Tumours
Tumours

Brain

Description

The EORTC Brain Tumor Group (BTG) initiates and conducts academic clinical trials in patients with brain tumours, as well as designing and completing translational research associated with these trials. Its strategy is to challenge, re-define and develop standards of care in all controversial areas of diagnostic and therapeutic Neuro-Oncology, with a focus on diffuse gliomas of adulthood of WHO grades II to IV and, in recent years, also meningioma. The BTG has created several subcommittees that help design and conduct its scientific projects and cover key aspects of all projects such as imaging, translational research, quality of life, and quality assurance. The BTG is open for cooperative projects involving other EORTC groups as well external cooperation, for example with Neuro-Oncology networks in Canada, Australia and the US. The group aims to recruit and mentor junior European colleagues from all involved disciplines who are interested in pursuing an academic career in Neuro-Oncology.

Main Achievements

In 2005, an EORTC-led trial defined the current standard of care of temozolomide chemoradiotherapy for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma.

A translational research study linked to this trial established O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation status as a predictive biomarker for benefit from temozolomide chemotherapy.

In 2014, long-term follow-up of EORTC 26951 demonstrated that PCV polychemotherapy after radiotherapy improved progression-free and overall survival in anaplastic oligodendroglial tumours with 1p/19q codeletion.

In 2016, the CATNON trial demonstrated that maintenance temozolomide prolongs survival in patients with 1p/19q-non-codeleted anaplastic gliomas.

In 2016, a trial performed in partnership with Canada Cancer Clinical Trial Group, in elderly patients, confirmed the added benefit of temozolomide based chemoradiotherapy.

Also in 2016, in the Lancet Oncology, two papers revealed that there were no significant differences in Progression-Free Survival (PFS) , Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) and cognitive function in patients with low-grade glioma who were treated with either standard radiotherapy or primary chemotherapy.

Related Projects

SPECTAbrain: The aim of SPECTAbrain is to collect tumour specimens from patients with brain tumours for detailed molecular characterisation. This offers multiple opportunities to investigate the biology of brain tumours and to allocate eligible patients to biomarker-driven therapeutic clinical trials.

1230: Prognostic factor analysis in elderly GBM. Development of the model in Nordic and NOA 8 and validation in EORTC 26062/NCCTG CE.6 trial.
(project leader: Annika Malmstrom)
Analyses ongoing.

1337: Secondary analysis of the impact of extended adjuvant temozolomide in newly-diagnosed glioblastoma.
(project leaders: Deborah Blumenthal & Roger Stupp)
The publication has been accepted in Neuro-Oncology.

1426: Prognostic effect of the use of statins, ACE and sartanes in newly diagnosed glioblastoma
(project leader: Caroline Happold)
Publication in preparation.

1542 (G-SAM): Stability of actionable mutations in glioblastoma
(project leader: Pim French)
Genomic analyses ongoing.

1632 (ANTICOA-GBM): Retrospective evaluation of the effect of anticoagulants during initial treatment on survival and safety in glioblastoma patients
(project leader: Emilie Le Rhun)
Analyses ongoing

1654: Meta-analysis of the correlation between MGMT promoter methylation data and survival outcome after chemoratiotherapy (TMZ/RT /TMZ) for newly diagnosed glioblastoma
(project leader: Michael Weller)
Pending for complete data collection.

1661 (GLIOMAG II/III PANEL): Construction of an integrated diagnostic algorithm consisting of consensus histology and molecular parameters using the pathology slides of CATNON and the low-grade glioma study
(project leader: Max Kros)
Pending for complete data collection.

1662 (JBTDDC): Jumpstarting Brain Tumor Drug Development Coalition (JBTDDC); MRI Image Analysis Workgroup
(project leader: Michael Weller)
Pending for DTA signature.

1663 (Metformin-GBM): Associate of metformin use with outcome in IDH1-mutant vs IDH1-Wildtype gliomas of WHO Grades II-IV
(project leader: Peter Hau)
Analyses ongoing.

1664 (TMT-Gliomas): Evaluation of temporal muscle thickness as prognostic parameter in glioma patients: retrospective imaging study in TAVAREC 26091 and EORTC 26101
(project leader: Matthias Preusser)
Pending for CDA signature.

1665 (Antidepressant): Potential prognostic effect of tricyclic antidepressants in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma.
(project leader: Florence Lefranc)
Analyses ongoing.

European Reference Networks (ERN) for rare solid tumours (EURACAN). EURACAN is involving references centers in Europe covering ten types of rare cancers. EURACAN will improve patient cares and facilitate research in rare cancers.  EORTC is providing the clinical research infrastructure. (No website available yet)

Research Group

Group documents
  • Chair

    Matthias Preusser

    Medical University Vienna - General Hospital AKH

    Vienna, Austria

  • Secretary

    Emilie Le Rhun

    UniversitaetsSpital Zurich - Neurology Clinic

    Zurich, Switzerland

  • Treasurer

    Giuseppe Minniti

    Universita Degli Studi Di Roma La Sapienza

    Roma, Italy

Steering Committee

  • M. Weller - Zurich, CH

    Past-Chair

    Universitätsspital Zürich

  • P. Hau - Regensburg, DE

    Chair Quality Assurance committee

    Universitaetskliniken Regensburg

  • M. van den Bent - Rotterdam, NL

    Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam

  • E. Razis - Athens, GR

    Chair Quality Assurance Committee

    Hygeia Hospital

  • P. French - Rotterdam, NL

    Chair Translational Research, Pathology & SPECTA Committee

    Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam

  • L. Dirven - Leiden, NL

    Chair Quality of Life Committee

    Leiden University Medical Centre

  • M. Smits - Rotterdam, NL

    Chair Imaging Committee

    Erasmus MC Cancer Institute

  • A. Idbaid - , US

  • J. Sepulveda - Madrid, ES

    Hospital Universitario 12 De Octubre

  • J. Duernich - Brussels, BE

  • M. Geurts - Rotterdam, NL

    Erasmus MC

  • T. Kazda - Brno, CZ

    Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute

  • J. Koekkoek - Leiden , NL

    Leiden University Medical Centre

  • G. Lombardi - Padova, IT

    IRCCS - Istituto Oncologico Veneto

  • A. Pellerino - Torino, IT

    Azienda Ospedaliera Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino - Ospedale San Giovanni - Dipartimento Neuroscienze

  • A. Suwala - Heidelberg, DE

    Heidelberg University Hospital

  • E. Tabouret - Marseille, FR

    Hopital de La Timone (APHM)

  • T. Snijders - Utrecht, NL

    Universitair Medisch Centrum - Academisch Ziekenhuis

Committees Chairs & Members - Translational Research, Pathology & SPECTA

  • P. French - Rotterdam, NL

    Chair

    Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam

  • J. Kros - Rotterdam, NL

    Past-Chair

    Erasmus Medical Center

  • M. Hegi - Lausanne, CH

    Past-Chair, SPECTA

    Laboratory of Brain Tumor Biology and Genetics – CHUV

  • A. Berghoff - Medical University Vienna - General Hospital AKH , AT

    Medical University Vienna

  • F. Bielle - Paris, FR

    Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, AP-HP

  • S. Brandner - London, GB

    National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery

  • G. Finocchiaro - Milano, IT

    Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta

  • M. Kouwenhoven - Amsterdam, NL

    Vrije Universiteit Medisch Centrum

  • C. Mawrin - Magdeburg, DE

    Otto-Von-Guericke-Universitaet

  • M. Preusser - Vienna, AT

    Medical University Vienna - General Hospital AKH

  • G. Reifenberger - Dusseldorf, DE

    Universitaetsklinik Dusseldorf

  • P. Roth - Zurich, CH

    UniversitaetsSpital Zurich

  • M. Sanson - Paris, FR

    La Pitie Salpetriere

  • C. Seliger - Regensburg, DE

    Universitaetskliniken Regensburg

  • M. Touat - Paris, FR

    Hopitaux de Paris - La Pitie Salpetriere

  • M. Uhl - Erlangen, DE

    Universitaetsklinik Erlangen-Neurologische Klinik

  • M. Vieito - Barcelona, ES

    Hospital General Vall D'Hebron

  • T. Weiss - Zurich, CH

    UniversitaetsSpital Zurich - Neurology Clinic

  • A. Wöhrer - Vienna, AT

    Medical University Vienna

  • M. Al-Hussaini - Amman, JO

    King Hussein Cancer Center

Committees Chairs & Members - Quality Assurance

  • E. Razis - Athens, GR

    Chair

    Hygeia Hospital

  • P. Hau - Regensburg, DE

    Past Chair

    Universitaetskliniken Regensburg

  • N. Andratschke - Zurich, CH

    UniversitaetsSpital Zurich

  • F. De Vos - Utrecht, NL

    Universitair Medisch Centrum

  • F. Sahm - Heidelberg, DE

    UniversitaetsKlinikum Heidelberg

  • P. Lohmann - Juelich, DE

    Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH

  • J. Gempt - Muenchen , DE

    Technische Universitaet Muenchen - Klinikum Rechts Der Isar

  • D. Generali - Cremona, IT

    Azienda Istituti Ospitalieri di Cremona

  • M. Magiera - Wola Filipowska, PL

    Hania Magiera Glioma-Center foundation

  • M. Rasschaert - Edegem, BE

    Universitair Ziekenhuis Antwerpen (UZA)

  • A. Fairchild - Edmonton Alberta, CA

    University of Alberta - Cross Cancer Institute

  • K. Niyazi - Muenchen, DE

    Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Muenchen - Campus Grosshadern

  • J. Daisne - Leuven, BE

    U.Z. Leuven - Campus Gasthuisberg

Committees Chairs & Members - Quality of Life

  • L. Dirven - Leiden, NL

    Chair

    Leiden University Medical Centre

  • J. Reijneveld - Amsterdam, NL

    Past Chair

    Amsterdam University Medical Centres (Location VUmc)

  • A. Bottomley - Brussels, BE

    EORTC Headquarters

  • C. Coens - Brussels, BE

    EORTC Headquarters

  • J. Koekkoek - Leiden , NL

    Leiden University Medical Centre

  • E. Le Rhun - Zurich, CH

    UniversitaetsSpital Zurich - Neurology Clinic

  • C. Marosi - Vienna, AT

    Medical University Vienna

  • C. Panciroli - Barcelona, ES

    Institut Catalá d’Oncologia (ICO Badalona) – Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol

  • C. Seidel - Leipzig, DE

    Universitaetsklinikum Leipzig

  • M. Taphoorn - Den Haag, NL

    Haaglanden Medical Centre

  • C. Hertler - Zurich, CH

    Universitätsspital Zürich

Committees Chairs & Members - Imaging

  • M. Smits - Rotterdam, NL

    Chair, Imaging Group liaison

    Erasmus MC Cancer Institute

  • I. Compter - Maastricht , NL

    Imaging Group representative

    Maastro Clinic - Maastricht Radiation Oncology

  • J. Gempt - Muenchen , DE

    Imaging Group representative

    Technische Universitaet Muenchen - Klinikum Rechts Der Isar

  • E. Franceschi - Bologna, IT

    Ospedale Bellaria

  • J. Furtner - Vienna , AT

    Medical University Vienna - General Hospital AKH

  • N. Galldiks - Koeln, DE

    Universitaetsklinikum Koeln

  • P. Vollmuth - Heidelberg, DE

    UniversitaetsKlinikum Heidelberg

  • S. Lukacova - Aarhus , DK

    Aarhus University Hospital

  • T. Snijders - Utrecht, NL

    Universitair Medisch Centrum - Academisch Ziekenhuis

  • P. Lohmann - Juelich, DE

    Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH

Committees Chairs & Members - Meningioma

  • M. Preusser - Vienna, AT

    Chair

    Medical University Vienna - General Hospital AKH

  • E. Le Rhun - Zurich, CH

    UniversitaetsSpital Zurich - Neurology Clinic

  • F. Sahm - Heidelberg, DE

    UniversitaetsKlinikum Heidelberg

  • J. Furtner - Vienna , AT

    Medical University Vienna - General Hospital AKH

  • C. Mawrin - Magdeburg, DE

    Otto-Von-Guericke-Universitaet

  • H. Wirsching - Zurich , CH

    UniversitaetsSpital Zurich

  • R. Goldbrunner - Koeln, DE

    Universitaetsklinikum Koeln

  • G. Minniti - Roma, IT

    Universita Degli Studi Di Roma La Sapienza

  • M. Jenkinson - Liverpool, GB

    The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust

  • M. Weller - Zurich, CH

    Universitätsspital Zürich

Committees Chairs & Members - CNS metastasis

  • E. Le Rhun - Zurich, CH

    Chair

    UniversitaetsSpital Zurich - Neurology Clinic

  • M. Bendszus - Heidelberg, DE

    UniversitaetsKlinikum Heidelberg

  • A. Darlix - Montpellier , FR

    Institut régional du Cancer Montpellier

  • F. Dhermain - Villejuif, FR

    Institut Gustave Roussy

  • M. Preusser - Vienna, AT

    Medical University Vienna - General Hospital AKH

  • R. Soffietti - Torino, IT

    Azienda Ospedaliera Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino

  • J. Tonn - Muenchen, DE

    Klinikum der Universitaet Muenchen

  • P. Wesseling - Nijmegen , NL

    Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen

  • F. Winkler - Heidelberg, DE

    UniversitaetsKlinikum Heidelberg

  • D. Brandsma - Amsterdam, NL

    The Netherlands Cancer Institute-Antoni Van Leeuwenhoekziekenhuis

  • G. Minniti - Roma, IT

    Universita Degli Studi Di Roma La Sapienza

  • N. Galldiks - Koeln, DE

    Universitaetsklinikum Koeln

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