Maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing in glioblastoma patients undergoing chemotherapy: assessment of feasibility, safety, and physical fitness status.

Purpose: Maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing (max. CPET) provides the most accurate measurement of cardiorespiratory fitness. However, glioblastoma (GBM) patients often undergo less intensive tests, e.

Sarcopenia is associated with chemoradiotherapy discontinuation and reduced progression-free survival in glioblastoma patients.

Purpose: Sarcopenia may complicate treatment in cancer patients. Herein, we assessed whether sarcopenia measurements derived from radiation planning computed tomography (CT) were associated with complications and tumor progression during radiochemotherapy for glioblastoma.

Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing radiotherapy planning for glioblastoma between 2010 and 2021 were analyzed.

Digital participation of brain tumour patients in the assessment and treatment of communication disorders.

Introduction: Communication deficits have a severe impact on our social interactions and health-related quality of life. Subtle communication deficits are frequently overlooked or neglected in brain tumour patients, due to insufficient diagnostics. Digital tools may represent a valuable adjunct to the conventional assessment or therapy setting but might not be readily suitable for every patient.

Conceptual development of an intensive exercise program for glioma patients (ActiNO): summary of clinical experience.

Purpose: Exercise proved to reduce cancer-related symptoms and prolong survival in some cancer types. However, brain tumor patients are often advised against strenuous exercise. Here, we summarize our experience with a submaximal exercise program for glioma patients: ActiNO (Active in Neuro-Oncology).

Cervical body composition on radiotherapy planning computed tomography scans predicts overall survival in glioblastoma patients.

Background And Purpose: Glioblastoma (GBM) patients face a strongly unfavorable prognosis despite multimodal therapy regimens. However, individualized mortality prediction remains imprecise. Harnessing routine radiation planning cranial computed tomography (CT) scans, we assessed cervical body composition measures as novel biomarkers for overall survival (OS) in GBM patients.

Quality of Life in Brain Tumor Patients and Their Relatives Heavily Depends on Social Support Factors during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic is associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and restrictions on everyday life worldwide. This may be especially challenging for brain tumor patients given increased vulnerability due to their pre-existing condition. Here, we aimed to investigate the quality of life (QoL) in brain tumor patients and relatives in this setting.

Feasibility, Safety and Effects of a One-Week, Ski-Based Exercise Intervention in Brain Tumor Patients and Their Relatives: A Pilot Study.

A brain tumor diagnosis poses a significant psychological burden and it severely impacts quality of life (QOL), both in patients and relatives. However, comprehensive strategies addressing QOL in this setting remain rare. Here, we aim to share our findings of a one-week ski exercise intervention, with emphasis on feasibility, safety, QOL, and physical exercise.

High-Intensity Physical Exercise in a Glioblastoma Patient under Multimodal Treatment.

Introduction: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) carries a strongly unfavorable prognosis despite intensive multidisciplinary therapy. Physical exercise is rarely offered to patients for fear of adverse events such as falls, epileptic seizures, or bleeding, despite little supporting evidence. Here, we report a study of high-level and long-term exercise in a GBM patient.

Impact of distress screening algorithm for psycho-oncological needs in neurosurgical patients.

Background: Cerebral tumors are associated with high rates of anxiety, depression and reduced health related quality of life. Nevertheless psychooncological screening instruments are neither implemented nor well defined in the daily routine of neurosurgical departments. Therefore, we tried (1) to identify a suitable screening algorithm for neurosurgical patients, (2) to define clinical risk factors for increased distress and (3) to analyze the optimal screening time point.

High psychosocial burden in relatives of malignant brain tumor patients.

Objective: Not only tumor patients suffer enormously from their disease, also the caregivers are massively affected by the disease of their relatives. In this study, we investigate the psychological burden in caregivers of outpatient malignant brain tumor patients.

Patients And Methods: Fifty caregivers of patients with primary malignant brain tumors were included in our study.

Initial psycho-oncological counselling in neuro-oncology: analysis of topics and needs of brain tumour patients.

Diagnosis of a brain tumour is associated with a tremendous disruption of emotional, physical and social well-being. Due to the complexity of the disease and the affection of the central organ, the brain, brain tumour patients differ from other cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the concerns and burdens presented by brain tumour patients during their initial psycho-oncological consultation.

Erratum to: Gliomatosis cerebri: no evidence for a separate brain tumor entity.

Erratum to: Acta Neuropathol DOI 10.1007/s00401‑015‑1495‑z. The original version of this article contained errors in the alignment of several entries in Tables 4 and 5.

Gliomatosis cerebri: no evidence for a separate brain tumor entity.

Gliomatosis cerebri (GC) is presently considered a distinct astrocytic glioma entity according to the WHO classification for CNS tumors. It is characterized by widespread, typically bilateral infiltration of the brain involving three or more lobes. Genetic studies of GC have to date been restricted to the analysis of individual glioma-associated genes, which revealed mutations in the isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) and tumor protein p53 (TP53) genes in subsets of patients.

Predicting the "usefulness" of 5-ALA-derived tumor fluorescence for fluorescence-guided resections in pediatric brain tumors: a European survey.

Background: Five-aminolevulinic acid (Gliolan, medac, Wedel, Germany, 5-ALA) is approved for fluorescence-guided resections of adult malignant gliomas. Case reports indicate that 5-ALA can be used for children, yet no prospective study has been conducted as of yet. As a basis for a study, we conducted a survey among certified European Gliolan users to collect data on their experiences with children.

[Burden and need for psychosocial intervention of glioblastoma patients].

Glioblastoma patients should be provided with a professional health care system that helps reduce their psychosocial burden. The aim of this study was to identify patients in need of psychosocial intervention. In addition, it was examined whether physicians' assessments adequately address the burden patients are under and their need for intervention.

NOA-05 phase 2 trial of procarbazine and lomustine therapy in gliomatosis cerebri.

Objective: The NOA-05 multicenter trial was performed to analyze the efficacy of primary chemotherapy with procarbazine and lomustine (PC) in patients with gliomatosis cerebri (GC) and to define clinical, imaging, and molecular factors influencing outcome.

Methods: Thirty-five patients with previously untreated GC were treated with up to six 56-day courses of 110mg/m(2) lomustine on day 1 and 60mg/m(2) procarbazine on days 8 to 21. The primary endpoint was the rate of patients without therapy failure (defined as progressive disease, death from any cause, or termination of PC therapy before the end of course 4) at 8 months after the beginning of PC chemotherapy.

MGMT activity, promoter methylation and immunohistochemistry of pretreatment and recurrent malignant gliomas: a comparative study on astrocytoma and glioblastoma.

The DNA repair protein O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) is a key player in tumor cell resistance. Promoter methylation, MGMT activity and immunohistochemistry are used for determining the MGMT status. However, it is unclear whether MGMT promoter methylation correlates with MGMT activity and whether MGMT promoter methylation of the pretreatment tumor predicts the MGMT status of recurrences.

Chemoradiotherapy of newly diagnosed glioblastoma with intensified temozolomide.

Purpose: To evaluate the toxicity and efficacy of chemoradiotherapy with temozolomide (TMZ) administered in an intensified 1-week on/1-week off schedule plus indomethacin in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma.

Patients And Methods: A total of 41 adult patients (median Karnofsky performance status, 90%; median age, 56 years) were treated with preirradiation TMZ at 150 mg/m(2) (1 week on/1 week off), involved-field radiotherapy combined with concomitant low-dose TMZ (50 mg/m(2)), maintenance TMZ starting at 150 mg/m(2) using a 1-week on/1-week off schedule, plus maintenance indomethacin (25 mg twice daily).

Results: The median follow-up interval was 21.

Long-term significance of injury to the supraorbital or supratrochlear nerves during frontoorbital advancement in infancy.

Introduction: In a series of 26 infants undergoing frontoorbital advancement in their first year of life, the supraorbital and supratrochlear nerves were not preserved during surgery in nearly all cases. Of these 26 patients, 25 could be followed up postoperatively.

Results: None of the children spontaneously complained of any sensory disturbances thereafter.

Long-term survival of patients with glioblastoma treated with radiotherapy and lomustine plus temozolomide.

Purpose: To evaluate long-term survival in a prospective series of patients newly diagnosed with glioblastoma and treated with a combination of lomustine (CCNU), temozolomide (TMZ), and radiotherapy.

Patients And Methods: Thirty-nine patients received radiotherapy of the tumor site only (60 Gy) and CCNU/TMZ chemotherapy (n = 31 received standard-dose CCNU, 100 mg/m2 on day 1 and TMZ 100 mg/m(2)/d on days 2 to 6; n = 8 received intensified-dose CCNU 110 mg/m(2) on day 1 and TMZ 150 mg/m(2) on days 2 to 6) for up to six courses.

Results: In the whole cohort, the median overall survival (mOS) was 23.

Procarbazine and CCNU as initial treatment in gliomatosis cerebri.

Background: Gliomatosis cerebri (GC) is a diffuse infiltrating glial tumor with involvement of at least 3 cerebral lobes. There are only few data on the efficacy of initial chemotherapy in patients with GC.

Patients And Methods: In 3 neurooncological centers, patients with newly diagnosed GC who had received procarbazine (60 mg/m(2), days 8-21/56) and CCNU (110 mg/m(2), day 1/56) chemotherapy (PC) as initial treatment were analyzed for progression-free survival, overall survival and toxicity.

A simple technique for the correction of frontal bossing in synostotic scaphocephaly.

Introduction: Scaphocephaly may be accompanied by bossing of the frontal bones. In severe cases, this frontal deformation must be directly addressed during surgery. We describe a simple and effective surgical technique of reducing frontal bossing in scaphocephalic infants, avoiding the creation and transposition of free bone flaps.