Publications by authors named "Nathalie L Albert"

Theranostics is a new treatment modality integrating molecular imaging with targeted radionuclide therapy. Theranostic agents have received regulatory approval for some systemic cancers and have therapeutic potential in neuro-oncology. As clinical trials are developed to evaluate the efficacy of theranostic agents in brain tumors, specific considerations will have to be considered, taking into account lessons learned from previous studies examining other treatment modalities in neuro-oncology.

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Article Synopsis
  • MRI and [F]FET PET imaging do not always agree on tumor volumes in newly diagnosed glioma patients, leading to different patterns of overlap that were mathematically classified in a study of 86 patients.
  • The most common pattern (observed in 54% of patients) had a larger non-contrast-enhancing volume that encompassed the biological tumor volume, especially in IDH-mutant gliomas.
  • The study found that this overlapping pattern correlated with longer progression-free survival, but overall survival was more influenced by other factors like IDH mutation status and age.
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A 64-year-old woman with meningioma presented with left-sided lenticulostriatal ischemia following craniotomy and debulking of a sphenoid wing meningioma. For subsequent radiotherapy planning, an SSTR-targeted PET/CT using the novel ligand 18 F-SiTATE was performed 2.5 months thereafter.

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  • Targeted radionuclide therapy is a new treatment option for metastatic cancer that uses nuclear medicine to identify and target tumors based on specific markers.
  • This therapy can complement traditional radiotherapy, especially when imaging techniques like MRI miss microscopic metastases.
  • Current approved uses include treating certain thyroid and prostate cancers, while ongoing research is exploring additional targets, with potential effectiveness against brain metastases if the necessary targets are present.
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Theranostics integrate molecular imaging and targeted radionuclide therapy for personalised cancer therapy. Theranostic treatments have shown meaningful efficacy in randomised clinical trials and are approved for clinical use in prostate cancer and neuroendocrine tumours. Brain tumours represent an unmet clinical need and theranostics might offer effective treatment options, although specific issues need to be considered for clinical development.

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According to the new WHO classification of 2021, gliomas are a heterogeneous group of tumors with very different histology, molecular genetics, and prognoses. In addition to glioblastomas, the most common gliomas, there are also numerous less common gliomas, some of which have a very favorable prognosis. Targeted radionuclide therapy is a therapeutic option that can be attractive if a tumor can be targeted based on its molecular characteristics.

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Purpose: To provide practice guideline/procedure standards for diagnostics and therapy (theranostics) of meningiomas using radiolabeled somatostatin receptor (SSTR) ligands.

Methods: This joint practice guideline/procedure standard was collaboratively developed by the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM), the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI), the European Association of Neurooncology (EANO), and the PET task force of the Response Assessment in Neurooncology Working Group (PET/RANO).

Results: Positron emission tomography (PET) using somatostatin receptor (SSTR) ligands can detect meningioma tissue with high sensitivity and specificity and may provide clinically relevant information beyond that obtained from structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) imaging alone.

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PET is increasingly used for target volume definition in the radiotherapy of glioblastoma, as endorsed by the 2023 ESTRO-EANO guidelines. In view of its growing adoption into clinical practice and upcoming PET-based multi-center trials, this paper aims to assist in overcoming common pitfalls of FET PET-based target delineation in glioblastoma.

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Cancer immunotherapy with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells can cause immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS). However, the molecular mechanisms leading to ICANS are not well understood. Here we examined the role of microglia using mouse models and cohorts of individuals with ICANS.

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Meningiomas are the most common intracranial neoplasms in adults. While most meningiomas are cured by resection, further treatment by radiotherapy may be needed, particularly in WHO grades 2 and 3 tumors which have an increased risk of recurrence, even after conventional therapies. Still, there is an urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies after the exhaustion of local treatment approaches.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Meningiomas are the most common primary brain tumors in adults, with an increasing incidence linked to aging and better neuroimaging, and while many are benign, some are aggressive and treatment-resistant, leading to serious health impacts.
  • - Recent advancements in understanding meningioma biology have introduced molecular biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis, but a standardized molecular classification for these tumors is still lacking.
  • - A comprehensive consensus review by the International Consortium on Meningiomas aims to guide clinicians and researchers by covering proposed classifications, novel treatment strategies, ongoing studies, and unique management approaches for different patient populations.
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  • Brain tumor diagnostics have progressed with techniques like PET and advanced MRI, aiding in tumor differentiation, extent evaluation, and treatment response assessment.
  • Joint recommendations from major medical groups emphasize the significant value of using radiolabeled amino acids alongside standard MRI for better clinical outcomes.
  • Despite their importance, these imaging methods face challenges that need to be addressed through standardized protocols and interdisciplinary collaboration to enhance patient care in brain tumor management.
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Sex differences in brain physiology and the mechanisms of drug action have been extensively reported. These biological variances, from structure to hormonal and genetic aspects, can profoundly influence healthy functioning and disease mechanisms and might have implications for treatment and drug development. Molecular neuroimaging techniques may help to disclose sex's impact on brain functioning, as well as the neuropathological changes underpinning several diseases.

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