Kamson, David O
Mayo Clinic
Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University (S.A.G., R.R., C.H., K.C.S., C.R., J.O.B., D.O.K., P.S., T.P.); Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Silver Spring, Maryland, USA (A.B., E.D., E.W., L.S.L.P., T.P.); Department of Pharmaceutics, University of
Citations 2
Evaluating “brain permeability”: A critical issue for the development of therapeutic agents for primary and metastatic brain tumors
Grossman, Stuart A. , Barone, Amy , Strowd, Roy E, Rais, Rana , Duke, Elizabeth , Wearne, Emily , Price, Lauren , Hendrix, C. W., Schreck, Karisa C. , Lesser, Glenn J. , Sanai, Nader , Blakeley, Jaishri O, Nabors, Burt L., Sarkaria, Jann N, Peereboom, David, Schiff, D., Prowell, Tatiana M. , Elmquist, William F. , Hendrix, Craig W. , Strowd, Roy E. , Strowd, Roy E , Price, Lauren S L , Hendrix, Craig , Lesser, Glenn , Romo, Carlos , Portnow, Jana , Blakeley, Jaishri O , Kamson, David O , Nabors, Louis Burt , Searson, Peter C , Sarkaria, Jann N , Peereboom, David M , Schiff, David , Prowell, Tatiana M , Grossman, Stuart A , Romo, Carlos G. , Blakeley, Jaishri O. , Kamson, David , Nabors, Burt , Sarkaria, Jann N. , Peereboom, David M.
Neuro-Oncology | March 7, 2026 | Volume: 28 | Issue: 7 | Pages: 1599-1611
Abstract Current assessments of brain permeability rely predominantly on drug delivery to contrast-enhancing tumor regions. However, substantial portions of central nervous system (CNS) tumors reside within non-enhancing brain (NEB), where drug concentrations frequently remain subtherapeutic. This collaborative Adult Brain Tumor Consortium and Food and Drug Administration workshop aimed to identify criteria for defining NEB permeability to accomplish 2 critical objectives: (1) allocate clinical trial resources toward agents achieving therapeutic NEB concentrations and (2) minimize systemic toxicity when CNS benefit is improbable. The workshop systematically evaluated permeability assessment modalities, including drug physicochemical properties, in vitro blood-brain barrier models, and penetration into cerebrospinal fluid and normal rodent brain. Methodological approaches to determine requisite NEB drug concentrations and approaches to measuring NEB pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics were examined. This culminated in developing the Non-Enhancing Brain Permeability Index (NEBPI), which assigns therapeutic agents to 3 categories: sufficiently permeable, insufficiently permeable, or impermeable. The NEBPI provides a standardized framework to assist investigators and regulatory agencies to evaluate NEB penetration before human efficacy studies are initiated for agents that require direct tumor contact. Assessing NEB drug penetration is critical to improving outcomes in CNS tumors and reducing the incidence of brain metastases in systemic malignancies.
Evaluating the current neuro-oncology capacity in Sub-Saharan Africa: A questionnaire-based survey
Odukoya, Lateef A , Cheserem, Beverly , Darko, Kwadwo , Ghomsi, Nathalie , Kabare, Gloria , Kamson, David , Eckel‐Passow, Jeanette E. , Jenkins, Robert B. , Decker, Paul A. , Kitange, Gaspar J. , Akinjo, Andrea O , Badmos, Kabir, Yevudza, W Elorm , Edrick, Elias, Katasi, Victoria Mwebe , Magambo, Margreth, Banti, Eyerusalem, Magoha, Michael, Ngaiza, Advera , Higgins, Dominique, Okemwa, Minda, Osei‐Tutu, Lawrence, Petershie, Bernard, Minja, Frank J. , Anunobi, C C , Tiamiyu, Liadi, Gankpé, Gbètoho Fortuné, Kwikima, Ugumba, Heronima, Kashaigili, Schroeder, Kristin, Thierry, Muanza, Davidson, Alan J. , Totimeh, Teddy , Gankpé, Fortuné Gbètoho , Schroeder, Kristin , Zerd, Francis , Odukoya, Lateef A , Cheserem, Beverly , Darko, Kwadwo , Ghomsi, Nathalie C , Kamson, David O , Eckel-Passow, Jeanette E , Jenkins, RB , Akinjo, Andrea O , Badmos, Kabir B , Yevudza, W Elorm , Bankole, Olufemi , Idowu, Olufemi E , Ayanlaja, Abiola Abdulrahman , Karekezi, Claire , Edrick, Elias , Ekhator, Chukwuyem , Huse, Jason T. , Magoha, Michael , Okemwa, Minda , Minja, Frank J , Etame, Arnold B , Kwikima, Ugumba Mussa , Schroeder, Kristin , Muanza, Thierry , Totimeh, Teddy , Balogun, James , Zerd, Francis , Decker, Paul A. , LLEWELLYN, HENRY J. , Idowu, Olufemi Emmanuel , Karekezi, Claire , Lachance, Daniel Honore , Banti, Eyerusalem, Nyalundja, Arsène Daniel , Etame, Arnold B. , Brown, Desmond , Davidson, Alan, Fonkem, Ekokobe
Neuro-Oncology Practice | October 10, 2025 | Volume: 13 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 537-548
AbstractAbstract Background Central nervous system (CNS) tumors are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This project aimed to assess and map out the current neuro-oncology capacity in SSA, brain tumor registries, and biobanks. Methods This cross-sectional study utilized an online survey to gather data from healthcare professionals involved in CNS tumor care across SSA through the Society for Neuro-Oncology SSA (SNOSSA). The survey captured information on the availability of neuro-oncology practitioners, neuropathology, molecular diagnostics, cancer registries, and biobanking. Results A total of 145 respondents representing 70 healthcare institutions across 22 countries participated. Of the 70 institutions, specialties included neurosurgery (89%, 62/70), anatomic pathology (74%, 52/70), and medical oncology (71%, 50/70). For radiologic evaluation, 64% (45/70) of responding institutions reported having both CT and MRI. Access to molecular testing through immunohistochemistry or next-generation sequencing was available in 46% (32/70) of responding institutions. Multidisciplinary tumor boards were available for CNS cases in 86% (60/70) of responding institutions. Brain tumor-specific registries were available in 29% (20/70) of responding institutions, and 10% (7/70) maintained brain tumor biorepositories. Conclusion This study demonstrates that SSA has substantial potential in neuro-oncology care practice capacity and facilities. The most significant gaps were in neuropathology and molecular testing, which makes widespread implementation of the WHO 2021 diagnosis challenging. Understanding the prevalence of CNS tumor subtypes in SSA is difficult due to the low number of brain tumor registries and biobanks.