Publications by authors named "Elizabeth A Weyman"
Article Synopsis
- * A systematic literature search across nine databases identified 44 studies on PEM co-creation, focusing on best practices through thematic analysis validated by a patient experienced in the process.
- * Six best practices were revealed: (1) review existing literature, (2) use a guiding framework, (3) involve clinical and patient experts early, (4) include diverse perspectives, (5) let patients make final decisions, and (6) use validated evaluation tools.
Background: Hippocampal avoidance (HA) has been shown to preserve cognitive function in adult patients with cancer treated with whole-brain radiation therapy for brain metastases. However, the feasibility of HA in pediatric patients with brain tumors has not been explored because of concerns of increased risk of relapse in the peri-hippocampal region. Our aim was to determine patterns of recurrence and incidence of peri-hippocampal relapse in pediatric patients with medulloblastoma (MB).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Proton therapy may reduce cognitive deficits after radiotherapy among brain tumor survivors, although current data are limited to retrospective comparisons between historical cohorts. The authors compared intelligence quotient scores within a case-matched cohort of children with medulloblastoma treated with proton radiation (PRT) or photon radiation (XRT) over the same time period.
Methods: Among 88 consecutive patients with standard-risk medulloblastoma treated with PRT or XRT at 2 institutions from 2000 to 2009, 50 were matched 1:1 (25 with PRT and 25 with XRT) according to age, gender, date of diagnosis, histology, radiation boost, and craniospinal irradiation dose.
Purpose: Decreased peripheral lymphocyte counts are associated with survival after radiation therapy (RT) in several solid tumors, although they appear late during or after the radiation course and often correlate with other clinical factors. Here we investigate if absolute lymphocyte counts (ALCs) are independently associated with recurrence in pediatric medulloblastoma early during RT.
Methods And Materials: We assessed 202 patients with medulloblastoma treated between 2000 and 2016 and analyzed ALC throughout therapy, focusing on both early markers (ALC during week 1 - ALC; grade 3+ Lymphopenia during week 2 - Lymphopenia) and late markers (ALC nadir).
Background: Treatment for pediatric ependymoma includes surgical resection followed by local radiotherapy (RT). Proton RT (PRT) enables superior sparing of critical structures compared with photons, with potential to reduce late effects. We report mature outcomes, patterns of failure, and predictors of outcomes in patients treated with PRT.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The purpose of this analysis is to report long-term health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among brain tumor survivors treated with proton therapy (PRT) at a very young age.
Methods: Fifty-nine children <4 years old received PRT between 2000 and 2011. Forty families participated.
Objective: The Pediatric Proton/Photon Consortium Registry (PPCR) is a comprehensive data registry composed of pediatric patients treated with radiation. It was established to expedite outcomes-based research. The attributes which allow the PPCR to be a successful collaboration are reviewed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- This study aims to identify factors affecting follow-up time for patients receiving proton radiotherapy, particularly those enrolled in the MGH Pediatric Proton Consortium Registry (PPCR).
- It includes 333 patients under the age of 22, with results showing that those living more than 121 km from the proton center had an average follow-up time that was significantly shorter by 0.53 years.
- Additional factors influencing follow-up duration included having Medicaid insurance, treatment delays, non-White race, while participation in proton trials enhanced follow-up time by nearly a year.
Purpose: There are sparse data defining the dose response of radiation therapy (RT) to the hypothalamus and pituitary in pediatric and young adult patients with brain tumors. We examined the correlation between RT dose to these structures and development of endocrine dysfunction in this population.
Materials And Methods: Dosimetric and clinical data were collected from children and young adults (< 26 years of age) with brain tumors treated with proton RT on three prospective studies (2003 to 2016).
Article Synopsis
- - The study focused on the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in pediatric patients with medulloblastoma treated with proton radiotherapy, aiming to fill a knowledge gap regarding their long-term outcomes.
- - Researchers analyzed survey data from 116 patients over a median follow-up of 5 years and found that both children and parents reported improvements in HRQOL scores following treatment, although children's scores remained lower than those of healthy peers.
- - Key findings indicated that while baseline HRQOL scores were affected by conditions like posterior fossa syndrome, scores improved significantly over time, suggesting positive long-term effects of proton therapy on quality of life.
Background/objectives: The Pediatric Proton Consortium Registry (PPCR) was established to expedite proton outcomes research in the pediatric population requiring radiotherapy. Here, we introduce the PPCR as a resource to the oncology community and provide an overview of the data available for further study and collaboration.
Design/methods: A multi-institutional registry of integrated clinical, dosimetric, radiographic, and patient-reported data for patients undergoing proton radiation therapy was conceived in May 2010.
Background: Radiotherapy (RT) in the pediatric brain tumor population causes late neurocognitive effects. In the current study, the authors investigated associations between clinical and dosimetric risk factors and memory outcomes in a cohort of patients treated with proton radiotherapy (PRT).
Methods: A total of 70 patients (median age at PRT, 12.
Purpose: Proton radiation therapy is commonly used in young children with brain tumors for its potential to reduce late effects. However, some proton series report higher rates of brainstem injury (0%-16%) than most photon series (2.2%-8.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLong-Term Outcomes After Proton Beam Therapy for Sinonasal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys
May 2016
Article Synopsis
- Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common type of sinonasal cancer, but proton therapy provides effective treatment with minimal damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
- A study involving 54 patients treated with proton beam therapy revealed encouraging long-term control rates, with a 5-year overall survival rate of 47% and significant differences in outcomes based on smoking status and patient performance.
- The treatment was generally well-tolerated, with some cases of grade 3 and 4 toxicities, but no severe grade 5 toxicities, indicating that proton therapy is a viable option for managing advanced sinonasal SCC.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare long-term disease control and overall survival between children treated with proton and photon radiation therapy (RT) for standard-risk medulloblastoma.
Methods And Materials: This multi-institution cohort study includes 88 children treated with chemotherapy and proton (n=45) or photon (n=43) RT between 2000 and 2009. Overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), and patterns of failure were compared between the 2 cohorts.
Background: Endocrine dysfunction is a common sequela of craniospinal irradiation (CSI). Dosimetric data suggest that proton radiotherapy (PRT) may reduce radiation-associated endocrine dysfunction but clinical data are limited.
Methods: Seventy-seven children were treated with chemotherapy and proton (n = 40) or photon (n = 37) radiation between 2000 and 2009 with ≥3 years of endocrine screening.
Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of a respiratory-gated proton beam therapy for liver tumors.
Methods And Materials: Fifteen patients were enrolled in a prospective institutional review board-approved protocol. Eligibility criteria included Childs-Pugh A/B cirrhosis, unresectable biopsy- proven hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), or metastatic disease (solid tumors only), 1-3 lesions, and tumor size of ≤6 cm.
Background: Negative surgical margins are uncommon for spine sarcomas; hence, adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) may be recommended but tumor dose may be constrained by spinal cord, nerve, and viscera tolerance.
Methods: Prospective Phase II clinical trial incorporating high dose RT. Eligible patients had primary or locally recurrent thoracic, lumbar, and/or sacral spine/paraspinal chordomas or sarcomas.