Low-grade fibromyxoid tumor of the dura: A new entity?

Background: Low-grade fibromyxoid tumors are uncommon in children. Their differentiation from high-grade fibromyxoid tumors, as seen in adults, is imperative to diagnosis. Awareness of the entity and its subsequent behavior may guide management and predict outcomes.

Impact of Delay Prior to Treatment in Ethiopian Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Introduction: More than 85% of childhood malignancies occur in developing countries with less than a 30% cure rate as opposed to more than 80% cure rate in developed countries. This disproportionately significant difference might be due to delays in diagnosis, treatment initiation, lack of adequate supportive care, and treatment abandonment. We aimed to determine the impact of overall treatment delay on induction mortality of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated at Tikur Anbessa specialized hospital (TASH).

Multi-institution analysis of tumor mutational burden and outcomes in pediatric central nervous system tumor patients.

Background: Pediatric central nervous system (CNS) tumors are the leading cause of pediatric cancer mortality. Research addressing genomic biomarkers and clinical outcomes is needed to inform therapeutic decision-making.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of pediatric patients (age <21) diagnosed with a primary CNS tumor at four upstate New York hospitals from 2008 to 2021.

Myeloablative Carboplatin and Thiotepa With Autologous Stem Cell Rescue for Nonmedulloblastoma High-risk CNS Tumors in Young Children.

Malignant central nervous system (CNS) tumors in young children have a poor prognosis and pose a therapeutic challenge. We describe 11 patients with high-risk CNS tumors (6 atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor, 4 nonmedulloblastoma CNS embryonal tumors, and 1 glioblastoma multiforme) who received 32 consolidation cycles of myeloablative carboplatin/thiotepa followed by autologous peripheral blood stem cell rescue. All patients underwent successful stem cell harvest without significant complications.

Results of a pre-implementation analysis of Ethiopia's National Pediatric Cancer Registry.

In Ethiopia, cancer accounts for about 5.8% of total national mortality, with an estimated annual incidence of cancer of approximately 60,960 cases and an annual mortality of over 44,000 persons. This is likely an underestimation.

Training pediatric hematologist/oncologists for capacity building in Ethiopia.

Purpose: A considerable barrier to global pediatric oncology efforts has been the scarcity and even absence of trained professionals in many low- and middle-income countries, where the majority of children with cancer reside. In 2013, no dedicated pediatric hematology-oncology (PHO) programs existed in Ethiopia despite the estimated annual incidence of 6000-12000 cases. The Aslan Project initiative was established to fill this gap in order to improve pediatric cancer care in Ethiopia.

Pediatric and adult H3 K27M-mutant diffuse midline glioma treated with the selective DRD2 antagonist ONC201.

Background: H3 K27M-mutant diffuse midline glioma is a fatal malignancy with no proven medical therapies. The entity predominantly occurs in children and young adults. ONC201 is a small molecule selective antagonist of dopamine receptor D2/3 (DRD2/3) with an exceptional safety profile.

Bevacizumab in treating the cystic components of pediatric low-grade gliomas: A report of four patients.

Low-grade gliomas (LGG) are among the most common types of brain tumors in children and young adults. These tumors often consist of solid and cystic components. Bevacizumab is a documented treatment for progressive LGG, yet the impact of therapy on the cystic component of these tumors is unknown.

Costs of Care and Location of Death in Community-Based Pediatric Palliative Care.

Children with complex chronic conditions (CCCs) are dying at home with increased frequency, yet the number of studies on the financial feasibility of community-based pediatric palliative care is limited. The objectives of this study were to (1) describe characteristics of patients who died in a community-based palliative care program and (2) evaluate cost differences associated with participant characteristics and location of death. A retrospective cohort analysis of administrative and electronic medical record data was employed.

Successful reduced-intensity conditioning hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria with aplastic anemia in two children.

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is an extremely rare cause of bone marrow failure in children. We report two children who presented with pancytopenia, and were diagnosed with PNH with severe aplastic anemia. Both children underwent upfront, successful hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with reduced-intensity conditioning.

Palliative and end-of-life care in glioblastoma: defining and measuring opportunities to improve care.

Background: American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) quality measures for terminal cancers recommend early advance care planning and hospice at the end of life. We sought to evaluate adherence to 5 palliative care quality measures and explore associations with patient outcomes in glioblastoma.

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of 117 deceased glioblastoma patients over 5 years.

Parental coping in the context of having a child who is facing death: A theoretical framework.

Unlabelled: ABSTRACTObjective:While improvements in healthcare have resulted in children with complex and life-threatening conditions living longer, a proportion of them still die. The death of a child puts parents at increased risk for anxiety, depression, and complicated grief. Increasing our understanding of the coping strategies that parents use under such extreme circumstances will enable us to best provide support to families, before and after a child's death.

Social Competence in Childhood Brain Tumor Survivors: Feasibility and Preliminary Outcomes of a Peer-Mediated Intervention.

Objective: Evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary outcomes of a peer-mediated intervention to improve social competence of brain tumor survivors and classmates.

Method: Twelve childhood brain tumor survivors and 217 classroom peers in intervention (n = 8) or comparison (n = 4) classrooms completed measures of social acceptance and reputation at 2 time points in the year. The intervention (5-8 sessions over 4-6 weeks) taught peer leaders skills for engaging classmates.

Feasibility of Early Palliative Care Consultation for Children With High-Risk Malignancies.

Background: Children with cancer suffer significant morbidity throughout therapy and often face an uncertain prognosis. Because palliative care teams can provide an additional layer of support with symptom management and communication, we conducted a prospective study assessing the feasibility of early palliative care consultation for children with high-risk malignancies.

Procedure: This study was part of a larger prospective study examining the impact of early palliative care consultation.

Neurocognitive Changes after Sustained Ketamine Administration in Children with Chronic Pain.

Introduction: Ketamine has received attention recently as an agent for chronic pain. There are concerns, however, regarding the neurocognitive changes patients might experience after ketamine exposure.

Methods: This prospective, uncontrolled study describes the neurocognitive functioning of 11 children with chronic pain before and after 2 weeks of daily oral ketamine exposure.

Diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas: treatments and controversies.

Diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPGs) are a fairly common pediatric brain tumor, and children with these tumors have a dismal prognosis. They generally are diagnosed within the first decade of life, and due to their location within the pons, these tumors are not surgically resectable. The median survival for children with DIPGs is less than 1 year, in spite of decades of clinical trial development of unique approaches to radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

Phase 2 study of safety and efficacy of nimotuzumab in pediatric patients with progressive diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma.

Background: The prognosis of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) remains poor, with no drug proven to be effective.

Methods: Patients with clinically and radiologically confirmed, centrally reviewed DIPG, who had failed standard first-line therapy were eligible for this multicenter phase II trial. The anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody, nimotuzumab (150 mg/m(2)), was administered intravenously once weekly from weeks 1 to 7 and once every 2 weeks from weeks 8 to 18.

End-of-life care for children enrolled in a community-based pediatric palliative care program.

Background: Despite recent strides in pediatric palliative care (PPC), there are few published data on community-based care of dying children.

Objective: Our aim was to describe end-of-life care during the last 6 months of life for children on a community-based PPC program.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of children <21 years old who died while enrolled in a community-based PPC program (CompassionNet) from December 2004 through May 2008.