C.06 Surgical resection of pediatic posterior fossa tumours in the molecular era

Abstract

Background: Aggressive surgical resections of posterior fossa tumours result in tremendous neurological sequelae as a result of damage to the brainstem. As such we sought to re-evaluate the role of aggressive surgical resections in the molecular era. Methods: 820 posterior fossa ependymoma and 787 medulloblastoma were genomically profiled and correlated with pertinent clinical variables. Results: Across 787 medulloblastoma cases, the value of extent of resection was greatly dampened when accounting for molecular subgroup. Near-total resections are equivalent to gross total resections across all four subgroups even when correcting for treatment. The prognostic value of a gross total resection as compared to a subtotal resection (>1.5cm2 residual) was restricted to Group 4 tumours (HR 1.26). Across 820 posterior fossa ependymoma PFA ependymoma was a very high risk group compared to PFB ependymoma, and a subtotal PFA ependymoma conferred an extremely poor prognosis. Gross totally resected PFB ependymoma could be cured with surgery alone. Prognostic nomograms in both medulloblastoma and ependymoma revealed molecular subgroup to be the most important predictor of outcome. Conclusions: The prognostic benefit of EOR for patients with medulloblastoma is marginal after accounting for molecular subgroup affiliation. In both molecular subgroups of posterior fossa ependymoma, gross total resection remains an important predictor of outcome.