Publications by authors named "Makin G"

We profiled a large heterogenous cohort of matched diagnostic-relapse tumour tissue and paired plasma-derived cell free DNA (cfDNA) from patients with relapsed and progressive solid tumours of childhood. Tissue and cfDNA sequencing results were concordant, with a wider spectrum of mutant alleles and higher degree of intra-tumour heterogeneity captured by the latter, if sufficient circulating tumour-derived DNA (ctDNA) was present. Serial tumour sequencing identified putative drivers of relapse, with alterations in epigenetic drivers being a common feature.

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Background: Ganglioneuroblastoma intermixed (GNBi) and ganglioneuroma (GN) represent benign variants of peripheral neuroblastic tumours. While historically surgical resection was recommended, watchful active observation has become the accepted management for a subset of patients.

Objectives: To review clinical features, biology, natural history and management of a retrospective UK CCLG study cohort of GN and GNBi, and compare outcomes of patients treated with surgical resection or watchful active observation.

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Background: The survival for many children with relapsed/refractory cancers remains poor despite advances in therapies. Arginine metabolism plays a key role in the pathophysiology of a number of pediatric cancers. We report the first in child study of a recombinant human arginase, BCT-100, in children with relapsed/refractory hematological, solid or CNS cancers.

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Purpose: Outcomes for children with relapsed and refractory high-risk neuroblastoma (RR-HRNB) remain dismal. The BEACON Neuroblastoma trial (EudraCT 2012-000072-42) evaluated three backbone chemotherapy regimens and the addition of the antiangiogenic agent bevacizumab (B).

Materials And Methods: Patients age 1-21 years with RR-HRNB with adequate organ function and performance status were randomly assigned in a 3 × 2 factorial design to temozolomide (T), irinotecan-temozolomide (IT), or topotecan-temozolomide (TTo) with or without B.

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Article Synopsis
  • To effectively treat childhood cancer patients, it's important to use evidence-based dosing for carboplatin, which targets specific cumulative exposure levels (AUC) between 5.2-7.8 mg/ml.min.
  • The study analyzed data from 165 treatment cycles in 82 patients weighing 10 kg or less, using Bayesian modeling to establish the relationship between body weight and necessary dosages to achieve the target AUCs.
  • Results indicated that the current dosing for infants under 5 kg was inadequate, suggesting optimized daily doses of 6 mg/kg and 9 mg/kg for patients ≤10 kg to ensure effective treatment and reduce variability.
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  • A phase Ib study investigated the safety, maximum tolerated dose (MTD), and recommended phase II dose (RP2D) of regorafenib when combined with vincristine and irinotecan for treating kids with relapsed/refractory solid tumors, primarily rhabdomyosarcoma.
  • The study involved 21 patients, determining the MTD/RP2D of regorafenib at 82 mg/m2 when given sequentially; adverse effects mostly included severe blood-related issues, with varying levels of response observed in tumors.
  • Findings suggest that regorafenib can be safely combined with vincristine and irinotecan in pediatric settings, showing promising clinical activity for certain types of tumors.
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Aim: This phase I/expansion study assessed the safety, pharmacokinetics and preliminary antitumor activity of afatinib in paediatric patients with cancer.

Methods: The dose-finding part enroled patients (2-<18 years) with recurrent/refractory tumours. Patients received 18 or 23 mg/m/d afatinib orally (tablet or solution) in 28-d cycles.

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  • Vincristine, an anticancer drug, has side effects that limit its dosage and lacks sufficient pharmacological data for neonates and infants, prompting a study on its dosing and monitoring in these young patients.
  • The investigation analyzed pharmacokinetic data from 57 childhood cancer patients, including 26 under one year, and found that lower doses in neonates and infants resulted in significantly lower drug exposure compared to older children.
  • The study concluded that doses below 0.05 mg/kg should be avoided in neonates and infants due to the risk of suboptimal drug exposure, while therapeutic drug monitoring is feasible and recommends a target therapeutic window of 50-100 μg/l*h.
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Objectives: The study objective was to assess whether moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) change in cancer survivors (n = 68, mean age = 64 years) was maintained 12-weeks following the Wearable Activity Technology and Action Planning (WATAAP) intervention. Secondary aims were to assess the effects of the intervention on blood pressure (BP) and body mass index (BMI), and to explore group differences between baseline and 24-weeks.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

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Objective: To evaluate an interactive group psychoeducation programme for children treated for leukaemia.

Methods: A longitudinal randomised controlled study across four UK hospitals with an immediate (N = 26) and delay control group (N = 32). The intervention covered the pathophysiology of leukaemia, its treatment, side effects and the importance of positive health behaviours.

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Introduction: Data regarding real-world impact on cancer clinical research during COVID-19 are scarce. We analysed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the conduct of paediatric cancer phase I-II trials in Europe through the experience of the Innovative Therapies for Children with Cancer (ITCC).

Methods: A survey was sent to all ITCC-accredited early-phase clinical trial hospitals including questions about impact on staff activities, recruitment, patient care, supply of investigational products and legal aspects, between 1st March and 30th April 2020.

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Objective: Interventions to increase physical activity (PA) in cancer survivors have often adopted a "one-size-fits-all" approach and may benefit from being tailored to psychological constructs associated with behavior. The study objective was to investigate the exercise preferences and psychological constructs related to PA among cancer survivors.

Methods: Posttreatment colorectal, endometrial, and breast cancer survivors (n = 183) living in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas completed survey measures of PA, exercise preferences, attitudes, self-efficacy, perceived behavioral control (PBC), and intention toward PA.

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Background: Nephroblastomatosis is a recognised precursor for the development of Wilms tumour (WT), the most common childhood renal tumour. While the majority of WT is sporadic in origin, germline intragenic mutations of predisposition genes such as , and have been described in apparently isolated (non-familial) WT.Despite constitutional CNVs being a well-studied cause of developmental disorders, their role in cancer predisposition is less well defined, so that the interpretation of cancer risks associated with specific CNVs can be complex.

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The widely used platinum agent carboplatin represents a good example of an anticancer drug where clear relationships between pharmacological exposure and clinical response and toxicity have previously been shown. Within the setting of childhood cancer, there are defined groups of patients who present a particular challenge when dosing with carboplatin, including neonates and infants, those who are anephric, and poor prognosis patients receiving high-dose chemotherapy. For these groups, nonstandard chemotherapy dosing regimens are currently utilised, often with different approaches between clinical study protocols and between treatment centres.

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Purpose: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) serve as noninvasive tumor biomarkers in many types of cancer. Our aim was to detect CTCs from patients with neuroblastoma for use as predictive and pharmacodynamic biomarkers.

Experimental Design: We collected matched blood and bone marrow samples from 40 patients with neuroblastoma to detect GD /CD45 neuroblastoma CTCs from blood and disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) from bone marrow using the Imagestream Imaging flow cytometer (ISx).

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Introduction: Physically active cancer survivors have substantially less cancer recurrence and improved survival compared with those who are inactive. However, the majority of survivors (70%-90%) are not meeting the physical activity (PA) guidelines. There are also significant geographic inequalities in cancer survival with poorer survival rates for the third of Australians who live in non-metropolitan areas compared with those living in major cities.

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Background: Various surgical options for rectal prolapse are available but none have been shown to be clearly superior. The aims of this study were to investigate the long-term recurrence rate of a variety of surgical approaches, their associated morbidities and the types of reoperation used to treat recurrence.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed of all cases of rectal prolapse surgery within one colorectal surgical unit between January 2000 and June 2017.

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Objective: The objective of this study was to ascertain whether wearable technology coupled with action planning was effective in increasing physical activity (PA) in colorectal and endometrial cancer survivors at cardiovascular risk.

Methods: Sixty-eight survivors who had cardiovascular risk factors and were insufficiently active were randomized to intervention and control arms. Intervention participants were given a wearable tracker for 12 weeks, two group sessions, and a support phone call.

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: Colorectal and gynecologic cancer survivors are at cardiovascular risk due to comorbidities and sedentary behaviour, warranting a feasible intervention to increase physical activity. The Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) is a promising theoretical framework for health behaviour change, and wearable physical activity trackers offer a novel means of self-monitoring physical activity for cancer survivors. : Sixty-eight survivors of colorectal and gynecologic cancer will be randomised into 12-week intervention and control groups.

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We report an 8-year-old boy with disseminated, life-threatening, drug treatment-resistant varicella zoster infection occurring during standard treatment for neuroblastoma in whom viral clearance and cure was effected by donor Lymphocyte infusion from his HLA (Human leukocyte antigen)-identical twin sibling.

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Background: Anal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a rare malignancy. The purpose of this study was to review a single institution's experience.

Methods: All patients with anal SCC from St John of God Subiaco Hospital database were identified over a 10-year period (2006-2016).

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Objective: To determine the likely rate of patient randomisation and to facilitate sample size calculation for a full-scale phase III trial of varicella zoster immunoglobulin (VZIG) and aciclovir as postexposure prophylaxis against chickenpox in children with cancer.

Design: Multicentre pilot randomised controlled trial of VZIG and oral aciclovir.

Setting: England, UK.

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Background: Infusional 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) has been the standard radiation sensitizer in patients undergoing preoperative long-course chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for locally advanced rectal cancer in Australia. Capecitabine (Xeloda) is an oral 5-FU prodrug of comparable pharmacodynamic activity, currently preferred in place of 5-FU infusion, its established counterpart in neoadjuvant CRT for rectal cancer. The few studies quantifying pathological complete response (pCR) of Xeloda versus 5-FU have produced inconsistent results.

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Objectives: Cisplatin ototoxicity affects 42-88% of treated children. Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) and AYCP2 genetic variants have been associated with ototoxicity, but the findings have been contradictory. The aims of the study were as follows: (a) to investigate these associations in a carefully phenotyped cohort of UK children and (b) to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis.

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