clinical, Pharmacokinetic, and Technical Report of a Phase 2 Study of Sonodynamic Therapy (SDT) Using SONALA-001 Together with MR-guided Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound in Children with DIPG presented by Hasan R. Syed (Children’s National Hospital).
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Next Meeting
The 22nd ISPNO Meeting will take place June 28 to July 1, 2026, in Sydney, Australia.
The Foundation thanks Dr. Schrecengost for his assistance with this meeting report.