%0 Journal Article
%T Virtual multi-institutional tumor board: a strategy for personalized diagnoses and management of rare CNS tumors.
%A Rogers JL
%A Wall T
%A Acquaye-Mallory AA
%A Boris L
%A Kim Y
%A Aldape K
%A Quezado MM
%A Butman JA
%A Smirniotopoulos JG
%A Chaudhry H
%A Tsien CI
%A Chittiboina P
%A Zaghloul K
%A Aboud O
%A Avgeropoulos NG
%A Burton EC
%A Cachia DM
%A Dixit KS
%A Drappatz J
%A Dunbar EM
%A Forsyth P
%A Komlodi-Pasztor E
%A Mandel J
%A Ozer BH
%A Lee EQ
%A Ranjan S
%A Lukas RV
%A Raygada M
%A Salacz ME
%A Smith-Cohn MA
%A Snyder J
%A Soldatos A
%A Theeler BJ
%A Widemann BC
%A Camphausen KA
%A Heiss JD
%A Armstrong TS
%A Gilbert MR
%A Penas-Prado M
%J J Neurooncol
%V 167
%N 2
%D 2024 Apr 1
%M 38427131
%F 4.506
%R 10.1007/s11060-024-04613-6
%X <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>Multidisciplinary tumor boards (MTBs) integrate clinical, molecular, and radiological information and facilitate coordination of neuro-oncology care. During the COVID-19 pandemic, our MTB transitioned to a virtual and multi-institutional format. We hypothesized that this expansion would allow expert review of challenging neuro-oncology cases and contribute to the care of patients with limited access to specialized centers.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>We retrospectively reviewed records from virtual MTBs held between 04/2020-03/2021. Data collected included measures of potential clinical impact, including referrals to observational or therapeutic studies, referrals for specialized neuropathology analysis, and whether molecular findings led to a change in diagnosis and/or guided management suggestions.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>During 25 meetings, 32 presenters discussed 44 cases. Approximately half (n = 20; 48%) involved a rare central nervous system (CNS) tumor. In 21% (n = 9) the diagnosis was changed or refined based on molecular profiling obtained at the NIH and in 36% (n = 15) molecular findings guided management. Clinical trial suggestions were offered to 31% (n = 13), enrollment in the observational NCI Natural History Study to 21% (n = 9), neuropathology review and molecular testing at the NIH to 17% (n = 7), and all received management suggestions.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Virtual multi-institutional MTBs enable remote expert review of CNS tumors. We propose them as a strategy to facilitate expert opinions from specialized centers, especially for rare CNS tumors, helping mitigate geographic barriers to patient care and serving as a pre-screening tool for studies. Advanced molecular testing is key to obtaining a precise diagnosis, discovering potentially actionable targets, and guiding management.