Brain Microstructural Changes Associated With Neurocognitive Outcome in Intracranial Germ Cell Tumor Survivors.

Background: Childhood intracranial germ cell tumor (GCT) survivors are prone to radiotherapy-related neurotoxicity, which can lead to neurocognitive dysfunctions. Diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) is a diffusion MRI technique that is sensitive to brain microstructural changes. This study aimed to investigate the association between DKI metrics versus cognitive and functional outcomes of childhood intracranial GCT survivors.

Hepatitis B Virus Seropositivity Is a Poor Prognostic Factor of Pediatric Hepatocellular Carcinoma: a Population-Based Study in Hong Kong and Singapore.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a rare hepatic malignancy in children. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a key predisposing factor in endemic regions but its impact on outcome has not been studied. We aim to evaluate the prognostic implication of HBV seropositivity and role of cancer surveillance in children with HCC from East Asian populations with national HBV vaccination.

Incidence and Outcomes of CNS Tumors in Chinese Children: Comparative Analysis With the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program.

Purpose: Despite being the most common pediatric solid tumors, incidence and outcome of CNS tumors in Chinese children have not been systematically reported. We addressed this knowledge gap by comparing the epidemiology of pediatric CNS tumors in Hong Kong and the United States.

Patients And Methods: Data between 1999 and 2016 from a population-based cancer registry in Hong Kong, China, on patients < 18 years old with CNS tumors (Hong Kong cohort) and from the US SEER Program (Asian/Pacific Islander and all ethnicities) were compared.

Outcome of Chinese children with craniopharyngioma: a 20-year population-based study by the Hong Kong Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Study Group.

Purpose: Craniopharyngioma is a rare low-grade neoplasm in children. Tumor progression occurs frequently, and survivors are at risk of long-term disease and treatment-related morbidities. We reviewed the population-based experience of managing pediatric craniopharyngioma in Hong Kong.

Neurocognitive function, performance status, and quality of life in pediatric intracranial germ cell tumor survivors.

Background: Intracranial germ cell tumors (GCT) are more common in Asia than in the West, accounting for about 15% of brain tumors in Asian children. The survival rate for intracranial GCT is excellent, but there are concerns about the effects of radiotherapy on neuropsychological function and quality of life of patients.

Methods: Intracranial germ cell tumors (GCT) are more common in Asia than in the West, accounting for about 15% of brain tumors in Asian children.

Excellent outcome of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia with TCF3-PBX1 rearrangement in Hong Kong.

Objective: The aim of this study was to review clinical outcomes and prognosis of paediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) with TCF3-PBX1 rearrangement.

Patients: All children in Hong Kong diagnosed with ALL with TCF3-PBX1 rearrangement over the past two decades were included.

Methods: Six hundred and twenty-four newly diagnosed patients with ALL from four consecutive studies were enrolled from 1997 to 2016.

Acute Leukemia in Down Syndrome Children in Hong Kong: Retrospective Review.

Background: Children with Down syndrome (DS) are at higher risk of developing acute leukemia. Treatment continues to evolve as we accumulate better understanding of the distinctive clinical and biological features of acute leukemia in DS patients.

Procedure: A retrospective review of the clinical features, treatment outcomes, and survival of DS children with acute leukemia in Hong Kong from 1993 to 2013 was conducted.

Central nervous system tumors in chinese children under the age of 3: a population study.

The management of central nervous system tumors in children below the age of 3 years represents a special challenge to pediatric oncologists with distinctive epidemiology, treatment considerations, and prognosis. Population-based epidemiological data on this particular patient group is lacking in Chinese. We reviewed the population-based pediatric tumor registry in Hong Kong between 1999 and 2011.

Timing of adjuvant radiotherapy and treatment outcome in childhood ependymoma.

Background: Several trials incorporating adjuvant focal RT for treatment of young children with ependymoma have demonstrated improved survival with acceptable adverse effects. The optimal timing of RT administration is, however, unknown.

Procedure: A retrospective review of territory-wide database was performed to identify pediatric patients with ependymoma diagnosed between 1995 and 2011.

Minimal residual disease-based risk stratification in Chinese childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia by flow cytometry and plasma DNA quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Minimal residual disease, or MRD, is an important prognostic indicator in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In ALL-IC-BFM 2002 study, we employed a standardized method of flow cytometry MRD monitoring for multiple centers internationally using uniformed gating, and determined the relevant MRD-based risk stratification strategies in our local patient cohort. We also evaluated a novel method of PCR MRD quantitation using peripheral blood plasma.

Prognosis and outcome of relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a Hong Kong Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Study Group report.

Background: In 2000, the Hong Kong Pediatric Hematology Oncology Study Group started a new relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treatment protocol based on modified ALL-REZ BFM 96 protocol aiming at improving the treatment outcome in Chinese children.

Procedure: All patients in Hong Kong with first relapse of childhood ALL were included. Patients were stratified into four risk groups (S1, S2, S3, and S4) and the treatment consisted of intensive chemotherapy followed by allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, if indicated.

A randomized controlled study evaluating the safety and efficacy of deferiprone treatment in thalassemia major patients from Hong Kong.

A controlled, open-label and randomized study was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the oral iron chelator deferiprone (L1) in thalassemia major patients from Hong Kong. Forty-nine patients were recruited in total (median age: 20 years; range: 8 to 40 years). The division of the patients was determined based on liver iron content and put into either the poorly-chelated (Group I) or well-chelated (Group II) groups.