Generously funded by Donors of Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada

Hallie Coltin – The Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine

Project Title: “Long-term outcomes of Pediatric Low-Grade Glioma Survivors: A Molecularly-Informed, Population-Based Approach”

Description of Project:

Pediatric low-grade gliomas (PLGG) are the most common brain and spinal cord tumors in children. Even though PLGG are non-cancerous tumors with high survival rates, we think the majority of survivors suffer from severe and irreversible health complications (for example, seizures, and strokes). These complications put survivors at risk of poor health and quality of life. We do not know how often these severe events occur; we also do not know whether different types of PLGG tumors are linked to different levels of risk later on. In this novel study, we will identify all Ontario PLGG survivors diagnosed over the past 30 years (approximately 1,400 survivors). We will correlate the survivors’ tumor types with their public health records to determine how often survivors develop these adverse events (death, needing hospital care, hormone problems, seizures, strokes, needing a hearing aid, vision problems, additional tumors, infertility, poor mental health, disability). Lastly, we will compare the risk of these adverse events between PLGG survivors and healthy Ontario residents. By knowing how often these events occur and which survivors are at highest risk, we will be able to provide better medical and psychosocial care to PLGG survivors and learn how to prevent these complications.

What receiving this award means:

“I would like to thank the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada for supporting this important work. Our project represents a novel collaboration between experts in translational medicine, clinical epidemiology, and neuro-oncology survivorship. Our comprehensive analysis will allow us to better understand the health challenges faced by survivors of pediatric low-grade glioma. This funding is critical to improving care for survivors, advocating for social supports, and designing future interventions to optimize their long-term health.”