Temozolomide in relapsed pediatric brain tumors: 14 cases from a single center.
Summary of "Temozolomide in relapsed pediatric brain tumors: 14 cases from a single center."
AIM:
Temozolomide is an active drug against gliomas in adults. It also has some promising effects in pediatric patients with brain tumors. We have conducted a retrospective study to investigate the effectiveness of temozolomide in patients with relapsed brain tumors. PATIENTS AND
METHODS:
The files of 14 children treated at our hospital between 2005 and 2010 with the diagnoses of relapsed brain tumors were reviewed for pathological characteristics, treatment results, and outcomes.
RESULTS:
The median age at relapse was 8 years (range, 1.08-23; F/M, 5/9). Diagnoses included medulloblastoma (n = 5), atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (n = 2), ependymoma (n = 2), glioneuronal tumor (n = 1), malignant neoplasm (n = 1), pontine glioma (n = 1), astrocytoma grade III (n = 1), and glioblastoma multiforme (n = 1). All patients except the one with pontine glioma had undergone surgical resection, and all had prior adjuvant chemotherapy. Twelve out of 14 patients had received radiotherapy. The median number of temozolomide courses was 5.0 (range, 1-24). Objective response rate in our patients was 35.7% (three complete responses, one partial response, and one minor response). Stable disease achieved in 14.3% of patients and 50% had progressive disease. Median survival time was 8 months (range, 1-55). At the end of the study, three patients were alive. Hematological toxicity was seen in 30.8% of all courses.
CONCLUSIONS:
Relapsed brain tumors in childhood have an unfavorable prognosis. These data suggest that temozolomide might be an active agent against recurrent medulloblastoma. Although overall objective response rate was low, further multicentric studies with temozolomide may be warranted in children with recurrent brain tumors.
Affiliation
Institute of Oncology, Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hacettepe University, 06100, Ankara, Turkey.
Journal Details
This article was published in the following journal.
Name: Child's nervous system : ChNS : official journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery
ISSN: 1433-0350
Pages:
Links
- PubMed Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21866330
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00381-011-1561-3
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms
Neoplasms located in the brain ventricles, including the two lateral, the third, and the fourth ventricle. Ventricular tumors may be primary (e.g., CHOROID PLEXUS NEOPLASMS and GLIOMA, SUBEPENDYMAL), metastasize from distant organs, or occur as extensions of locally invasive tumors from adjacent brain structures.
Brain Neoplasms
Neoplasms of the intracranial components of the central nervous system, including the cerebral hemispheres, basal ganglia, hypothalamus, thalamus, brain stem, and cerebellum. Brain neoplasms are subdivided into primary (originating from brain tissue) and secondary (i.e., metastatic) forms. Primary neoplasms are subdivided into benign and malignant forms. In general, brain tumors may also be classified by age of onset, histologic type, or presenting location in the brain.
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Infratentorial Neoplasms
Intracranial tumors originating in the region of the brain inferior to the tentorium cerebelli, which contains the cerebellum, fourth ventricle, cerebellopontine angle, brain stem, and related structures. Primary tumors of this region are more frequent in children, and may present with ATAXIA; CRANIAL NERVE DISEASES; vomiting; HEADACHE; HYDROCEPHALUS; or other signs of neurologic dysfunction. Relatively frequent histologic subtypes include TERATOMA; MEDULLOBLASTOMA; GLIOBLASTOMA; ASTROCYTOMA; EPENDYMOMA; CRANIOPHARYNGIOMA; and choroid plexus papilloma (PAPILLOMA, CHOROID PLEXUS).
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