Experimental therapeutic trial design for pediatric brain tumors

Pediatric brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer-related death during childhood. Since the first pediatric brain tumor clinical trials, the field has seen improved outcomes in some, but not all tumor types. In the past few decades, a number of promising new therapeutic agents have emerged, yet only a few of these agents have been incorporated into clinical trials for pediatric brain tumors. In this review, the authors discuss the process of and challenges in pediatric clinical trial design; this will allow for highly efficient and effective clinical trials with appropriate endpoints to ensure rapid and safe investigation of novel therapeutics for children with brain tumors.