Chile hosts first symposium on pediatric brain tumor DIPG

The Santino Pizarro Carrizo Foundation organized Chile’s first symposium in Viña del Mar focused on Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), a rare pediatric brain tumor. Held at the Universidad de las Américas, the event aimed to increase research visibility and foster coordinated efforts to combat the disease.

Specialists from the Sant Joan de Déu Pediatric Cancer Center Barcelona participated in the meeting. Dr. Andrés Morales La Madrid presented progress on a new clinical trial that combines dendritic cell vaccines with CAR-T immunotherapy to enhance the immune system's response against the tumor.

During the discussions, Dr. Fernando Panzino highlighted the critical lack of research funding for DIPG, noting that its status as a rare pathology often results in insufficient resources for in-depth study. The event brought together regional health authorities, oncology organizations, and patient advocacy groups to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration.