Journal of neuro-oncology
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Journal of neuro-oncology · Dec 2011
Post-operative radiation improves survival in children younger than 3 years with intracranial ependymoma.
Concerns regarding long-term toxicities have led to the avoidance of post-operative radiation (PORT) in young children with intracranial ependymoma. We investigated the association between post-operative radiation therapy and overall survival (OS) in children younger than 3 years and compared their survival to other age groups. The study sample from the SEER database included 804 patients with intracranial ependymoma, grades 2-3, and diagnosed between 1988 and 2005. ⋯ Among children younger than 3 years, the 3 year OS was significantly greater among those who received PORT compared to those who did not (81% vs. 56%, respectively, P = 0.005). The majority of children younger than 3 years with intracranial ependymoma did not receive PORT. Children younger than 3 years who did not receive PORT had a relatively poor outcome, while those who received radiation therapy had a survival similar to older patients.
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Journal of neuro-oncology · Dec 2011
Outcome and prognostic features in anaplastic ganglioglioma: analysis of cases from the SEER database.
Anaplastic ganglioglioma (AGG) are rare central nervous system tumours. Patient and treatment factors associated with outcome are poorly defined and limited to small retrospective case series and single case reports. Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) cancer registry, we investigated potential clinicopathological factors that can affect outcome in patients with anaplastic ganglioglioma. ⋯ Adjuvant radiotherapy did not influence overall survival. This study represents the largest analysis of anaplastic ganglioglioma to date. Furthermore it also emphasises the role of national tumour databases for furthering our understanding of rare brain tumours and determining management options.
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Journal of neuro-oncology · Dec 2011
ReviewCerebellar glioblastoma: a retrospective review of 21 patients at a single institution.
Primary cerebellar glioblastoma (CGB) comprises only 0.4-3.4% of all intracranial glioblastoma. The impact of surgical resection on survival and the efficacy of adjuvant therapies are uncertain as CGB is underrepresented in most studies. To elucidate prognostic factors we performed a single-institutional review of the largest series to date of CGB. ⋯ This was due to a lack of a sizable cohort who did not receive chemotherapy. Furthermore, three of the CT-naïve patients received CT at first progression. In the context of the high EOR in this study, an OS of 18.4 months was achieved.
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Journal of neuro-oncology · Nov 2011
Patterns of missing mini mental status exam (MMSE) in radiation therapy oncology group (RTOG) brain cancer trials.
The Mini Mental Status Exam (MMSE) instrument has been commonly used in the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) to assess mental status in brain cancer patients. Evaluating patient factors in relation to patterns of incomplete MMSE assessments can provide insight into predictors of missingness and optimal MMSE collection schedules in brain cancer clinical trials. This study examined eight RTOG brain cancer trials with ten treatment arms and 1,957 eligible patients. ⋯ Post-RT change scores did not differ significantly by missing pattern. While baseline and change scores did not differ widely by missing pattern for available measurements, incomplete data was common and of unknown reason, and has potential to substantially bias conclusions. Higher compliance rates may be achievable by addressing institutional compliance with assessment schedules and patient refusal issues, and further exploration of how educational and health status barriers influence compliance with MMSE and other tools used in modern neurocognitive batteries.
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Journal of neuro-oncology · Nov 2011
The CD133+ tumor stem-like cell-associated antigen may elicit highly intense immune responses against human malignant glioma.
To explore the immunogenicity of glioma stem-like cell-associated antigens (SAAs) from sorted or unsorted glioma tumor stem-like cells (TSCs) as well as irradiated TSCs. Two primary human malignant glioma lines (SHG62, SHG66) and U87 cell line were primarily cultured in the serum-free medium (SFM) supplemented with EGF/bFGF. TSCs were identified by their self-renewal, multi-lineage differentiation and tumorigenic activity. ⋯ Effector cells loaded with irradiated SAAs were more cytotoxic than those with regular SAAs (P < 0.01). SAAs from CD133+ TSCs and irradiated TSCs provide highly immunogenic antigens. TSCs might be a novel source of antigens for DC vaccination against malignant gliomas.