Speaker Profile

M.D., Pediatric Neuro-Oncologist, UCSF

Biography
Dr. Kline is a pediatric neuro-oncologist who specializes in caring for children, adolescents, and young adults with brain and spinal cord tumors of all types. In addition to clinical care, Dr. Kline has extensive research experience, and is involved in numerous studies. She has a Master’s of Advanced Studies in Clinical Research and focuses on early phase clinical trials and developmental therapeutics for pediatric brain tumor patients. Dr. Kline’s other research interests include predictors of neurocognitive outcomes in pediatric brain tumor survivors and personalized and immunotherapy-based approaches for the treatment of brain tumors.


 Session Abstract – PMWC 2020 Silicon Valley

Track 4 - January 24 9.00 A.M.-10.45 A.M.


The Molecular Tumor Board (MTB) was mostly established to facilitate the incorporation of molecular diagnostics into the consideration of appropriate therapies for patients with late stage cancer. Initially, much of the deliberation was focused on understanding the results of such testing, as reporting of results was limited in scope and frequently understandable only to cutting edge experts in the field. Improved, but still not perfect, reporting now exists, so discussion has shifted to prognostic and therapeutic considerations. That said, the collective experience with rare mutations and off label therapies is still such that collective wisdom is necessary. This brings up the issue of how MTBs collect, share, and preserve data within a specific MTB, and perhaps more importantly, how it might be shared amongst MTBs and beyond. While initial activity related to MTBs resided almost exclusively in large academic, and select community, medical centers, there is now significant effort in the commercial setting as well, with a number of intriguing efforts presently underway. Important and evolving issues, such as defining which patients are most likely to benefit from the efforts of a MTB, Virtual MTBs, and the generation of Real World Evidence, will be discussed.