A phase I factorial design study of dose-dense temozolomide alone and in combination with thalidomide, isotretinoin, and/or celecoxib as postchemoradiation adjuvant therapy for newly diagnosed glioblastoma.

External beam radiation therapy (XRT) with concomitant temozolomide and 6 cycles of adjuvant temozolomide (5/28-day schedule) improves survival in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma compared with XRT alone. Studies suggest that dose-dense temozolomide schedules and addition of cytostatic agents may further improve efficacy. This factorial design phase I/II protocol tested dose-dense temozolomide alone and combined with cytostatic agents.

Outpatient chemotherapy plus radiotherapy in sarcomas: improving cancer control with radiosensitizing agents.

Background: Cancer control by radiotherapy (RT) can be improved with concurrent chemotherapy. Outpatient strategies for sarcomas that combine chemotherapy and RT are possible since supportive care and RT techniques have improved.

Methods: The current status of non-anthracycline chemotherapy in combination with radiation for high-risk sarcoma is reviewed.

Risk-adapted craniospinal radiotherapy followed by high-dose chemotherapy and stem-cell rescue in children with newly diagnosed medulloblastoma (St Jude Medulloblastoma-96): long-term results from a prospective, multicentre trial.

Background: Current treatment for medulloblastoma, which includes postoperative radiotherapy and 1 year of chemotherapy, does not cure many children with high-risk disease. We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of risk-adapted radiotherapy followed by a shortened period of dose-intense chemotherapy in children with medulloblastoma.

Methods: After resection, patients were classified as having average-risk medulloblastoma (< or = 1.

Prognostic associations of activated mitogen-activated protein kinase and Akt pathways in glioblastoma.

Purpose: Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and members of the Akt pathway have been shown to promote cell proliferation, survival, and resistance to radiation. This study was conducted to determine whether any of these markers are associated with survival time and response to radiation in glioblastoma.

Experimental Design: The expression of phosphorylated (p-)Akt, mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR), p-p70S6K, and p-MAPK were assessed by immunohistochemical staining in 268 cases of newly diagnosed glioblastoma.

White matter lesions detected by magnetic resonance imaging after radiotherapy and high-dose chemotherapy in children with medulloblastoma or primitive neuroectodermal tumor.

Purpose: White matter lesions (WMLs) have been described as a delayed effect of cranial irradiation in children with brain tumors, or a transient subacute effect characterized by an intralesional or perilesional reaction. We report the occurrence of subacute WMLs detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in children treated for medulloblastoma or primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) and document the associated clinical, radiologic, and neurocognitive findings.

Patients And Methods: Among 134 patients with medulloblastoma or supratentorial PNET treated prospectively with risk-adjusted craniospinal irradiation and conformal boost to the tumor bed, followed by four high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) cycles with stem-cell rescue, 22 developed WMLs on T1-weighted imaging with and without contrast and/or T2-weighted imaging on MRI.