A regional virtual case discussion forum in pediatric oncology: Experience of the Pediatric Oncology East and Mediterranean Group.

Background: The Pediatric Oncology East and Mediterranean (POEM) group that aims to share expertise among pediatric oncology providers across the Middle East, North Africa, and East Asia region initiated a virtual Case Discussion Forum (CDF) in 2013.

Methods: Meeting records from September 2013 till June 2021 were reviewed. Detailed minutes were available starting August 2016; case data were analyzed including diagnoses, purpose of presentation and recommendations.

Outcome and toxicity of ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide versus gemcitabine and vinorelbine regimen for pediatric patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Background: Pediatric classical Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL) is a curable disease; however, the optimal salvage regimen is unclear for relapsed/refractory (R/R) disease. This study aimed to compare response rates, toxicity, event-free survival (EFS), and overall survival (OS) of ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide (ICE) with gemcitabine and vinorelbine (GV) regimen after first-line doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine (ABVD) in pediatric patients with R/R CHL.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of 132 pediatric patients with R/R CHL treated from July 2012 to December 2020 with ICE (n = 82) or GV (n = 50).

Cardiovascular and Thyroid Late Effects in Pediatric Patients With Hodgkin Lymphoma Treated With ABVD Protocol.

Background: Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) survivors are at risk of developing a range of therapy-related complications. The goal of this study is to investigate therapy-related late-effects in HL survivors.

Materials And Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study on 208 HL survivors who were treated at the National Cancer Institute or at the Children Cancer Hospital Egypt with doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine chemotherapy.

Parotid gland masses: outcomes in the pediatric age group.

Background: Childhood parotid neoplasms appear to have different characteristics from adults. This point, in addition to the rarity of these tumors, reflects the challenges faced in diagnosing and treating parotid neoplasms in children.

Patients And Methods: This retrospective study included all children who presented to the Children's Cancer Hospital Egypt (CCHE, 57357) with parotid masses from January 2008 to December 2020.

Cost-effectiveness of childhood cancer treatment in Egypt: Lessons to promote high-value care in a resource-limited setting based on real-world evidence.

Background: Childhood cancer in low-and middle-income countries is a global health priority, however, the perception that treatment is unaffordable has potentially led to scarce investment in resources, contributing to inferior survival. In this study, we analysed real-world data about the cost-effectiveness of treating 8886 children with cancer at a large resource-limited paediatric oncology setting in Egypt, between 2013 and 2017, stratified by cancer type, stage/risk, and disease status.

Methods: Childhood cancer costs (USD 2019) were calculated from a health-system perspective, and 5-year overall survival was used to represent clinical effectiveness.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from HLA-matched sibling donors in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A report from the Children's Cancer Hospital Egypt.

Introduction: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is widely used for high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients in their first complete remission (CR1), and for relapsed patients in second complete remission (CR2).

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data for 67 children with ALL, from a cancer center in a low/middle income country, who had undergone HSCT from human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched sibling donors (MSDs) using myeloablative conditioning (MAC) regimens, between 2007 and 2020, describing the survival outcome and relapse probability after achieving CR1 and CR2 and determining outcome differences in relation to indications for HSCT in patients transplanted in CR1. All patients had achieved a negative minimal residual disease prior to transplant (<0.

Characteristics, Treatment Complexity, and Outcome of Mixed-Phenotype Acute Leukemia in Children in a Low-Middle-Income Country.

Background: Mixed-phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL) in children is an uncommon subtype of acute leukemia that cannot be definitively assigned to a specific lineage. There is no consensus on the best approach to therapy. Management is more complex in low-middle-income countries (LMICs).

Management and Outcome of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Pediatric Cancer Patients: A Single Centre Experience from a Developing Country.

Introduction: Sufficient data pertaining to the impact of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on pediatric cancer patients is still lacking. The aim of this prospective study was to describe clinical management and outcomes of COVID-19 in pediatric oncology patients.

Patients And Methods: Conducted between May 1, 2020 and November 30, 2020, this study included 76 pediatric oncology patients with confirmed COVID-19.

Reduced-intensity therapy for pediatric lymphoblastic leukemia: impact of residual disease early in remission induction.

Legacy data show that ∼40% of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were cured with limited antimetabolite-based chemotherapy regimens. However, identifying patients with very-low-risk (VLR) ALL remains imprecise. Patients selected based on a combination of presenting features and a minimal residual disease (MRD) level <0.

Patterns, risk factors and outcome predictors of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in pediatric cancer patients.

The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical and radiological patterns and outcome predictors of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) in pediatric cancer patients. A retrospective study included patients who developed PRES during their treatment at the Children's Cancer Hospital Egypt. A total of 50 patients developed PRES.

Temporal trends in childhood cancer survival in Egypt, 2007 to 2017: A large retrospective study of 14 808 children with cancer from the Children's Cancer Hospital Egypt.

Childhood cancer is a priority in Egypt due to large numbers of children with cancer, suboptimal care and insufficient resources. It is difficult to evaluate progress in survival because of paucity of data in National Cancer Registry. In this study, we studied survival rates and trends in survival of the largest available cohort of children with cancer (n = 15 779, aged 0-18 years) from Egypt between 2007 and 2017, treated at Children's Cancer Hospital Egypt-(CCHE), representing 40% to 50% of all childhood cancers across Egypt.

A Pharmacogenetic Study of VDR fok1 and TYMS Polymorphisms and Their Association With Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteonecrosis in Egyptian Children With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Osteonecrosis is a significant toxicity resulting from the treatment of pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). This study aimed to investigate the relationship between vitamin D receptor fok1 (VDR fok1) and thymidylate synthase (TYMS) gene polymorphisms with the glucocorticoid (GC) induced osteonecrosis (ON) in Egyptian pediatric ALL patients. In addition, to identify the possible association of genetic polymorphisms with other factors such as gender and ALL subtypes.

Osteonecrosis in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A report from Children's Cancer Hospital Egypt (CCHE).

Background: As survival rates for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) improve, awareness of treatment complications becomes important. Osteonecrosis (ON) is a serious disabling complication in treated ALL patients. The aim of the study was to define the frequency of ON identified by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to study the risk factors for ON.

Environmental, maternal, and reproductive risk factors for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Egypt: a case-control study.

Background: Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is the most common pediatric cancer. The exact cause is not known in most cases, but past epidemiological research has suggested a number of potential risk factors. This study evaluated associations between environmental and parental factors and the risk for ALL in Egyptian children to gain insight into risk factors in this developing country.

Clinical significance of anaplasia in childhood rhabdomyosarcoma.

Background: The presence of anaplastic features has been known to correlate with poor clinical outcome in various pediatric malignancies, including Wilms tumor and medulloblastoma but not in rhabdomyosarcoma.

Aim: Aim was to study the frequency of anaplasia at presentation in childhood rhabdomyosarcoma and its relationship to clinical and pathological characteristics as well as to outcome.

Patients And Methods: Anaplasia was retrospectively assessed in 105 consecutive pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma patients who were registered at the Children's Cancer Hospital in Egypt (CCHE) during the period from July 2007 till the end of May 2010.

NKX2-5, SIL/TAL and TLX3/HOX11L2 expression in Egyptian pediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Aim: Cohorts of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) patients show regional geographic differences in incidence, biological features and clinical outcome, implying that in different populations, cases may harbor different genetic lesions than those reported elsewhere. In this study, we prospectively evaluated the frequency and the clinical relevance of NKX2-5, TLX3/HOX11L2 and SIL/TAL expression in Egyptian childhood T-ALL.

Methods: NKX2-5, TLX3/HOX11L2 and SIL/TAL expression were tested in peripheral blood and/or bone marrow of 83 newly diagnosed Egyptian childhood T-ALL patients.

False-positive F-18 FDG uptake in PET/CT studies in pediatric patients with abdominal Burkitt's lymphoma.

Introduction: In pediatric patients with abdominal Burkitt's lymphoma, the involvement of the gastrointestinal tract and abdominal lymph nodes are the main presenting feature of the disease. Chemotherapy is the main treatment modality and could be preceded by surgical excision of the abdominal masses. To achieve cure or long-term disease-free survival a balance has to be struck between aggressive chemotherapy and the probability of tumor necrosis secondary to treatment complicated by acute infections, perforation or intestinal bleeding.

Role of PET/CT in malignant pediatric lymphoma.

Introduction: Malignant pediatric lymphoma accounts for 10-15% of all pediatric cancers, (representing 2-3% of all malignancies), with a peak incidence between 5-9 years. Chemotherapy is usually the first and most common mode of treatment. The choice of treatment and prediction of prognosis depend on the histological type of tumor, initial staging, evaluating treatment response, and detection of early recurrence.

Clinical significance of immunophenotypic markers in pediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Background: Cell-marker profiling has led to conflicting conclusions about its prognostic significance in T-ALL.

Aim: To investigate the prevalence of the expression of CD34, CD10 and myeloid associated antigens (CD13/ CD33) in childhood T-ALL and to relate their presence to initial clinical and biologic features and early response to therapy.

Patients And Methods: This study included 67 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed T-ALL recruited from the Children's Cancer Hospital in Egypt during the time period from July 2007 to June 2008.

Risk adapted combined modality treatment in children with Hodgkin's disease: NCI, Cairo.

Objective: The objective of this study is to maximize the chance of cure while minimizing surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy as much as possible to avoid late effects and toxicity of combined modality treatment in children with Hodgkin's disease.

Patients And Methods: One hundred twenty-one (121) children under the age of 18 years with a histopathologic diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease were enrolled into this study. Patients were stratified according to stage into 3 risk groups: low (Stages: I, II A), intermediate (Stages: II B, III A) and high risk group (Stages: III B, IV).

P-gp expression and Rh 123 efflux assay have no impact on survival in Egyptian pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients.

Purpose: In a previous work we have studied MDR status in terms of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression and Rhodamine 123 efflux assay in Egyptian acute leukemia patients. We have reported results comparable to the literature as regards ANLL both in pediatric and adult cases. However, higher figures were encountered for the functional assay in ALL.

Outcome and prognostic factors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children at the National Cancer Institute, Egypt.

Objective: To improve survival of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in the authors' institute and to define significant prognostic factors.

Methods: This study included 154 children with newly diagnosed ALL below the age of 18 years during the period August 1, 1998, to December 31, 2000. All patients were treated according to the NCI, Cairo, Egypt, treatment protocol modified from study XIII for high-risk ALL of St.