{"id":17056,"date":"2022-10-10T02:37:57","date_gmt":"2022-10-10T06:37:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fusfoundation.org\/?post_type=sw_disease_condition&p=17056"},"modified":"2026-04-24T16:41:59","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T20:41:59","slug":"diffuse-intrinsic-pontine-glioma-dipg","status":"publish","type":"sw_disease_condition","link":"https:\/\/www.fusfoundation.org\/diseases-and-conditions\/diffuse-intrinsic-pontine-glioma-dipg\/","title":{"rendered":"Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This condition is also known as Diffuse Midline Glioma (DMG)<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Find a Treatment Site or Clinical Trial<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Focused Ultrasound Therapy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Focused ultrasound is a noninvasive therapeutic technology that is transforming the treatment and quality of life for patients with Diffuse Midline Glioma (DMG), which is the newer name for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), a term which is still commonly used. This novel technology focuses beams of ultrasonic energy precisely and accurately on targets in the brain without damaging surrounding normal tissue, and it is currently in clinical trials for patients with DIPG\/DMG.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it Works<\/strong>
Where the beams converge, the ultrasound produces a variety of therapeutic effects enabling treatment without incisions or radiation. Several different approaches are currently in consideration for this disease, and these will be briefly discussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) Disruption <\/span>
The BBB is normally a protective barrier for the brain, preventing adverse agents that may be present in the blood stream gaining unfettered access to the brain. However, in the setting of DIPG\/DMG, the BBB may still be intact, and can prevent therapeutic agents (like chemotherapy) from accessing this area in sufficient quantities for maximal effect. The temporary disruption of the BBB in the targeted area enables enhanced penetration by the therapeutic agent, and following the treatment, the BBB will re-form, typically in about a day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sonodynamic Therapy (SDT) <\/span>
Certain agents that were originally used as visual dyes to help surgeons differentiate between tumor and normal tissue, have been found to be altered after treatment by focused ultrasound, resulting in materials that are toxic to the tumor in the local area. These agents are also accumulated in tumor cells, including DIPG\/DMG, which maximizes the detrimental effect on the targeted tissue. Clinical trials using this technique are providing targeted therapy to certain tumors, including DIPG\/DMG.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Combination with Radiation <\/span>
The combination of focused ultrasound with radiation has been shown to enhance the effectiveness of radiation. The coupling of these is being used in clinical trials for recurrent glioblastoma, and this may be an area for DIPG\/DMG in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benefits<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There is no cure for DIPG, and treatment is limited by the location of these tumors in a very small and eloquent region of the brain called the brainstem. The current standard of care for these tumors is radiation therapy and trials of chemotherapy. These treatments have limited efficacy and are associated with significant side effects. Focused ultrasound has the potential to offer an alternative or complement to the above therapies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advantages:<\/p>\n\n\n\n