Population based analysis ependymoma patients in Alberta from 1975 to 2007.

Background: Ependymomas are rare tumors of the central nervous system whose management is controversial. This population-based study of adults and children with ependymoma aims to (1) identify clinical and treatment-related factors that impact survival and (2) determine if postoperative radiotherapy (RT) can improve survival of patients with subtotal resection (STR) to levels similar to patients who had gross total resection (GTR).

Methods: This retrospective population-based study evaluated 158 patients with ependymoma diagnosed between 1975-2007 in Alberta, Canada.

The prognostic value of HPV status and p16 expression in patients with carcinoma of the anal canal.

Background: In anal cancer studies, the detection frequency of high-risk HPV (human papillomavirus) is variable, depending on the method used. There are limited data reporting results of different HPV detection techniques in the same clinical series, and very few correlating results with clinical outcome.

Objectives: To evaluate tumor expression of p16/HPV16 using three different methods, and to determine their association with clinical outcome in patients with anal canal squamous cell carcinomas (SCC).

Recursive partitioning analysis of prognostic variables in newly diagnosed anaplastic oligodendroglial tumors.

Background: Anaplastic oligodendroglial tumors are rare, and median survival varies widely. Analysis of 1p19q deletion is performed commonly and is an important prognostic factor. However, age and other clinical variables also carry prognostic value, and it is unclear how to incorporate them into clinical decision making or to combine them for prognostication.

Initial treatment patterns over time for anaplastic oligodendroglial tumors.

Anaplastic oligodendroglial tumors are rare neoplasms with no standard approach to treatment. We sought to determine patterns of treatment delivered over time and identify clinical correlates of specific strategies using an international retrospective cohort of 1013 patients diagnosed from 1981-2007. Prior to 1990, most patients received radiotherapy (RT) alone as initial postoperative treatment.

Extended adjuvant temozolomide for treatment of newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme.

The standard of care for newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy given concurrently with radiation for 6 weeks followed by 6 months of adjuvant TMZ. Originally, patients in Alberta were treated with only six cycles of adjuvant TMZ regardless of clinical status but institutional policy was amended to allow up to 12 cycles of adjuvant therapy for patients experiencing at least stable disease and minimal toxicity. We conducted a population-based analysis to determine if extended adjuvant TMZ treatment (i.