Long-term analysis of children with metastatic neuroblastoma treated in the ENSG5 randomised clinical trial.

Background: The European Neuroblastoma Study Group 5 (ENSG5) trial showed that time-intensive "rapid" induction chemotherapy (COJEC) was superior to "standard" 3-weekly chemotherapy for children with high-risk metastatic neuroblastoma. Long-term outcomes of the ENSG5 trial were analysed.

Procedure: Patients with metastatic neuroblastoma aged ≥12 months were randomly assigned to "standard" or "rapid" induction, receiving the same chemotherapy drugs and doses.

Multimodal therapy in children and adolescents with newly diagnosed atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor: individual pooled data analysis and review of the literature.

Atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumour (ATRT) is a malignant tumour of the central nervous system with a dismal prognosis. There is no consensus on optimal treatment and different multimodal strategies are currently being used in an attempt to improve outcomes. To evaluate the impact of high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem-cell rescue (HD48 SCR), radiotherapy (RT) at first line, intrathecal chemotherapy (IT) and extent of surgical resection upon recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS).

Additional Therapies to Improve Metastatic Response to Induction Therapy in Children With High-risk Neuroblastoma.

Children with high-risk neuroblastoma who fail to achieve adequate metastatic response after induction chemotherapy have dismal outcome and new therapeutic strategies are needed. However, timing of introduction of novel agents still remains under discussion. Given an increase in number of phase I-II studies of molecularly targeted drugs in neuroblastoma, it is crucial to determine, as early as possible, which patients may be suitable candidates for new therapeutic strategies.

Bloodstream infection in paediatric cancer centres--leukaemia and relapsed malignancies are independent risk factors.

Unlabelled: In a prospective multicentre study of bloodstream infection (BSI) from November 01, 2007 to July 31, 2010, seven paediatric cancer centres (PCC) from Germany and one from Switzerland included 770 paediatric cancer patients (58% males; median age 8.3 years, interquartile range (IQR) 3.8-14.

Invasive aspergillosis in children and adolescents.

Invasive aspergillosis is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised children. Disease control depends on prevention, early diagnosis, predictive microbiological information, prompt and appropriate treatment and restoration of host defenses. Relative to adults, invasive aspergillosis in children and adolescents is unique in its clinical presentation, epidemiology, and in particular, the utility of newer diagnostic tools and the pharmacokinetics of active antifungal agents.