Docetaxel-Based Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Followed by En Bloc Resection for Esophageal Adenocarcinoma: A 15-Year Retrospective Analysis from a Regional Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Network.

Backround: Real-world, long-term survival outcomes of neoadjuvant, docetaxel-based therapy for esophageal and junctional adenocarcinoma are lacking. This study describes the long-term survival outcomes of patients with esophageal and junctional adenocarcinoma treated with neoadjuvant docetaxel-based chemotherapy and en bloc transthoracic esophagectomy.

Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis of a prospectively maintained database from a regional upper gastrointestinal cancer network in Quebec, Canada, was performed.

A Phase II feasibility study of oral etoposide given concurrently with radiotherapy followed by dose intensive adjuvant chemotherapy for children with newly diagnosed high-risk medulloblastoma (protocol POG 9631): A report from the Children's Oncology Group.

Background: Children with high-risk medulloblastoma historically have had a poor prognosis. The Children's Oncology Group completed a Phase II study using oral etoposide given with radiotherapy followed by intensive chemotherapy.

Procedure: Patients enrolled in the study had high-risk disease defined as ≥1.

Low grade astrocytoma in children under the age of three years: a report from the Canadian pediatric brain tumour consortium.

In children under the age of 3 years, the most common solid tumors are brain tumors. Low grade astrocytomas represent 30-40 % of brain tumours in this age group. This study reviewed the incidence, characteristics, therapy, and outcome of children less than 36 months of age diagnosed with a low grade astrocytoma from 1990 to 2005 in Canada.

Economic evaluation of treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in childhood.

Berlin-Frankfurt-Munster (BFM) and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) consortia's treatment strategies for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in children are widely used. We compared the health effects and monetary costs of hospital treatments for these two strategies. Parents of children treated at seven centres in Canada, Italy and the USA completed health-related quality of life (HRQL) assessments during four active treatment phases and at 2 years after treatment.

Role of NOS3 DNA variants in externalizing behavioral problems observed in childhood leukemia survivors.

Objective: Neuropsychological problems occurrence varies among childhood cancer survivors, and associated risk factors have not been fully deciphered. We wanted to study the role of genetic variants in behavioral problems in this population.

Study Design: Behavioral problems in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients (n=138) were investigated longitudinally, using the Child Behavior Checklist questionnaire and multilevel statistical modeling.

Effectiveness of pamidronate as treatment of symptomatic osteonecrosis occurring in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Background: Osteonecrosis (ON) is a severe complication of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treatments. Recent studies suggest that bisphosphonates might reduce pain and loss of motor function in patients with ON. We assessed the effects of pamidronate compared to standard care in patients with symptomatic ON (sON) and studied whether steroids might be continued after diagnosis of ON in some patients.

Predictive factors of internalized and externalized behavioral problems in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Background: Pediatric cancer survivors are at increased risk of various neurological and psychological problems. The prevalence of behavioral problems was assessed in a longitudinal study in pediatric patients with an acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Multilevel modeling was used to identify associated predictive factors.

ATF5 polymorphisms influence ATF function and response to treatment in children with childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Asparaginase is a standard and critical component in the therapy of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Asparagine synthetase (ASNS) and the basic region leucine zipper activating transcription factor 5 (ATF5) and arginosuccinate synthase 1 (ASS1) have been shown to mediate the antileukemic effect of asparaginase and to display variable expression between leukemia cells that are resistant and sensitive to treatment. Fourteen polymorphisms in the regulatory and coding regions of these genes were investigated for an association with acute lymphoblastic leukemia outcome.

Spinal cord tumors in children under the age of 3 years: a retrospective Canadian review.

Background: Tumors of the spinal cord are exceedingly rare in infancy and only a paucity of literature exists describing the spectrum of this disease and its management. The objectives of our study were to describe the demographic characteristics of spinal cord tumors (SCT) in children less than 3 years of age at diagnosis and to review their treatment and outcome.

Methods: A national retrospective chart review was conducted on patients under the age of 3 years diagnosed with a primary tumor of the central nervous system (CNS) between 1990 and 2005 across Canada.

Assessment of dexrazoxane as a cardioprotectant in doxorubicin-treated children with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: long-term follow-up of a prospective, randomised, multicentre trial.

Background: Doxorubicin chemotherapy is associated with cardiomyopathy. Dexrazoxane reduces cardiac damage during treatment with doxorubicin in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). We aimed to establish the long-term effect of dexrazoxane on the subclinical state of cardiac health in survivors of childhood high-risk ALL 5 years after completion of doxorubicin treatment.

von Willebrand factor and thrombin activation in children with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia: an impact of peripheral blasts.

Background: The pathogenesis and the impact of therapy on thrombin activation in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are unknown. Steroids may contribute to ALL-associated thrombosis. We explored the hemostatic effects of methylprednisolone monotherapy (MpMT) (32 mg/m2/day IV x 3 days) in children with newly diagnosed ALL.

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.

DNA variants in region for noncoding interfering transcript of dihydrofolate reductase gene and outcome in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Purpose: Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is the major target of methotrexate, a key component in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treatment. We recently reported an association of DHFR promoter polymorphisms with ALL outcome. Lower event-free survival correlated with haplotype *1, defined by A(-317) and C(-1610) alleles.

Polymorphisms in glucocorticoid receptor gene and the outcome of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients (n=310) were analyzed for four SNPs in the NR3C1 gene. Polymorphisms -627A/G, intron 2 +646C/G and 9bT/C were all associated with reduced event-free survival. Haplotypes composed of AGT alleles at these loci and tagged by the intron 2 +646G variant also associated with lower event-free survival (p=0.

Deep cutaneous fungal infections in immunocompromised children.

Background: Life-threatening infections from ubiquitous fungi are becoming more prevalent in adults and children because of the increased use of immunosuppressive agents and broad-spectrum anti-infective drugs. Extremely low birth weight premature neonates and patients with a disrupted epidermal barrier are also at increased risk. Lethality is high, particularly with delayed diagnosis.

Decision-making by adolescents and parents of children with cancer regarding health research participation.

Background: Low rates of participation of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) in clinical oncology trials may contribute to poorer outcomes. Factors that influence the decision of AYAs to participate in health research and whether these factors are different from those that affect the participation of parents of children with cancer.

Methods: This is a secondary analysis of data from validated questionnaires provided to adolescents (>12 years old) diagnosed with cancer and parents of children with cancer at 3 sites in Canada (Halifax, Vancouver, and Montreal) and 2 in the United States (Atlanta, GA, and Memphis, TN).

Atypical choroid plexus papilloma: clinical experience in the CPT-SIOP-2000 study.

Atypical choroid plexus papilloma (APP) represents a novel intermediate-grade subtype of choroid plexus tumor (CPT), the clinical outcome of which has not been described yet. We present the first analysis of a group of APP patients enrolled in the ongoing CPT-SIOP-2000 study of CPTs. A worldwide registration and a randomized trial for those patients who require chemotherapy started in 2000.

Polymorphisms in multidrug resistance-associated protein gene 4 is associated with outcome in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Methotrexate and 6-mercaptopurine, important components of acute lymphoblastic leukemia treatment, are substrates for multidrug resistance-associated protein MRP4. Eight single nucleotide polymorphisms were analyzed in MRP4 gene, and 4 variants were identified as tagSNPs with frequency more than or equal to 5%. They were investigated for association with treatment responses in 275 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Carboplatin-based primary chemotherapy for infants and young children with CNS tumors.

Background: A carboplatin-based chemotherapy regimen was used as primary postoperative therapy in infants with central nervous system (CNS) tumors to limit renal and ototoxicity and to target systemic exposure.

Methods: Fifty-three patients aged View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Fatal disseminated Trichosporon asahii infection in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Few cases of Trichosporon species infection have been reported in children. The present report describes a case of fatal disseminated Trichosporon asahii infection in a child treated for relapsed leukemia. Voriconazole has previously shown promising activity in vitro, and has been used successfully in the treatment of T asahii infections.

Medulloblastoma in children under the age of three years: a retrospective Canadian review.

Children under the age of 3 with medulloblastoma have an inferior survival to older children with this disease. This study reviewed the incidence, characteristics, therapy, and outcome of children less than 36 months of age diagnosed with medulloblastoma from 1990 to 2005 in Canada. Ninety-six cases were identified with a median age at diagnosis of 19.

Providing research results to participants: attitudes and needs of adolescents and parents of children with cancer.

Purpose: There is an increasing demand for researchers to provide research results to participants. Our aim was to define an appropriate process for this, based on needs and attitudes of participants.

Methods: A multicenter survey in five sites in the United States and Canada was offered to parents of children with cancer and adolescents with cancer.

Pharmacogenetics of the neurodevelopmental impact of anticancer chemotherapy.

Pharmacogenetics holds the promise of minimizing adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes of cancer patients by identifying patients at risk, enabling the individualization of treatment and the planning of close follow-up and early remediation. This review focuses first on methotrexate, a drug often implicated in neurotoxicity, especially when used in combination with brain irradiation. The second focus is on glucocorticoids that have been found to be linked to adverse developmental effects in relation with the psychosocial environment.

Delphinidin, a dietary anthocyanidin, inhibits platelet-derived growth factor ligand/receptor (PDGF/PDGFR) signaling.

Most cancers are dependent on the growth of tumor blood vessels and inhibition of tumor angiogenesis may thus provide an efficient strategy to retard or block tumor growth. Recently, tumor vascular targeting has expanded to include not only endothelial cells (ECs) but also smooth muscle cells (SMCs), which contribute to a mature and functional vasculature. We have reported previously that delphinidin, a major biologically active constituent of berries, inhibits the vascular endothelial growth factor-induced phosphorylation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 and blocks angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo.

Absence of secondary malignant neoplasms in children with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated with dexrazoxane.

Purpose: Dexrazoxane is a drug used to prevent anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity. A recent report found an association between the use of dexrazoxane and the risk of developing secondary malignant neoplasms (SMNs) in children with Hodgkin's disease. We report the absence of an association of SMNs in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treated on Dana-Farber Cancer Institute ALL Consortium Protocol 95-01.