Cross-cultural adaptation of the korean version of the minneapolis-manchester quality of life instrument-adolescent form.

We verified the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the Minneapolis-Manchester Quality of Life Instrument-Adolescent Form (KMMQL-AF) among Korean childhood cancer survivors. A total of 107 childhood cancer patients undergoing cancer treatment and 98 childhood cancer survivors who completed cancer treatment were recruited. To assess the internal structure of the KMMQL-AF, we performed multi-trait scaling analyses and exploratory factor analysis.

Safety and effects of prophylactic defibrotide for sinusoidal obstruction syndrome in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Background: Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) is a serious complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), with a mortality rate of up to 90%. We report our experience on the use of defibrotide for SOS prophylaxis in HSCT.

Material And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data of 49 patients who received defibrotide as SOS prophylaxis during the course of HSCT at the National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea, between August 2005 and July 2008.

Favorable outcome in a child with EBV-negative aggressive NK cell leukemia.

Aggressive natural killer cell leukemia (ANKL) is a rare malignant disorder of mature NK cells frequently associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). This malignancy is typically treated with intensive remission induction chemotherapy followed by allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). EBV-negative ANKL and childhood ANKL, however, are not well defined and the optimal therapeutic strategy in these cases is poorly understood.

Time to establish multidisciplinary childhood cancer survivorship programs in Korea.

Improved treatment strategies and better supportive care have resulted in increased survival rates for childhood cancers. However, most of the survivors may have complex, long-term health issues. In 2004, Childhood Cancer Survivorship Study of the United States confirmed that both survivors and the medical community need to be educated about the late effects of childhood cancer treatment.

Normalization of red cell enolase level following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in a child with Diamond-Blackfan anemia.

We describe a girl with Diamond-Blackfan anemia with accompanying red cell enolase deficiency. At the age of 9 yr old, the patient received allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from her HLA-identical sister who had normal red cell enolase activity. While the post transplant DNA analysis with short tandem repeat has continuously demonstrated a stable mixed chimerism on follow-up, the patient remains transfusion independent and continues to show a steady increase in red cell enolase activity for over two and a half years following bone marrow transplantation.

Stem cell transplant in the treatment of childhood biphenotypic acute leukemia.

Background: Many studies have found that biphenotypic acute leukemia (BAL) is associated with a poor outcome.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and analyzed clinicopathological data on 25 children with BAL, and correlated outcomes with prognostic factors.

Results: BAL constituted 4.

Long-term survival of a child with homozygous protein C deficiency successfully treated with living donor liver transplantation.

Homozygous protein C deficiency is an autosomal recessive disorder often presenting with purpura fulminans. Fresh frozen plasma and oral anticoagulation have been used in the treatment of this disease. Lately, protein C concentrate has become the treatment of choice.

Adenocarcinoma of lung in never smoked children.

Except in developed countries, the incidence of lung cancer notably in women and non-smokers is rising in most parts of the world. Here, we report two children diagnosed with pulmonary adenocarcinoma at a very early age. Interestingly, both showed negative EGFR mutation despite their ethnicity, histology, never smoking status and early age.

High-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell rescue in children with newly diagnosed high-risk or relapsed medulloblastoma or supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumor.

Background: Single or tandem double high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) was used to treat children with newly diagnosed high-risk or relapsed medulloblastoma and supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumor (MB/sPNET) in order to defer or avoid radiotherapy in young children.

Procedure: Thirty-seven HDCTs were given to 25 children with newly diagnosed high-risk or relapsed MB/sPNET. Tandem double HDCT was used for 12 of 15 patients initially intended to receive double HDCT.

Effectiveness of novel combination chemotherapy, consisting of 5-fluorouracil, vincristine, cyclophosphamide and etoposide, in the treatment of low-grade gliomas in children.

Low-grade gliomas (LGG), which account for about 30% of brain tumors in children, are usually treated with surgical excision and/or radiotherapy. For patients who have significant residual tumor after resection or relapse after radiation, the proper chemotherapy regimen has not yet been identified. Thirteen children diagnosed with LGG outside the cerebellum between January 1999 and December 2004, all of whom had significant residual tumor after surgical resection, relapsed after radiation or showed visual deterioration, were treated for 18 months with a multi-drug regimen of vincristine, etoposide, cyclophosphamide and 5-fluorouracil.