A randomized trial of radiotherapy versus radiotherapy plus CCNU for incompletely resected low-grade gliomas: a Southwest Oncology Group study

1993 ◽  
Vol 78 (6) ◽  
pp. 909-914 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harmon J. Eyre ◽  
John J. Crowley ◽  
Jeannette J. Townsend ◽  
James R. Eltringham ◽  
Robert A. Morantz ◽  
...  

✓ Sixty adult patients with incompletely excised low-grade gliomas were randomly assigned to receive radiotherapy (55 Gy over a total of 6½ to 7 weeks) either alone or with 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea (CCNU; 100 mg/sq m every 6 weeks). Pathological review showed that six patients were ineligible for the study. Evaluation of patient age. extent of surgery, tumor grade, and performance status showed no significant differences between the treatment arms. The response rate, as judged by the disappearance or reduction in size of the tumor on computerized tomography scans, was 79% for radiation therapy alone versus 54% for irradiation plus CCNU. The median survival time was 4.45 years for all patients, with no significant difference between treatment arms (p = 0.7). For the group as a whole, patient age and performance status were the most important prognostic parameters. The majority of patients receiving chemotherapy experienced moderate hematological toxicity. This study demonstrates that CCNU chemotherapy does not improve the results of radiation therapy in the treatment of incompletely excised low-grade gliomas.

1992 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael M. Haglund ◽  
Mitchel S. Berger ◽  
Dennis D. Kunkel ◽  
JoAnn E. Franck ◽  
Saadi Ghatan ◽  
...  

✓ The role of specific neuronal populations in epileptic foci was studied by comparing epileptic and nonepileptic cortex removed from patients with low-grade gliomas. Epileptic and nearby (within 1 to 2 cm) nonepileptic temporal lobe neocortex was identified using electrocorticography. Cortical specimens taken from four patients identified as epileptic and nonepileptic were all void of tumor infiltration. Somatostatin- and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABAergic)-immunoreactive neurons were identified and counted. Although there was no significant difference in the overall cell count, the authors found a significant decrease in both somatostatin- and GABAergic-immunoreactive neurons (74% and 51 %, respectively) in the epileptic cortex compared to that in nonepileptic cortex from the same patient. It is suggested that these findings demonstrate changes in neuronal subpopulations that may account for the onset and propagation of epileptiform activity in patients with low-grade gliomas.


2001 ◽  
Vol 95 (4) ◽  
pp. 651-659 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenji Tada ◽  
Shoji Shiraishi ◽  
Takanori Kamiryo ◽  
Hideo Nakamura ◽  
Hirofumi Hirano ◽  
...  

Object. The most frequent genetic abnormality in human malignant gliomas is loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosome 10. Candidate genes on chromosome 10 that are associated with the prognosis of patients with anaplastic astrocytoma (AA) and glioblastoma (GBM) were evaluated. Methods. The authors used 12 fluorescent microsatellite markers on both arms of chromosome 10 to study LOH in 108 primary astrocytic tumors. The LOH on chromosome 10 was observed in 11 (32%) of 34 AAs and 34 (56%) of 61 GBMs. No LOH was detected in 13 low-grade gliomas. Loss of heterozygosity was not detected in any AA in the seven patients younger than 35 years, but it was discovered in 41% of the patients older than 35 years. The prognostic significance of LOH at each locus was evaluated in 89 patients older than 15 years; 33 (37%) had supratentorial AAs and 56 (63%) had supratentorial GBMs. The Cox proportional hazards model, adjusted for patient age at surgery, the preoperative Karnofsky Performance Scale score, and the extent of surgical resection revealed that LOH on marker D10S209 near the FGFR2 and DMBT1 genes was significantly associated with shorter survival in patients with AA. The LOH on markers D10S215 and D10S541, which contain the PTEN/MMAC1 gene between them, was significantly associated with shorter survival in patients with GBM. Conclusions. In the present study it is found that LOH on chromosome 10 is an age-dependent event for patients with AAs and that LOH on marker D10S209 near the FGFR2 and DMBT1 loci is a significantly unfavorable prognostic factor. It is also reported that LOH on the PTEN/MMAC1 gene is a significantly unfavorable prognostic factor in patients with GBM.


1993 ◽  
Vol 79 (6) ◽  
pp. 845-852 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alain Pierre-Kahn ◽  
Jean-François Hirsch ◽  
Mathieu Vinchon ◽  
Christine Payan ◽  
Christian Sainte-Rose ◽  
...  

A study was made of 75 children treated between 1970 and 1990, with partial, subtotal, or total removal of three intrinsic and 72 exophytic or surface brain-stem tumors. In all cases, the goal of surgery was to remove as much tumor as possible. Extent of removal was defined according to data obtained from postoperative computerized tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, and was considered partial when only a small amount of tumor was removed, subtotal when a few cubic millimeters of tumor was left, and total when no residual tumor was seen on postoperative radiological investigations. An ultrasonic aspirator was used for the 43 most recent operations. Among tumor removals without the aspirator, 24 (75%) were partial, eight (25%) subtotal, and none total; with the use of the aspirator, the number of partial removals decreased to 44.5% while that of subtotal and total removals increased to 32% and 23.5%, respectively. There were 69 gliomas (92%) and 47 benign tumors (62.6%). Forty-nine patients were irradiated postoperatively, and 14 of the 23 patients whose benign tumors were removed totally or subtotally did not undergo irradiation. This study showed that: 1) the overall prognosis of patients with malignant tumors was poor and was not improved by surgery; 2) the survival rate of those with benign tumors was significantly (p < 0.01) lower after partial removal than after total or subtotal removal (52% and 94%, respectively, at 5 years); 3) comparison of means and proportions (Student's and chi-squared tests) between benign and malignant tumors showed a significant difference relating to patient age (p < 0.03), peritumoral hypodensity (p < 0.001), and preoperative duration of symptoms (p < 0.001); 4) stepwise logistic regression analysis confirmed that two of these three variables were related to malignancy: namely, patient age at surgery (p < 0.03) and presence of peritumoral hypodensity (p < 0.001); and 5) routine postoperative irradiation was contraindicated after total or subtotal removal of benign tumors.


2003 ◽  
Vol 98 (2) ◽  
pp. 359-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuichiro Tanaka ◽  
Kazuhiro Hongo ◽  
Tsuyoshi Tada ◽  
Keiichi Sakai ◽  
Yukinari Kakizawa ◽  
...  

Object. Surgical cure can be achieved in pituitary adenomas when they are completely removed. It is controversial whether postoperative radiation therapy should be given to prevent recurrence, and whether an early reoperation should be performed for residual adenomas, because we have little information about the natural history of postoperative residual adenomas. Methods. The residual tumor volume was serially measured in 40 nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) and the tumor volume doubling time (TVDT) was calculated. Correlations between the patients' age, tumor volume, log TVDT, and MIB-1 index were examined. Other factors including the patient's sex, cavernous sinus (CS) invasion by the tumor, or presence of an intratumoral cyst were analyzed to assess their influence on the TVDT. Values are expressed as the means ± standard deviations. Thirty-eight adenomas increased in volume and two decreased during a follow-up period ranging from 4 to 141 months (mean 52.5 months). Exponentially linear tumor growth was observed in the 38 growing adenomas regardless of the residual tumor volume, with the TVDT ranging from 506 to 5378 days (mean 1836 days). The patients' age was 57.1 ± 15.7 years (range 15–79 years), the tumor volume at the beginning of the magnetic resonance imaging observation period was 2.5 ± 2.2 cm3 (range 0.07–14.5 cm3), and the MIB-1 index was 0.73 ± 0.68% (range 0.1–2.9%). There was a correlation between the log TVDT and patient age (R = 0.73), an inverse correlation between the log TVDT and MIB-1 index (r = −0.49), and an inverse correlation between the MIB-1 index and patient age (r = −0.61). A significant difference (p = 0.0001) was noted between the TVDT (1106 days) in the 19 patients younger than 61 years of age and the TVDT (2566 days) in the 19 patients who were 61 years of age or older. There was also a significant difference (p = 0.0002) between the age (50.8 ± 15.3 years) of the patients with rapidly growing tumors (TVDT < 1836 days, 24 patients) and the age (69.1 ± 7.6 years) of the patients with slowly growing tumors (TVDT > 1836 days, 14 patients). Other factors including the patients' sex, CS invasion, and intratumoral cyst formation did not affect the TVDT of residual NFPAs. Conclusions. The tumor growth rate of residual NFPAs is strongly influenced by the patient's age. The TVDT in elderly patients is much longer than that previously reported. Treatment strategies that take into consideration the natural history of residual adenomas should be established especially in the elderly population.


2001 ◽  
Vol 94 (3) ◽  
pp. 417-421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas Chyatte ◽  
Rebecca Porterfield

Object. Repair of unruptured aneurysms is a reasonable course of action if their expected natural history is worse than the predicted risks of treatment. The purpose of this study was to examine the presenting symptoms of unruptured aneurysms and to test the hypothesis that unruptured intracranial aneurysms can be repaired without significant functional worsening. A second hypothesis was also examined—that is, that the experience of the surgeon, the aneurysm size, and the patient age can be used to predict functional outcome. Methods. Consecutive patients who underwent repair of an unruptured intracranial aneurysm at a single institution between 1980 and 1998 were studied. Clinical and radiographic data were collected in all patients. Their modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score was determined before treatment (baseline), at 6 weeks, and at 6 months. The primary endpoint for analysis was the mRS score. Four hundred forty-nine aneurysms were repaired in 366 patients by 10 surgeons. The mean size of the primary lesion repaired was 14.6 + 10.4 mm and 27% were judged to be symptomatic. Aneurysm treatment involved either microsurgical clipping (78%), wrapping (4%), trapping with or without bypass (5%), hunterian ligation with or without bypass (9%), or other methods (4%). The mRS scores at 6 weeks were worse than at baseline (p < 0.0001), but there was no significant difference between the baseline and 6-month mRS score. At 6 months, 94% of patients showed no significant functional worsening as a result of treatment. The number of aneurysms treated by a specific surgeon was a strong predictor of better functional outcome (r = 0.99, p = 0.05). Increasing patient age (r = 0.16, p = 0.003) and increasing aneurysm size (r = 0.15, p = 0.004) were predictors of worsened functional outcome. Conclusions. Many unruptured aneurysms produce symptoms. Unruptured intracranial aneurysms can be treated without significant permanent functional worsening. The surgeon's experience, aneurysm size, and patient age are predictors of functional outcome.


2000 ◽  
Vol 93 (supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 37-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
William F. Regine ◽  
Roy A. Patchell ◽  
James M. Strottmann ◽  
Ali Meigooni ◽  
Michael Sanders ◽  
...  

Object. This investigation was performed to determine the tolerance and toxicities of split-course fractionated gamma knife radiosurgery (FSRS) given in combination with conventional external-beam radiation therapy (CEBRT). Methods. Eighteen patients with previously unirradiated, gliomas treated between March 1995 and January 2000 form the substrate of this report. These included 11 patients with malignant gliomas, six with low-grade gliomas, and one with a recurrent glioma. They were stratified into three groups according to tumor volume (TV). Fifteen were treated using the initial FSRS dose schedule and form the subject of this report. Group A (four patients), had TV of 5 cm3 or less (7 Gy twice pre- and twice post-CEBRT); Group B (six patients), TV greater than 5 cm3 but less than or equal to 15 cm3 (7 Gy twice pre-CEBRT and once post-CEBRT); and Group C (five patients), TV greater than 15 cm3 but less than or equal to 30 cm3 (7 Gy once pre- and once post-CEBRT). All patients received CEBRT to 59.4 Gy in 1.8-Gy fractions. Dose escalation was planned, provided the level of toxicity was acceptable. All patients were able to complete CEBRT without interruption or experiencing disease progression. Unacceptable toxicity was observed in two Grade 4/Group B patients and two Grade 4/Group C patients. Eight patients required reoperation. In three (38%) there was necrosis without evidence of tumor. Neuroimaging studies were available for evaluation in 14 patients. Two had a partial (≥ 50%) reduction in volume and nine had a minor (> 20%) reduction in size. The median follow-up period was 15 months (range 9–60 months). Six patients remained alive for 3 to 60 months. Conclusions. The imaging responses and the ability of these patients with intracranial gliomas to complete therapy without interruption or experiencing disease progression is encouraging. Excessive toxicity derived from combined FSRS and CEBRT treatment, as evaluated thus far in this study, was seen in patients with Group B and C lesions at the 7-Gy dose level. Evaluation of this novel treatment strategy with dose modification is ongoing.


2014 ◽  
Vol 66 (6) ◽  
pp. 978-981 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Steurer ◽  
Pascale Sophia Mayer ◽  
Meike Adam ◽  
Antje Krohn ◽  
Christina Koop ◽  
...  

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 507-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Chieffo ◽  
Gianpiero Tamburrini ◽  
Massimo Caldarelli ◽  
Concezio Di Rocco

Object Functional involvement of the thalamus in cognitive processing has been only anecdotally reported in the literature, and these cases are mostly related to thalamic hemorrhages; there is no available information on cognitive development in children with thalamic tumors. Methods All children admitted with a diagnosis of thalamic tumor at the authors' institution between January 2008 and January 2011 were considered for the present study. Exclusion criteria were age less than 18 months and the presence of severe neurological deficits, both of which prevented a reliable neuropsychological evaluation. A complete preoperative neuropsychological evaluation was performed. Results Twenty children were selected (mean age 102.4 months). Total IQ was in the normal range in all patients (mean 90.1, SD 13.87) with a significant difference between verbal IQ (mean 97.70, SD 17.77) and performance IQ (mean 84.82, SD 17.01). A significant correlation was found between global cognitive impairment and a histological finding of low-grade tumors (p < 0.001). Children with a mesial thalamic tumor had a higher working memory deficit and delayed recall disorders (p < 0.001). Naming disorders were related to the presence of a bilateral (p < 0.001) or mesial (p < 0.001) thalamic tumor, without a significant difference between left or right hemisphere involvement. A significant correlation was also found between the presence of neurolinguistic disorders and mesially located tumors (p < 0.001). Children with right-sided tumors more frequently had constructional apraxia and executive function disorders (p < 0.001). Conclusions The present study suggests that thalamic tumors in different locations might have specific neuropsychological profiles.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Wang ◽  
Liang Zhang ◽  
Jian Guo Wu ◽  
Ruohua Chen ◽  
Jia lin Shen

PurposeTo evaluate the value of F-18 FDG PET/CT in the differentiation of malignant and benign upper urinary tract-occupying lesions.Patients and Methods64 patients with upper urinary tract-occupying lesions underwent F-18 FDG PET/CT at RenJi Hospital from January 2015 to February 2019 in this retrospective study. Of the 64 patients, 50 patients received nephroureterectomy or partial ureterectomy; 14 patients received ureteroscopy and biopsy. The comparisons of PET/CT parameters and clinical characteristics between malignant and benign upper urinary tract-occupying lesions were investigated.ResultsOf the 64 patients, 49 were found to have malignant tumors. Receiver operating characteristic analysis determined the lesion SUVmax value of 6.75 as the threshold for predicting malignant tumors. There were significant associations between malignant and benign upper urinary tract-occupying lesions and SUVmax of lesion (P&lt;0.001), lesion size (P&lt;0.001), and patient age (P=0.011). Multivariate analysis showed that SUVmax of lesion (P=0.042) and patient age (P=0.009) as independent predictors for differentiation of malignant from benign upper urinary tract-occupying lesions. There was a significant difference in tumor size between the positive (SUVmax &gt;6.75) and negative (SUVmax ≤6.75) PET groups in 38 of the 49 patients with malignant tumors.ConclusionThe SUVmax of lesion and patient age is associated with the nature of upper urinary tract-occupying lesions. F-18 FDG PET/CT may be useful to distinguish between malignant and benign upper urinary tract-occupying lesions and determine a suitable therapeutic strategy.


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