The most relevant practice-changing presentations at the 2016 Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO) Annual Scientific Meeting revolved around the topic of the new 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) classification of central nervous system (CNS) tumors. The most notable change in this new classification is the introduction of molecular markers into the morphologic classification of diffuse gliomas (isocitrate dehydrogenase [IDH] mutation, 1p19q codeletion, and H3K27M mutation), ependymomas (RELA fusion), medulloblastomas (WNT- and sonic hedgehog–activated), and other embryonal tumors (C19MC amplification), thus allowing for more precise diagnosis of these entities compared with the use of morphologic features alone. Among the clinical trials presented, only one phase III trial evaluating a device therapy for treatment of newly diagnosed glioblastoma (EF14; tumor-treating fields) met prespecified statistical criteria for success, showing a modest benefit in progression-free survival and overall survival in patients without progression after radiation and concurrent temozolomide. Other topics of interest included the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of primary brain tumors and the prevalence of burnout among neuro-oncologists.
Coverage and development of specialist palliative care services across the World Health Organization European Region (2005–2012): Results from a European Association for Palliative Care Task Force survey of 53 Countries