Publications by authors named "Barbara Cushing"
Hypercalcemia has been described as a possible complication of many pediatric malignancies. Here, we report an 8-month-old non-Down syndrome infant with acute megakaryocytic leukemia and severe hypercalcemia at presentation. A review of the literature reveals that this is the first case of hypercalcemia complicating acute megakaryocytic leukemia reported in the pediatric literature.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The purpose of this analysis is to explore whether the International Germ Cell Classification Consensus (IGCCC) tumor marker criteria, developed for adult males with metastatic malignant germ cell tumors (MGCT), are prognostic among pediatric patients and whether tumor marker data may be relevant in pediatric risk stratification.
Procedure: The IGCCC was applied to 436 pediatric germ cell patients treated on Pediatric Intergroup Studies from 1990 to 1996. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards model identified prognostic variables; survival rates among IGCCC risk groups were compared using the log-rank test.
To evaluate the outcome of children with high hyperdiploid acute lymphoblastic leukemia (hHDALL) treated at the author's institution. One hundred thirty-five consecutive children with B-precursor ALL were diagnosed between 1991 and 2002: 38 (28.1%) hHDALL and 97 (71.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To investigate prognostic factors for pediatric extragonadal malignant germ cell tumors (PEMGCT).
Materials And Methods: Between 1990 and 1996, patients with stage I through IV PEMGCT were eligible for a trial of cisplatin dose intensity. We retrospectively investigated prognostic factors for PEMGCT, including age, stage, primary site, treatment, and elevated alfa fetoprotein by univariate and multivariate analysis.
T-cell/histiocyte-rich large B-cell lymphoma (TCHRLBCL) is a variant of large B-cell lymphoma only rarely encountered in children. Here we report the case of an 8-year-old African American boy with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive TCHRLBCL who initially presented with right submandibular, anterior cervical and supraclavicular lymphadenopathy. Cytogenetic analysis of the lymph node revealed a near-triploid karyotype with complex chromosomal aberrations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To determine whether children with localized gonadal malignant germ cell tumors (MGCT) stage II testicular and stages I and II ovarian treated with four cycles of standard-dose cisplatin combined with etoposide and low-dose bleomycin (PEB) have an event-free survival (EFS) of at least 85% without significant toxicity.
Patients And Methods: Between May 1990 and July 1995, eligible pediatric patients with stage II or recurrent from stage I (as a stage II) testicular MGCT and stages I and II ovarian MGCT were enrolled onto this Pediatric Oncology Group and Children's Cancer Group study. PEB chemotherapy consisted of bleomycin 15 U/m2 on day 1, cisplatin 20 mg/m2/d on days 1 to 5, and etoposide 100 mg/m2/d on days 1 to 5.
Purpose: To determine in a randomized comparison whether combination chemotherapy with high-dose cisplatin (HDPEB) improves the event-free (EFS) and overall (OS) survival of children and adolescents with high-risk malignant germ cell tumors (MGCT) as compared with standard-dose cisplatin (PEB) and to compare the regimens' toxicity.
Patients And Methods: Between March 1990 and February 1996, 299 eligible patients with stage III and IV gonadal and extragonadal (all stages) MGCT were enrolled onto this Pediatric Oncology Group and Children's Cancer Group study. Chemotherapy included bleomycin 15 units/m(2) on day 1, etoposide 100 mg/m(2) on days 1 through 5, and either high-dose cisplatin 40 mg/m(2) on days 1 through 5 (HDPEB; n = 149) or standard-dose cisplatin 20 mg/m(2) on days 1 through 5 (PEB; n = 150).
An 11-year-old girl was diagnosed as B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with co-expression of myeloid antigens. Cytogenetic analysis revealed a near-triploid (75-82 chromosomes/cell) abnormal chromosomal complement. Fluroscent in situ hybridization studies indicated presence of TEL/AMLI fusion genes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCytogenetic analyses of 16 cases of Wilms tumor with abnormal karyotypes were reviewed, 15 cases of unilateral tumor and 1 bilateral. Three tumors exhibited an unfavorable histology (i.e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: This study was designed to evaluate (1) the efficacy of standard or high-dose cisplatin with etoposide and bleomycin and (2) the role of surgical resection in infants and children with malignant germ cell tumors (MGCT) of the genital region.
Methods: Fourteen of 317 children enrolled in to the Pediatric Oncology Group/Children's Cancer Group intergroup study of MGCT from 1990 through 1996 had genital tumors. Thirteen were eligible for inclusion (12 vaginal, one penile).
Background/purpose: The aim of this study was to correlate outcomes in patients with stage I testicular germ cell tumors with compliance to surgical guidelines and to confirm previous single-institution experiences that show excellent disease-free survival rates when treated with orchiectomy alone.
Methods: Sixty-three patients were entered into this intergroup study (Children's Cancer Group 8881/Pediatric Oncology Group 9048) between 1990 and 1996. Surgical guidelines for orchiectomy included an inguinal approach, early vascular control of the cord structures, and a hemiscrotectomy if a transscrotal violation occurred.