Community Forum Held in Corbin Addressing Rise of DIPG Cases

Health experts gathered in Corbin to answer questions about diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, or DIPG, a rare childhood brain cancer. The discussion focused on the increase in cases and efforts to find better treatments.

Six public health panelists addressed community concerns about what causes DIPG and whether a cure is possible.

DIPG is a rare and aggressive brain tumor with no cure.

"A child will have persistent vomiting or they'll have horrible headaches, they'll stop moving one side. Their parents are really concerned, they take them to the ER," Dr. Randaline Barnett of UK Pediatric Neurosurgery said.

Children with DIPG typically survive less than a year. The rise in cases in Eastern Kentucky has heightened concern. "We've actually seen a doubling of the number of cases in Kentucky, which is just distressing," Dr. Eric Durbin of the Kentucky Cancer Registry said.
Researchers are examining possible environmental factors.

"We'd like to look at air, water, soil, increasingly in the last 5 or 6 years we've been looking at wastewater," Dr. Ted Smith of the University of Louisville Division of Environmental Medicine said.

So far, however, one researcher says his analysis has found no connection.
"I've seen no association with these cancers," Dr. Wayne Sanderson of the UK Central Appalachian Regional Education Research Center said.

A connection has not been ruled out, and public health officials have requested federal assistance to continue the investigation.

"We have asked assistance, as I mentioned earlier, from ATSDR at the federal level," Dr. Lori Caloia of the Kentucky Department for Public Health said.

The forum also addressed ongoing research, clinical trials and support available to families.
"These cures do not just happen overnight," Patrick McSweeney of the Kentucky Pediatric Cancer Research Trust Fund said.