21st century neuro-oncology: the impact of gene therapy

Extraordinary advances in the management of brain tumors over the last 50 years have often enabled children to achieve long term survival. Improved understanding of the complex molecular, cellular, and biochemical determinants of malignant tumor cell infiltration of the nervous system is pivotal to therapeutically targeting the machinery that enables medulloblastoma cells and other malignant cell types to infiltrate the brain or cerebrospinal fluid pathways. Emerging surgical, radiotherapeutic, chemotherapeutic, and biologic therapies offer much hope of further improving survival and the quality of life of children with malignant brain tumors in the new millennium.