DNA repair alterations in children with pediatric malignancies: novel opportunities to identify patients at risk for high-grade toxicities.

Purpose: To evaluate, in a pilot study, the phosphorylated H2AX (γH2AX) foci approach for identifying patients with double-strand break (DSB) repair deficiencies, who may overreact to DNA-damaging cancer therapy.

Methods And Materials: The DSB repair capacity of children with solid cancers was analyzed compared with that of age-matched control children and correlated with treatment-related normal-tissue responses (n = 47). Double-strand break repair was investigated by counting γH2AX foci in blood lymphocytes at defined time points after irradiation of blood samples.

DoctorEye: A clinically driven multifunctional platform, for accurate processing of tumors in medical images.

Unlabelled: This paper presents a novel, open access interactive platform for 3D medical image analysis, simulation and visualization, focusing in oncology images. The platform was developed through constant interaction and feedback from expert clinicians integrating a thorough analysis of their requirements while having an ultimate goal of assisting in accurately delineating tumors. It allows clinicians not only to work with a large number of 3D tomographic datasets but also to efficiently annotate multiple regions of interest in the same session.

Improving seroreactivity-based detection of glioma.

Seroreactivity profiling emerges as valuable technique for minimal invasive cancer detection. Recently, we provided first evidence for the applicability of serum profiling of glioma using a limited number of immunogenic antigens. Here, we screened 57 glioma and 60 healthy sera for autoantibodies against 1827 Escherichia coli expressed clones, including 509 in-frame peptide sequences.

DoctorEye: A multifunctional open platform for fast annotation and visualization of tumors in medical images.

This paper describes a flexible and easy-to-use annotation platform (GUI) for quick and precise identification and delineation of tumors in medical images. The design of the platform is clinically driven in order to ensure that the clinician can efficiently and intuitively annotate large number of 3D tomographic datasets. Both manual and well-known semiautomatic segmentation techniques are available in the platform allowing clinician to annotate multiple regions of interest at the same session.

Treatment of relapsed Wilms tumors: lessons learned.

Treatment regimens for recurrent Wilms tumor (WT) are currently designed to include drugs that are not used during primary chemotherapy, using a risk-stratified approach. Therapy of recurrent disease depends on the nature of initial treatment, and of recognized prognostic indicators inherent in the primary tumor. Several highly effective chemotherapy regimens, including ifosfamide-carboplatin-etoposide, cyclophosphamide-etoposide and carboplatin-etoposide, are considered first treatment choice for recurrent disease.

Clinical and molecular features in patients with atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor or malignant rhabdoid tumor.

The SMARCB1 gene status in 50 patients with atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor and/or malignant rhabdoid tumor recruited to a German registry was prospectively analyzed with FISH and PCR. Altogether we found 40 SMARCB1 mutations in 28 patients. Two patients were positive for SMARCB1 staining at immunochemistry.

Amplicons on chromosome 12q13-21 in glioblastoma recurrences.

There is limited knowledge on the in vivo behavior of amplified regions in human tumors. First evidence indicates that amplicon structures are largely maintained in recurrent tumors. Here, we investigated the fate of amplified regions in several independent cases of recurrent glioblastoma and the possible association of 12q13-21 amplifications and survival.

Rapid determination of zearalenone in edible oils by HPLC with fluorescence detection.

A fast, cost-efficient, sensitive and accurate assay method for zearalenone in edible oils is described, as an alternative to gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Oil samples were extracted with an alkaline mixture of methanol and water (methanol +10 g/l aqueous ammonium carbaminate solution, pH 9; 9 + 1, v+v). The pH of the extract was neutralized with hydrochloric acid and then concentrated to dryness.

WTX inactivation is a frequent, but late event in Wilms tumors without apparent clinical impact.

Wilms tumor (WT) is one of the most common solid tumors in childhood. Mutations in WT1 and CTNNB1 are well established as causal alterations in about 10-15% of cases. Recently, WTX (WT gene on the X-chromosome), a gene implicated in WNT signaling, has been identified as a third WT gene.

Surgical aspects in the treatment of patients with unilateral wilms tumor: a report from the SIOP 93-01/German Society of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology.

Objective: To assess surgical aspects in the treatment of children with unilateral Wilms tumor based on data from the Cooperative Tumor Study SIOP 93-01 of the German Society of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology.

Summary Background Data: Although multiple international study trials exist for the treatment of nephroblastoma, the impact of surgical details and the outcome of the patients have not yet been described comparing different approaches of the trials.

Methods: Treatment results of SIOP 93-01 of the German Society of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology were analyzed regarding frequencies of operations by surgeons and hospitals, surgical approaches, and operating subspecialties.

Treatment of early childhood medulloblastoma by postoperative chemotherapy and deferred radiotherapy.

To investigate the utility of postoperative chemotherapy in delaying radiotherapy and to identify prognostic factors in early childhood medulloblastoma, we studied children younger than 3 years of age registered to the HIT-SKK'87 (Therapieprotokoll für Säuglinge und Kleinkinder mit Hirntumoren [Brain Tumor Radiotherapy for Infants and Toddlers with Medulloblastoma] 1987) trial who received systemic interval chemotherapy until craniospinal radiotherapy was applied at 3 years of age or at relapse, from 1987 to 1993. Children with postoperative residual tumor or metastatic disease received systemic induction chemotherapy prior to interval chemotherapy. Twenty-nine children were eligible for analyses (median age, 1.

Complementary and alternative treatment methods in children with cancer: A population-based retrospective survey on the prevalence of use in Germany.

Introduction: Few studies have been conducted to date on the prevalence of use of complementary and alternative treatment methods (CAMs) in paediatric oncology, and those that have been conducted are often not representative. We therefore decided to study a representative sample of children with cancer in the German population.

Patients And Methods: The study took the form of a retrospective survey amongst all parents whose children were first diagnosed with a disease covered by the German Childhood Cancer Registry in 2001.

Secondary non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in children and adolescents after childhood cancer other than NHL.

The emergence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) during childhood and adolescence as a secondary neoplasm (SN) after previous cancer other than NHL is rare. To describe the characteristics and outcome of NHL following previous cancer other than NHL in children and adolescents, this study analysed the data of patients reported to the NHL-Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster study centre from 1986 to 2005. Out of the total of 2968 NHL-patients registered, 11 patients were assessed as having suffered from NHL as a proven SN.

Clinical relevance of mutations in the Wilms tumor suppressor 1 gene WT1 and the cadherin-associated protein beta1 gene CTNNB1 for patients with Wilms tumors: results of long-term surveillance of 71 patients from International Society of Pediatric Oncology Study 9/Society for Pediatric Oncology.

Background: Mutations in the Wilms tumor (WT) suppressor 1 gene (WT1) and the cadherin-associated protein beta1 gene (CTNNB1) are found predominantly in stromal type WT, defining a genetic subgroup. The clinical relevance of these mutations remains to be determined.

Methods: A long-term follow-up study was performed for 71 patients (International Society of Pediatric Oncology Study 9/Society for Pediatric Oncology; n = 77 tumors) with known molecular genetic status.

KIT, PDGFRalpha and EGFR analysis in nephroblastoma.

Nephroblastoma prognosis has dramatically improved, but an unfavourable prognostic subgroup warrants development of novel therapeutic strategies. Selective KIT, PDGFRalpha and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibition evolved as powerful targeted therapy for gastrointestinal stromal tumours and non-small-cell lung cancer. To investigate a potential role for tyrosine kinase inhibition, we analyzed 209 nephroblastomas for immunohistochemical KIT and EGFR expression, 63 nephroblastomas for mutations in KIT exons 9, 11, 13, EGFR exons 18, 19, 20 and 21, and all 209 nephroblastomas for PDGFRalpha exons 12, 14 and 18.

Rhabdoid tumors in children: prognostic factors in 70 patients diagnosed in Germany.

We retrospectively analysed the data of 70 patients (41 boys and 29 girls) with Rhabdoid tumors (RT) regardless of localisation, recorded in the German Childhood Cancer Registry (GCCR) from 1984 to 1999. The primary tumor was located in the kidney in 32 cases, in the central nervous system (CNS) in 13 cases and in the soft tissue in 25 cases. Variables examined were tumor stage, sex, age at diagnosis, surgical radicality, radiotherapy and chemotherapeutic regimens.

New prognostic markers revealed by evaluation of genes correlated with clinical parameters in Wilms tumors.

Current treatment protocols for Wilms tumor achieve 90% cure rates, but relapse risk and side effects from therapy remain challenging. Over the last decade, numerous markers have been proposed for classification and/or prediction of outcome. However, cohort sizes were quite variable and often small.

Role of MRI in the management of patients with nephroblastoma.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) presents the main diagnostic tool for differentiation and staging of renal tumors in childhood. Nephroblastoma is the most common malignant tumor in children. Radiological findings play an important role in therapy study trials of SIOP (International Society of Pediatric Oncology), especially for indicating preoperative chemotherapy.

Characteristics and survival of 750 children diagnosed with a renal tumor in the first seven months of life: A collaborative study by the SIOP/GPOH/SFOP, NWTSG, and UKCCSG Wilms tumor study groups.

Background: To review the clinical characteristics and survival of infants diagnosed with a primary renal tumor in the first 7 months of life.

Procedure: A retrospective data review of patients registered in five large international protocols (SFOP/GPOH/SIOP9/93-01, UKW3 and NWTSG 4 and 5) spanning 1985-2002.

Results: 750 (7.

Wilms tumour: prognostic factors, staging, therapy and late effects.

Wilms tumour is the most common malignant renal tumour in children. Dramatic improvements in survival have occurred as the result of advances in anaesthetic and surgical management, irradiation and chemotherapy. Current therapies are based on trials and studies primarily conducted by large multi-institutional cooperatives including the Société Internationale d'Oncologie Pédiatrique (SIOP) and the Children's Oncology Group (COG).

Laser acupuncture in children with headache: a double-blind, randomized, bicenter, placebo-controlled trial.

To investigate whether laser acupuncture is efficacious in children with headache and if active laser treatment is superior to placebo laser treatment in a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of low level laser acupuncture in 43 children (mean age (SD) 12.3 (+/-2.6) years) with headache (either migraine (22 patients) or tension type headache (21 patients)).

The "Oncosimulator": a multilevel, clinically oriented simulation system of tumor growth and organism response to therapeutic schemes. Towards the clinical evaluation of in silico oncology.

The "Oncosimulator" is at the same time a concept of multilevel integrative cancer and (treatment affected) normal tissue biology, an algorithmic construct and a software tool which aims at supporting the clinician in the process of optimizing cancer treatment on the patient individualized basis. Additionally it is a platform for better understanding and exploring the natural phenomenon of cancer as well as training doctors and interested patients alike. In order to achieve all of these goals it has to undergo a thorough clinical optimization and validation process.