Neuroblastoma, Version 2.2024, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology.

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor diagnosed in children. This inaugural version of the NCCN Guidelines for Neuroblastoma provides recommendations for the diagnosis, risk classification, and treatment of neuroblastoma. The information in these guidelines was developed by the NCCN Neuroblastoma Panel, a multidisciplinary group of representatives with expertise in neuroblastoma, consisting of pediatric oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, surgeons, and radiation oncologists from NCCN Member Institutions.

Characterizing Relationships between T-cell Inflammation and Outcomes in Patients with High-Risk Neuroblastoma According to Mesenchymal and Adrenergic Signatures.

Unlabelled: Recent insights have identified adrenergic (ADRN) and mesenchymal (MES) cell lineages as distinct biologic cell types and T-cell inflammation as a prognostic marker in neuroblastoma. We hypothesized that elucidating unique and overlapping aspects of these biologic features could serve as novel biomarkers for informing ongoing efforts to improve therapeutic approaches for children with high-risk neuroblastoma. We identified lineage-specific, single-stranded super-enhancers to define ADRN and MES specific genes.

Healthcare utilization disparities among children with high-risk neuroblastoma treated on Children's Oncology Group clinical trials.

Introduction: Disparities in relapse and survival from high-risk neuroblastoma (HRNBL) persist among children from historically marginalized groups even in highly standardized clinical trial settings. Research in other cancers has identified differential treatment toxicity as one potential underlying mechanism. Whether racial and ethnic disparities in treatment-associated toxicity exist in HRNBL is poorly understood.

Long-term follow-up of patients with intermediate-risk neuroblastoma treated with response- and biology-based therapy: A report from the Children's Oncology Group study ANBL0531.

Background: We previously reported excellent three-year overall survival (OS) for patients with newly diagnosed intermediate-risk neuroblastoma treated with a biology- and response-based algorithm on the Children's Oncology Group study ANBL0531. We now present the long-term follow-up results.

Methods: All patients who met the age, stage, and tumor biology criteria for intermediate-risk neuroblastoma were eligible.

Extracting Electronic Health Record Neuroblastoma Treatment Data With High Fidelity Using the REDCap Clinical Data Interoperability Services Module.

Purpose: Although the International Neuroblastoma Risk Group Data Commons (INRGdc) has enabled seminal large cohort studies, the research is limited by the lack of real-world, electronic health record (EHR) treatment data. To address this limitation, we evaluated the feasibility of extracting treatment data directly from EHRs using the REDCap Clinical Data Interoperability Services (CDIS) module for future submission to the INRGdc.

Methods: Patients enrolled on the Children's Oncology Group neuroblastoma biology study ANBL00B1 (ClinicalTrials.

Persistence of Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Risk and Survival for Patients with Neuroblastoma over Two Decades.

Background: Racial/ethnic survival disparities in neuroblastoma were first reported more than a decade ago. We sought to investigate if these disparities have persisted with current era therapy.

Methods: Two patient cohorts were identified in the International Neuroblastoma Risk Group Data Commons (INRGdc) (Cohort 1: diagnosed 2001-2009, n=4359; Cohort 2: diagnosed 2010-2019, n=4891).

Lorlatinib with or without chemotherapy in ALK-driven refractory/relapsed neuroblastoma: phase 1 trial results.

Neuroblastomas harbor ALK aberrations clinically resistant to crizotinib yet sensitive pre-clinically to the third-generation ALK inhibitor lorlatinib. We conducted a first-in-child study evaluating lorlatinib with and without chemotherapy in children and adults with relapsed or refractory ALK-driven neuroblastoma. The trial is ongoing, and we report here on three cohorts that have met pre-specified primary endpoints: lorlatinib as a single agent in children (12 months to <18 years); lorlatinib as a single agent in adults (≥18 years); and lorlatinib in combination with topotecan/cyclophosphamide in children (<18 years).

Multimodality treatment for recurrent neuroblastoma in the central nervous system.

Survival for patients with recurrent central nervous system (CNS) neuroblastoma remains poor. A single-institutional study demonstrated the potential of multimodality therapy, including compartmental intrathecal radioimmunotherapy (cRIT) with I-3F8 or I-8H9 to increase the survival of neuroblastoma patients with CNS relapse. However, not all patients are able to receive this therapy.

Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Cardiology: A Scoping Review.

The evolution of AI and data science has aided in mechanizing several aspects of medical care requiring critical thinking: diagnosis, risk stratification, and management, thus mitigating the burden of physicians and reducing the likelihood of human error. AI modalities have expanded feet to the specialty of pediatric cardiology as well. We conducted a scoping review searching the Scopus, Embase, and PubMed databases covering the recent literature between 2002-2022.

Progression-Free Survival and Patterns of Response in Patients With Relapsed High-Risk Neuroblastoma Treated With Irinotecan/Temozolomide/Dinutuximab/Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor.

Purpose: Although chemoimmunotherapy is widely used for treatment of children with relapsed high-risk neuroblastoma (HRNB), little is known about timing, duration, and evolution of response after irinotecan/temozolomide/dinutuximab/granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (I/T/DIN/GM-CSF) therapy.

Patients And Methods: Patients eligible for this retrospective study were age < 30 years at diagnosis of HRNB and received ≥ 1 cycle of I/T/DIN/GM-CSF for relapsed or progressive disease. Patients with primary refractory disease who progressed through induction were excluded.

Synthesis and Systematic Study on the Effect of Different PEG Units on Stability of PEGylated, Integrin-αvβ6-Specific A20FMDV2 Analogues in Rat Serum and Human Plasma.

A20FMDV2 is a 20-mer peptide that exhibits high selectivity and affinity for the tumour-related αvβ6 integrin that can compete with extracellular ligands for the crucial RGD binding site, playing a role as a promising αvβ6-specific inhibitor for anti-cancer therapies. Unfortunately, the clinical value of A20FMDV2 is limited by its poor half-life in blood caused by rapid renal excretion and its reported high susceptibility to serum proteases. The incorporation of poly (ethylene glycol) chains, coined PEGylation, is a well-established approach to improve the pharmacokinetic properties of drug molecules.

Outcomes Following GD2-Directed Postconsolidation Therapy for Neuroblastoma After Cessation of Random Assignment on ANBL0032: A Report From the Children's Oncology Group.

Purpose: Postconsolidation immunotherapy including dinutuximab, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and interleukin-2 improved outcomes for patients with high-risk neuroblastoma enrolled on the randomized portion of Children's Oncology Group study ANBL0032. After random assignment ended, all patients were assigned to immunotherapy. Survival and toxicities were assessed.

Efficacy of post-induction therapy for high-risk neuroblastoma patients with end-induction residual disease.

Background: High-risk neuroblastoma patients with end-induction residual disease commonly receive post-induction therapy in an effort to increase survival by improving the response before autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). The authors conducted a multicenter, retrospective study to investigate the efficacy of this approach.

Methods: Patients diagnosed between 2008 and 2018 without progressive disease with a partial response or worse at end-induction were stratified according to the post-induction treatment: 1) no additional therapy before ASCT (cohort 1), 2) post-induction "bridge" therapy before ASCT (cohort 2), and 3) post-induction therapy without ASCT (cohort 3).

Entrectinib in children and young adults with solid or primary CNS tumors harboring NTRK, ROS1, or ALK aberrations (STARTRK-NG).

Background: Entrectinib is a TRKA/B/C, ROS1, ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved for the treatment of adults and children aged ≥12 years with NTRK fusion-positive solid tumors and adults with ROS1 fusion-positive non-small-cell lung cancer. We report an analysis of the STARTRK-NG trial, investigating the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) and activity of entrectinib in pediatric patients with solid tumors including primary central nervous system tumors.

Methods: STARTRK-NG (NCT02650401) is a phase 1/2 trial.

Disruption of pancreatic stellate cell myofibroblast phenotype promotes pancreatic tumor invasion.

In pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), differentiation of pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) into myofibroblast-like cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) can both promote and suppress tumor progression. Here, we show that the Rho effector protein kinase N2 (PKN2) is critical for PSC myofibroblast differentiation. Loss of PKN2 is associated with reduced PSC proliferation, contractility, and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) stress fibers.

Immunogenomic determinants of tumor microenvironment correlate with superior survival in high-risk neuroblastoma.

Background: Tumor-infiltrating CD8 T cells and neoantigens are predictors of a favorable prognosis and response to immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors in many types of adult cancer, but little is known about their role in pediatric malignancies. Here, we analyzed the prognostic strength of T cell-inflamed gene expression and neoantigen load in high-risk neuroblastoma. We also compared transcriptional programs in T cell-inflamed and non-T cell-inflamed high-risk neuroblastomas to investigate possible mechanisms of immune exclusion.

Association Between Participation in Clinical Trials and Overall Survival Among Children With Intermediate- or High-risk Neuroblastoma.

Importance: Participants in clinical trials may experience benefits associated with new therapeutic strategies as well as tight adherence to best supportive care practices.

Objectives: To investigate whether participation in a clinical trial is associated with improved survival among children with neuroblastoma and investigate potential recruitment bias of patients in clinical trials.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cohort study included pediatric patients with intermediate- or high-risk neuroblastoma in North American studies who were included in the International Neuroblastoma Risk Group Data Commons and who received a diagnosis between January 1, 1991, and March 1, 2020.

Phase I Study of Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy plus Nivolumab and Urelumab or Cabiralizumab in Advanced Solid Tumors.

Purpose: CD137 agonism and CSF1R blockade augment stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and anti-programmed death-1 in preclinical models. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of SBRT with nivolumab+urelumab (CD137 agonist) or nivolumab+cabiralizumab (CSF1R inhibitor).

Patients And Methods: This phase I clinical trial enrolled patients with advanced solid tumors that had progressed on standard therapies.

Oral candidiasis in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients under highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Human immunodeficiency virus has plagued mankind since the 1980's when the first case was documented. Human immunodeficiency virus-induced immunocompromised state can lead to several systemic and local manifestations, which often culminates in mortality. Oral candidiasis was one of the most prevalent opportunistic infections noted in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients.

Oral health-related quality of life in oral cancer patients: systematic review and meta-analysis.

The purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the impact of oral health on quality of life in oral cancer patients (OCPs). PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases were searched for publications on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in OCP and the information was extracted according to the PRISMA guidelines. A random effect model was used to obtain the pooled standard mean differences of Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP)-14 questionnaire responses in meta-analysis.

Poverty and Targeted Immunotherapy: Survival in Children's Oncology Group Clinical Trials for High-Risk Neuroblastoma.

Background: Whether social determinants of health are associated with survival in the context of pediatric oncology-targeted immunotherapy trials is not known. We examined the association between poverty and event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) for children with high-risk neuroblastoma treated in targeted immunotherapy trials.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 371 children with high-risk neuroblastoma treated with GD2-targeted immunotherapy in the Children's Oncology Group trial ANBL0032 or ANBL0931 at a Pediatric Health Information System center from 2005 to 2014.