A Multi-Modal Family Peer Support-Based Program to Improve Quality of Life among Pediatric Brain Tumor Patients: A Mixed-Methods Pilot Study.

Background: Pediatric brain tumor (PBT) survivors and their families are at risk for diminished psychosocial and quality of life outcomes. Community-based programs that leverage peer support in the context of integrative modalities such as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) represent a promising avenue for meeting the multidimensional needs of survivors and their families.

Methods: Parents and children were enrolled in a 12-week program that included weekly group TCM, a moderated private Facebook support group designed through social support and modeling theory, and weekly parent-only health behavior education and yoga.

A Phase I and Pharmacokinetic Study of Oral Dabrafenib in Children and Adolescent Patients with Recurrent or Refractory V600 Mutation-Positive Solid Tumors.

Purpose: The 2-part, phase I/IIa, open-label study (NCT01677741) sought to determine the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary activity of dabrafenib in pediatric patients with advanced V600-mutated cancers.

Patients And Methods: This phase I dose-finding part treated patients ages 1 to <18 years with V600 mutation-positive tumors with oral dabrafenib 3 to 5.25 mg/kg/day to determine the RP2D based on safety and drug exposure target.

"She Was a Little Social Butterfly": A Qualitative Analysis of Parent Perception of Social Functioning in Adolescent and Young Adult Brain Tumor Survivors.

Psychosocial sequelae of diagnosis and treatment for childhood brain tumor survivors are significant, yet little is known about their impact on adolescent and young adult (AYA) brain tumor survivors. Interviews were conducted with parents of AYA brain tumor survivors with a focus on social functioning. Semistructured interviews were conducted with English- and Spanish-speaking parents of AYA brain tumor survivors ≥10 years of age who were >2 years postdiagnosis, and analyzed using emergent themes theoretically integrated with a social neuroscience model of social competence.

First report of tumor treating fields use in combination with bevacizumab in a pediatric patient: a case report.

We report the first case of a pediatric patient with glioblastoma (GBM; WHO grade IV astrocytoma) successfully treated with tumor treating fields (TTF). The patient was diagnosed with GBM when 13 years of age and progressed through surgical resection, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Discrete tumor growth visualized on MRI with stable neurological examination was monitored for 6 months with subsequent stable disease observed radiographically and clinically for 7 months while adherent to Optune (TTF).

High Incidence of Veno-Occlusive Disease With Myeloablative Chemotherapy Following Craniospinal Irradiation in Children With Newly Diagnosed High-Risk CNS Embryonal Tumors: A Report From the Children's Oncology Group (CCG-99702).

Background: The outcomes with high-risk central nervous system (CNS) embryonal tumors remain relatively poor despite aggressive treatment. The purposes of this study using postirradiation myeloablative chemotherapy with autologous hematopoietic stem cell rescue (ASCR) were to document feasibility and describe toxicities of the regimen, establish the appropriate dose of thiotepa, and estimate the overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS).

Procedure: The Children's Cancer Group conducted this pilot study in children and adolescents with CNS embryonal tumors.

A novel trial of topotecan, ifosfamide, and carboplatin (TIC) in children with recurrent solid tumors.

Background: Ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide (ICE) in children with refractory or recurrent solid tumors and lymphomas has resulted in good overall response rates (ORR). Etoposide, a topoisomerase-II inhibitor, however, has been associated with a significant increase in secondary leukemia. The rationale for substituting topotecan, a topoisomerase-I inhibitor, for etoposide in this regimen, a topoisomerase-II inhibitor, includes its limited toxicity profile and decreased leukemogenicity.

Intensive induction chemotherapy followed by myeloablative chemotherapy with autologous hematopoietic progenitor cell rescue for young children newly-diagnosed with central nervous system atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors: the Head Start III experience.

Background: Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) of the central nervous system (CNS) is a rare embryonal neoplasm of early childhood with dismal outcome and no current uniformly accepted treatment. Given its highly aggressive nature and predilection for dissemination at diagnosis, intensive multimodal therapy is required.

Materials And Methods: Nineteen children with newly diagnosed CNS AT/RT were treated on the head start (HS) III protocol.

Phase 2 trial of clofarabine in combination with etoposide and cyclophosphamide in pediatric patients with refractory or relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The outcomes in children with refractory/relapsed (R/R) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are dismal. The efficacy and safety of intravenous clofarabine 40 mg/m(2) per day, cyclophosphamide 440 mg/m(2) per day, and etoposide 100 mg/m(2) per day for 5 consecutive days in pediatric patients with R/R ALL was evaluated in this phase 2 study. The primary endpoint was overall response rate (complete remission [CR] plus CR without platelet recovery [CRp]).

Alteplase for the treatment of central venous catheter occlusion in children: results of a prospective, open-label, single-arm study (The Cathflo Activase Pediatric Study).

Purpose: Alteplase is approved for use in the restoration of function to occluded central venous access devices (CVADs); however, there are few prospective studies in children. This study was undertaken to evaluate the safety and efficacy of alteplase in the treatment of CVAD occlusions in a pediatric population.

Materials And Methods: A prospective, multicenter, open-label, single-arm study evaluating a maximum of two doses (< or =2 mg per dose) of alteplase was performed in pediatric patients.

Phase II study of clofarabine in pediatric patients with refractory or relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of clofarabine, a novel deoxyadenosine analog, in pediatric patients with refractory or relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Patients And Methods: In a phase II, open-label, multicenter study, 61 pediatric patients with refractory or relapsed ALL received clofarabine 52 mg/m2 intravenously over 2 hours daily for 5 days, every 2 to 6 weeks. The median age was 12 years (range, 1 to 20 years), and the median number of prior regimens was three (range, two to six regimens).

Phase I/II dose escalation study of recombinant human interleukin-11 following ifosfamide, carboplatin and etoposide in children, adolescents and young adults with solid tumours or lymphoma: a clinical, haematological and biological study.

Thrombocytopenia remains the major dose-limiting toxicity of myelosuppressive chemotherapy in children with solid tumours. Recombinant human interleukin-11 (rhIL-11) has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as treatment for adults with solid tumours and lymphomas with severe chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia. We conducted a phase I/II trial of rhIL-11 following ifosfamide, carboplatin and etoposide (ICE) chemotherapy in children with solid tumours or lymphomas.

Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (alteplase) for restoration of function to occluded central venous catheters in pediatric patients.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of alteplase for restoring function to occluded central venous catheters in a pediatric population.

Patients And Methods: A phase III, open-label, single-arm, multicenter trial was performed in 995 adult and pediatric patients with dysfunctional nondialysis catheters and ports. This report is a subset analysis of subjects between 2 and 18 years of age (N = 122) who were enrolled in the study.

Preradiation chemotherapy in primary high-risk brainstem tumors: phase II study CCG-9941 of the Children's Cancer Group.

Purpose: This Children's Cancer Group group-wide phase II trial evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of two chemotherapy arms administered before hyperfractionated external-beam radiotherapy (HFEBRT).

Patients And Methods: Thirty-two patients with newly diagnosed brainstem gliomas were randomly assigned to regimen A and 31 to regimen B. Regimen A comprised three courses of carboplatin, etoposide, and vincristine; regimen B comprised cisplatin, etoposide, cyclophosphamide, and vincristine.