Journal of neuro-oncology
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Journal of neuro-oncology · Jan 2011
Perioperative levetiracetam for prevention of seizures in supratentorial brain tumor surgery.
Efficacy and tolerability of levetiracetam (LEV) as perioperative seizure prophylaxis in supratentorial brain tumor patients were retrospectively studied. Between February 2007 and April 2009 in a single institution, 78 patients with primary or secondary supratentorial brain tumors [40 female, 38 male; mean age 57 years, from 27 to 89 years; gliomas in 42 patients (53.8%), brain metastases in 17 (21.8%), meningiomas in 16 (20.5%), 1 primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma patient, and 2 patients with radiation necrosis] received between 1,000 mg and 3,000 mg LEV perioperatively. Preoperatively, 30 patients had experienced seizures (38.5%), most commonly glioma patients (47.6%), but also meningioma patients (31.3%) or patients with brain metastases (23.5%). ⋯ Perioperative LEV in supratentorial brain tumor patients was well tolerated. Compared with the literature, it resulted in low (2.6%) [corrected] seizure frequency in the early postoperative period. Additionally, its advantage of lacking cytochrome P450 enzyme induction allowed early initiation of effective postoperative chemotherapy in malignant glioma patients.
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Journal of neuro-oncology · Oct 2010
Case ReportsLeptomeningeal gliomatosis as the initial presentation of gliomatosis cerebri.
Leptomeningeal gliomatosis is a known, yet uncommon, complication of malignant gliomas. In rare instances it can present with non-specific symptoms prior to the development of detectable intraparenchymal lesions, posing a diagnostic challenge. Gliomatosis cerebri is also a rare disease, characterized by extensive diffuse infiltration of neoplastic glial cells. ⋯ Following radiological progression, the patient received craniospinal radiotherapy. Four months later the patient's symptoms had resolved and MRI demonstrated near complete response of leptomeningeal enhancement and intraparenchymal lesions. Six months after radiotherapy, the patient remains clinically well without radiographic recurrence.
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Journal of neuro-oncology · Sep 2010
ReviewA prospective evaluation and literature review of levetiracetam use in patients with brain tumors and seizures.
To determine the safety and tolerability of IV and oral levetiracetam monotherapy for seizures in brain tumor patients following resection. Brain tumor patients undergoing neurosurgery with >or=1 seizure within the preceding month prior to surgery were enrolled to receive intravenous levetiracetam for a minimum of 48 h, transitioned to oral levetiracetam at the same dose, and followed for 1-month after discharge. Patients were assessed daily in the hospital, provided with a seizure diary, and supplied with 30 days of levetiracetam upon discharge. ⋯ Levetiracetam monotherapy was found to be safe and tolerable in this patient population. Nearly all patients achieved a >or=50% reduction in seizure frequency post-op with levetiracetam monotherapy. Levetiracetam also has the potential for less drug interactions compared to phenytoin in these patients.
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Journal of neuro-oncology · Sep 2010
Integration of autologous dendritic cell-based immunotherapy in the primary treatment for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme: a pilot study.
Despite resection, radiochemotherapy, and maintenance temozolomide chemotherapy (TMZm), the prognosis of patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) remains poor. We integrated immunotherapy in the primary standard treatment for eight pilot adult patients (median age 50 years) with GBM, to assess clinical and immunological feasibility and toxicity in preparation of a phase I/II protocol HGG-2006. After maximum, safe resection, leukapheresis was performed before radiochemotherapy, and four weekly vaccinations with autologous GBM lysate-loaded monocyte-derived dendritic cells were given after radiochemotherapy. ⋯ The only serious adverse event was an ischemic stroke eight months postoperatively. We conclude that tumor vaccination, fully integrated within the standard primary postoperative treatment for patients with newly diagnosed GBM, is feasible and well tolerated. The survival data were used to power a currently running phase I/II trial.
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Journal of neuro-oncology · Sep 2010
Patterns of enrollment of infants with central nervous system tumours on cooperative group studies: a report from the Canadian Pediatric Brain Tumour Consortium.
In children under the age of 3, the most common solid tumours are brain tumors. Treatment for many of these patients includes surgery, chemotherapy and rarely radiation therapy. Many clinical trials have been performed in an attempt to establish the best treatment for these patients. ⋯ The therapy was stopped because of completion of the protocol in 50% and because of disease progression in 34%. In Canada, about half of children under the age of 36 months with brain tumors are undergoing therapy following surgery for their malignancy but only a small fraction of them are enrolled on a clinical trial. There needs to be improved availability of clinical trials for these patients so that novel therapies can be evaluated and survival improved.