• Characteristics

  DIPG cells are typically small and monomorphic, but can also be large and pleomorphic. They usually have an astrocytic morphology, but can also have an oligodendroglial morphology.
• Location

  DIPG tumors infiltrate the grey and white matter structures of the brain.
• Growth

  DIPG tumors grow quickly and spread to nearby tissue and other parts of the brain stem.
• Treatment

  Radiation therapy can shrink the tumor and reduce pressure on the brainstem, which can improve a child's condition for a few months. Other treatments include bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) inhibitors and histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors.
• Prognosis

  DIPG is a high-grade glioma that is considered incurable and has a poor prognosis. It is the leading cause of pediatric cancer-related death.

DIPG is rare in adults, but primarily affects children between the ages of 5 and 10 years. In the United States, about 300 children are diagnosed with DIPG each year.

Cell pictures: