1
|
Namiot ED, Zembatov GM, Tregub PP. Insights into brain tumor diagnosis: exploring in situ hybridization techniques. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1393572. [PMID: 39022728 PMCID: PMC11252041 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1393572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives Diagnosing brain tumors is critical due to their complex nature. This review explores the potential of in situ hybridization for diagnosing brain neoplasms, examining their attributes and applications in neurology and oncology. Methods The review surveys literature and cross-references findings with the OMIM database, examining 513 records. It pinpoints mutations suitable for in situ hybridization and identifies common chromosomal and gene anomalies in brain tumors. Emphasis is placed on mutations' clinical implications, including prognosis and drug sensitivity. Results Amplifications in EGFR, MDM2, and MDM4, along with Y chromosome loss, chromosome 7 polysomy, and deletions of PTEN, CDKN2/p16, TP53, and DMBT1, correlate with poor prognosis in glioma patients. Protective genetic changes in glioma include increased expression of ADGRB3/1, IL12B, DYRKA1, VEGFC, LRRC4, and BMP4. Elevated MMP24 expression worsens prognosis in glioma, oligodendroglioma, and meningioma patients. Meningioma exhibits common chromosomal anomalies like loss of chromosomes 1, 9, 17, and 22, with specific genes implicated in their development. Main occurrences in medulloblastoma include the formation of isochromosome 17q and SHH signaling pathway disruption. Increased expression of BARHL1 is associated with prolonged survival. Adenomas mutations were reviewed with a focus on adenoma-carcinoma transition and different subtypes, with MMP9 identified as the main metalloprotease implicated in tumor progression. Discussion Molecular-genetic diagnostics for common brain tumors involve diverse genetic anomalies. In situ hybridization shows promise for diagnosing and prognosticating tumors. Detecting tumor-specific alterations is vital for prognosis and treatment. However, many mutations require other methods, hindering in situ hybridization from becoming the primary diagnostic method.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E. D. Namiot
- Department of Pathophysiology, First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia
| | - G. M. Zembatov
- Department of Pathophysiology, First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia
| | - P. P. Tregub
- Department of Pathophysiology, First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia
- Brain Research Department, Federal State Scientific Center of Neurology, Moscow, Russia
- Scientific and Educational Resource Center, Innovative Technologies of Immunophenotyping, Digital Spatial Profiling and Ultrastructural Analysis, Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), Moscow, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Arfuso M, Kuril S, Shah H, Hanson D. Pediatric Neuroglial Tumors: A Review of Ependymoma and Dysembryoplastic Neuroepithelial Tumor. Pediatr Neurol 2024; 156:139-146. [PMID: 38781722 DOI: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2024.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Arfuso
- Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital, Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, New Jersey
| | | | - Harshal Shah
- Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Nutley, New Jersey
| | - Derek Hanson
- Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital, Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, New Jersey; Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Nutley, New Jersey.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Griesinger AM, Calzadilla AJ, Grimaldo E, Donson AM, Amani V, Pierce AM, Steiner J, Kargar S, Serkova NJ, Bertrand KC, Wright KD, Vibhakar R, Hankinson T, Handler M, Lindsay HB, Foreman NK, Dorris K. Development of Chromosome 1q+ Specific Treatment for Highest Risk Pediatric Posterior Fossa Ependymoma. Clin Cancer Res 2024; 30:1544-1554. [PMID: 38334950 PMCID: PMC11018467 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-23-3156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE There are no effective treatment strategies for children with highest-risk posterior fossa group A ependymoma (PFA). Chromosome 1q gains (1q+) are present in approximately 25% of newly diagnosed PFA tumors, and this number doubles at recurrence. Seventy percent of children with chromosome 1q+ PFA will die because of the tumor, highlighting the urgent need to develop new therapeutic strategies for this population. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN In this study, we utilize 1q+ PFA in vitro and in vivo models to test the efficacy of combination radiation and chemotherapy in a preclinical setting. RESULTS 5-fluorouracil (5FU) enhances radiotherapy in 1q+ PFA cell lines. Specifically, 5FU increases p53 activity mediated by the extra copy of UCK2 located on chromosome 1q in 1q+ PFA. Experimental downregulation of UCK2 resulted in decreased 5FU sensitivity in 1q+ PFA cells. In in vitro studies, a combination of 5FU, retinoid tretinoin (ATRA), and radiation provided the greatest reduction in cellular proliferation and greatest increase in markers of apoptosis in 1q+ PFA cell lines compared with other treatment arms. Similarly, in vivo experiments demonstrated significant enhancement of survival in mice treated with combination radiation and 5FU and ATRA. CONCLUSIONS These results are the first to identify a chromosome 1q+ specific therapy approach in 1q+ PFA. Existing phase I studies have already established single-agent pediatric safety and dosages of 5FU and ATRA, allowing for expedited clinical application as phase II trials for children with high-risk PFA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea M Griesinger
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anscutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Annaliese J Calzadilla
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anscutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Enrique Grimaldo
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anscutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Andrew M Donson
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anscutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Vladimir Amani
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anscutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Angela M Pierce
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anscutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Jenna Steiner
- Department of Radiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and University of Colorado Cancer Center, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Soudabeh Kargar
- Department of Radiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and University of Colorado Cancer Center, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Natalie J Serkova
- Department of Radiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and University of Colorado Cancer Center, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Kelsey C Bertrand
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Karen D Wright
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Rajeev Vibhakar
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anscutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Todd Hankinson
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Michael Handler
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Holly B Lindsay
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anscutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Nicholas K Foreman
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anscutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Kathleen Dorris
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anscutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
del Río RJ, Cicutti SE, Moreira DC, Ramos JDG. New CNS tumor classification: The importance in pediatric neurosurgical practice. Surg Neurol Int 2024; 15:130. [PMID: 38742003 PMCID: PMC11090558 DOI: 10.25259/sni_681_2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The management of the central nervous system (CNS) tumors in the pediatric population is crucial in neurosurgical practice. The World Health Organization (WHO) has evolved its classification of CNS tumors from the 19th century to the 5th edition, published in 2021, incorporating molecular advancements. This transition from morphology to molecular characterization is ongoing. Methods This manuscript analyzes the modifications introduced in the 5th edition of WHO's CNS tumor classification, particularly focusing on pediatric tumor families. The paper integrates clinical, morphological, and molecular information, aiming to guide pediatric neurosurgeons in their daily practice and interdisciplinary discussions. Results The 5th edition of the WHO classification introduces a hybrid taxonomy that incorporates both molecular and histological components. The terminology shifts from "entity" to "type" and "subtype," aiming to standardize terminology. Tumor grading experiences changes, integrating molecular biomarkers for prognosis. The concept of integrated layered diagnosis is emphasized, where molecular and histological information is combined systematically. Conclusion The 5th edition of the WHO CNS classification signifies a paradigm shift toward molecular characterization. The incorporation of molecular advances, the layered diagnostic approach, and the inclusion of clinical, morphological, and molecular information aim to provide comprehensive insights into pediatric CNS tumors. This classification offers valuable guidance for pediatric neurosurgeons, aiding in precise diagnosis and treatment planning for these complex neoplasms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ramiro José del Río
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital de Pediatría Juan P. Garrahan, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Santiago Ezequiel Cicutti
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital de Pediatría Juan P. Garrahan, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Daniel C. Moreira
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, United States
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Lundar T, Due-Tønnessen BJ, Frič R, Sundseth J, Brandal P, Due-Tønnessen P. Outcome after treatment of pediatric supratentorial ependymoma: long-term follow-up of a single consecutive institutional series of 26 patients. Br J Neurosurg 2024; 38:514-522. [PMID: 34096810 DOI: 10.1080/02688697.2021.1914821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long-term outcome after surgical treatment of supratentorial ependymoma (STE) in children has not been extensively reported. FINDINGS We identified 26 children who underwent primary tumor resection of STE between 1953 and 2011, with at least 8 years follow-up. Ten patients (38%) had anaplastic and 16 had low grade ependymoma. Four of 15 children (26%) treated in the years 1953-1976 survived more than 5 years, but the observed 10-year survival was only 7%. One patient lived for 37 years, and second surgery for a local recurrent lesion disclosed a glioblastoma, possibly secondary to radiotherapy. In contrast, the observed 5-year survival rate for 11 children treated in the years 1992-2011 was 8/11 (73%) and observed 10- and 25-year survival rates were 70% and 66%, respectively. Eight patients were alive and tumor-free with follow-up periods of 8-27 (median 18) years, all treated after 1992. Five of these long-term survivors were 23-39 years old with full-time (n = 3) or part-time (n = 2) work. The last three patients were still children (9-12 years old): one with good function and two with major neurological deficits. The majority of patients (n = 18) received adjuvant radiotherapy and eight children no adjuvant treatment. Repeated resections for residual or recurrent tumor were necessary in 11 patients (42%), mostly due to local disease with progressive clinical symptoms. Eight patients underwent only one repeat resection, whereas three patients had two or more repeat resections within 18 years after initial surgery. Four patients were tumor-free after repeated resections at the latest follow-up, 2-13 years after last surgery. CONCLUSION Pediatric STE has a marked risk for local recurrence even after gross total resection and postoperative radiotherapy, but survival has increased following the introduction of modern treatment in recent years. Repeated surgery is an important part of treatment and may lead to persistent tumor control.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tryggve Lundar
- Department of Neurosurgery, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Radek Frič
- Department of Neurosurgery, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jarle Sundseth
- Department of Neurosurgery, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Petter Brandal
- Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Paulina Due-Tønnessen
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Zhang Y, Li M, Liu J, Deng K, Zhu H, Lu L, Pan H, Wang R, Yao Y. OCT3/4 is a potential immunohistochemical biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis of primary intracranial germ cell tumors: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1169179. [PMID: 37476834 PMCID: PMC10354551 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1169179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Intracranial germ cell tumors (iGCTs), comprising of germinoma (GE) and non-germinomatous GCT (NGGCT), are a group of heterogenous brain tumors. Immunohistochemical markers, such as placental-like alkaline phosphatase (PLAP), are commonly used in diagnosis but show moderate sensitivity. Organic cation transporter 3/4 (OCT3/4) has been proposed as a novel biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis of iGCTs. This paper aimed to compare OCT3/4 with PLAP as potential immunohistochemical biomarkers in iGCTs diagnosis and clarify the relationship between OCT3/4 and prognosis of patients with iGCTs. Methods Meta-analyses were performed to estimate pooled percentage point differences in positive rates between OCT3/4 and PLAP, their sensitivities, and correlation between OCT3/4 and prognosis in iGCTs. Results Nine articles were included representing of 241 patients. A fixed-effects model meta-analysis revealed that OCT3/4s positive rate was 8.6% higher (95% CI, 0.7% lower to 17.9% higher) than that of PLAP. Using fixed-effects models, sensitivities of OCT3/4 as a potential immunohistochemical biomarker in CNS GE and NGGCT were 85% (95% CI, 79% to 89%) and 56% (95% CI, 39% to 71%), respectively. In comparison, PLAP had lower sensitivities in both GE (73%; 95% CI, 64% to 91%) and NGGCT (43%; 95% CI, 27% to 61%). Moreover, OCT3/4 was significantly negatively correlated with 5-year progression free survival in patients with CNS GE (HR = 2.56, 95 % CI 1.47 to 4.44; p = 0.0008). Sensitivity analyses showed similar results. Discussion This study provides the first comprehensive assessment of the efficacies of OCT3/4 and PLAP in iGCTs detection and prognosis prediction, indicating OCT3/4 seems to be a more sensitive and reliable immunohistochemical marker in iGCT diagnosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Mucong Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jifang Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Kan Deng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Huijuan Zhu
- Department of Endocrinology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Lin Lu
- Department of Endocrinology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Pan
- Department of Endocrinology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Renzhi Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Yao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Cocito C, Martin B, Giantini-Larsen AM, Valcarce-Aspegren M, Souweidane MM, Szalontay L, Dahmane N, Greenfield JP. Leptomeningeal dissemination in pediatric brain tumors. Neoplasia 2023; 39:100898. [PMID: 37011459 PMCID: PMC10124141 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2023.100898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Leptomeningeal disease (LMD) in pediatric brain tumors (PBTs) is a poorly understood and categorized phenomenon. LMD incidence rates, as well as diagnosis, treatment, and screening practices, vary greatly depending on the primary tumor pathology. While LMD is encountered most frequently in medulloblastoma, reports of LMD have been described across a wide variety of PBT pathologies. LMD may be diagnosed simultaneously with the primary tumor, at time of recurrence, or as primary LMD without a primary intraparenchymal lesion. Dissemination and seeding of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) involves a modified invasion-metastasis cascade and is often the result of direct deposition of tumor cells into the CSF. Cells develop select environmental advantages to survive the harsh, nutrient poor and turbulent environment of the CSF and leptomeninges. Improved understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlie LMD, along with improved diagnostic and treatment approaches, will help the prognosis of children affected by primary brain tumors.
Collapse
|
8
|
Hwang EI, Hanson D, Filbin MG, Mack SC. Why haven't we solved intracranial pediatric ependymoma? Current questions and barriers to treatment advances. Neoplasia 2023; 39:100895. [PMID: 36944298 PMCID: PMC10036929 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2023.100895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2023]
Abstract
Pediatric intracranial ependymoma has seen a recent exponential expansion of biological findings, rapidly dividing the diagnosis into several subgroups, each with specific molecular and clinical characteristics. While such subdivision may complicate clinical conclusions from historical trials, this knowledge also provides an opportunity for interrogating the major clinical and biological questions preventing near-term translation into effective therapy for children with ependymoma. In this article, we briefly review some of the most critical clinical questions facing both patient management and the construct of future trials in childhood ependymoma, as well as explore some of the current barriers to efficient translation of preclinical discovery to the clinic.
Collapse
|
9
|
Chan PP, Whipple NS, Ramani B, Solomon DA, Zhou H, Linscott LL, Kestle JRW, Bruggers CS. Patterns of Extraneural Metastases in Children With Ependymoma. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2023; 45:e272-e278. [PMID: 36730676 DOI: 10.1097/mph.0000000000002587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Ependymomas account for 10% of all malignant pediatric central nervous system tumors. Standard therapy includes maximal safe surgical resection, followed by focal radiation. Despite the aggressive therapy, progression-free survival is poor. Most ependymoma relapses occur locally at the original tumor site. Extraneural presentations of ependymoma are extremely rare, and no standard of care treatment exists. We present a single-institution case series of 3 patients who experienced extraneural relapses of supratentorial ependymoma and describe their treatment and outcome. These cases of extraneural relapse highlight the possible modes of extraneural spread, including hematogenous, lymphatic, and microscopic seeding through surgical drains and shunts. In addition, they illustrate the increase in histologic grade and mutational burden that may occur at the time of relapse. These cases illustrate the role of aggressive, individualized treatment interventions using a combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Biswarathan Ramani
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - David A Solomon
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | | | - Luke L Linscott
- Department of Radiology, Primary Children's Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Lampros M, Vlachos N, Alexiou GA. Ependymomas in Children and Adults. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1405:99-116. [PMID: 37452936 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-23705-8_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Ependymomas account for approximately 5% of all CNS tumors in adults and around 10% in the pediatric population. Contrary to traditional theories supporting that ependymomas arise from ependymal cells, recent studies propose radial glial cells as the cells of origin. In adults, half of the ependymomas arise in the spinal cord, whereas in the pediatric population, almost 90% of ependymomas are located intracranially. Most of the ependymomas are usually low-grade tumors except anaplastic variants and some cases of RELA-fusion-positive ependymomas, a molecular variant consisting the most recent addition to the 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) classification. Of note, the recently described molecular classification of ependymomas into nine distinct subgroups appears to be of greater clinical utility and prognostic value compared to the traditional histopathological classification, and parts of it are expected to be adopted by the WHO in the near future. Clinical manifestations depend on the location of the tumor with infratentorial ependymomas presenting with acute hydrocephalus. Gross total resection should be the goal of treatment. The prognostic factors of patients with ependymomas include age, grade, and location of the tumor, with children with intracranial, anaplastic ependymomas having the worst prognosis. In general, the 5-year overall survival of patients with ependymomas is around 60-70%.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marios Lampros
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Ioannina, School of Medicine, 45500, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Vlachos
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Ioannina, School of Medicine, 45500, Ioannina, Greece
| | - George A Alexiou
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Ioannina, School of Medicine, 45500, Ioannina, Greece.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Zheng B, Fu J. Telomere dysfunction in some pediatric congenital and growth-related diseases. Front Pediatr 2023; 11:1133102. [PMID: 37077333 PMCID: PMC10106694 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2023.1133102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomere wear and dysfunction may lead to aging-related diseases. Moreover, increasing evidence show that the occurrence, development, and prognosis of some pediatric diseases are also related to telomere dysfunction. In this review, we systematically analyzed the relationship between telomere biology and some pediatric congenital and growth-related diseases and proposed new theoretical basis and therapeutic targets for the treatment of these diseases.
Collapse
|
12
|
Foss-Skiftesvik J, Stoltze UK, van Overeem Hansen T, Ahlborn LB, Sørensen E, Ostrowski SR, Kullegaard SMA, Laspiur AO, Melchior LC, Scheie D, Kristensen BW, Skjøth-Rasmussen J, Schmiegelow K, Wadt K, Mathiasen R. Redefining germline predisposition in children with molecularly characterized ependymoma: a population-based 20-year cohort. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2022; 10:123. [PMID: 36008825 PMCID: PMC9404601 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-022-01429-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Ependymoma is the second most common malignant brain tumor in children. The etiology is largely unknown and germline DNA sequencing studies focusing on childhood ependymoma are limited. We therefore performed germline whole-genome sequencing on a population-based cohort of children diagnosed with ependymoma in Denmark over the past 20 years (n = 43). Single nucleotide and structural germline variants in 457 cancer related genes and 2986 highly evolutionarily constrained genes were assessed in 37 children with normal tissue available for sequencing. Molecular ependymoma classification was performed using DNA methylation profiling for 39 children with available tumor tissue. Pathogenic germline variants in known cancer predisposition genes were detected in 11% (4/37; NF2, LZTR1, NF1 & TP53). However, DNA methylation profiling resulted in revision of the histopathological ependymoma diagnosis to non-ependymoma tumor types in 8% (3/39). This included the two children with pathogenic germline variants in TP53 and NF1 whose tumors were reclassified to a diffuse midline glioma and a rosette-forming glioneuronal tumor, respectively. Consequently, 50% (2/4) of children with pathogenic germline variants in fact had other tumor types. A meta-analysis combining our findings with pediatric pan-cancer germline sequencing studies showed an overall frequency of pathogenic germline variants of 3.4% (7/207) in children with ependymoma. In summary, less than 4% of childhood ependymoma is explained by genetic predisposition, virtually restricted to pathogenic variants in NF2 and NF1. For children with other cancer predisposition syndromes, diagnostic reconsideration is recommended for ependymomas without molecular classification. Additionally, LZTR1 is suggested as a novel putative ependymoma predisposition gene.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jon Foss-Skiftesvik
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Rigshospitalet University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. .,Department of Neurosurgery, Rigshospitalet University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. .,Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. .,Department of Neurosurgery, Section 6031, Rigshospitalet University Hospital, Inge Lehmanns Vej 6, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark. .,The Pediatric Oncology Research Laboratory, Section 5704, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Rigshospitalet University Hospital, Henrik Harpestrengs Vej 6A, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Ulrik Kristoffer Stoltze
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Rigshospitalet University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Genetics, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thomas van Overeem Hansen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lise Barlebo Ahlborn
- Department of Genomic Medicine, Rigshospitalet University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Erik Sørensen
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Rigshospitalet University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sisse Rye Ostrowski
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Immunology, Rigshospitalet University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Adrian Otamendi Laspiur
- Department of Health Technology, Cancer Systems Biology and Bioinformatics, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - David Scheie
- Department of Pathology, Rigshospitalet University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bjarne Winther Kristensen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Pathology, Rigshospitalet University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Biotech Research and Innovation Center, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jane Skjøth-Rasmussen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Rigshospitalet University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kjeld Schmiegelow
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Rigshospitalet University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Karin Wadt
- Department of Clinical Genetics, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - René Mathiasen
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Rigshospitalet University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Lindsay HB, Massimino M, Avula S, Stivaros S, Grundy R, Metrock K, Bhatia A, Fernández-Teijeiro A, Chiapparini L, Bennett J, Wright K, Hoffman LM, Smith A, Pajtler KW, Poussaint TY, Warren KE, Foreman NK, Mirsky DM. Response assessment in paediatric intracranial ependymoma: recommendations from the Response Assessment in Pediatric Neuro-Oncology (RAPNO) working group. Lancet Oncol 2022; 23:e393-e401. [DOI: 10.1016/s1470-2045(22)00222-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
|
14
|
Affiliation(s)
- Alan R Cohen
- From the Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Liu SJ, Aw NMY, Lim MJR, Tew Seow W, Low DCY, Kimpo MS, Ee Kar Tan E, Tsai Yeo T, Low SYY, Nga VDW. Paediatric brain tumours in Singapore: A 15-year epidemiological and outcome study. J Clin Neurosci 2022; 101:154-161. [PMID: 35597064 DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2022.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Paediatric brain tumours (PBTs) are the most common solid tumours in children. Previous publications reflect variations in incidence rates and frequency of histological types in different global populations. However, there are limited studies on the epidemiology of PBTs in Singapore. This study aims to summarise the epidemiology of paediatric brain tumours managed in Singapore. This is an ethics-approved retrospective study of all patients below 19 years old diagnosed with PBTs managed by Singapore's 2 tertiary paediatric neurosurgical centres, KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) and the National University Hospital (NUH) over a 15-year period from 01 January 2002 to 31 December 2017. Data collected was analysed for age, gender, tumour characteristics, presenting complaints, location, treatment modalities, 1-year and 5-year overall survival (OS). A total of 396 patients were included. The mean age of diagnosis was 7.05 years (0.25-18; ± 4.83) and male-to-female ratio was 1.41:1. Top histological groups were astrocytic (30.6%), embryonal (26.0%), germ cell (11.1%), ependymoma (30, 7.58%) and craniopharyngioma (27, 6.82%). Outcomes included recurrence rate (31.2%), 1-year OS (89.5%) and 5-year OS (72.2%). Poorer 5-year OS were noted in embryonal tumours (47.0%; p < 0.001) and ependymoma (50.0%; p = 0.0074) patients. Of note, the following cohorts also had poorer OS at 5 years: supratentorial tumours (76.2%; p = 0.0426), radiotherapy (67.4%; p = 0.0467) and surgery (74.9%, HR; p < 0.001). Overall, our data reflects patient demographics, presenting complaints, treatment modalities and survival outcomes, that are comparable to other international paediatric neurosurgical centres.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sherry J Liu
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Natalie M Y Aw
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 10 Medical Dr, 117597, Singapore
| | - Mervyn J R Lim
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Wan Tew Seow
- Neurosurgical Service, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, 229899, Singapore; Department of Neurosurgery, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore; SingHealth Duke-NUS Neuroscience Academic Clinical Program, Singapore, 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, 308433, Singapore
| | - David C Y Low
- Neurosurgical Service, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, 229899, Singapore; Department of Neurosurgery, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore; SingHealth Duke-NUS Neuroscience Academic Clinical Program, Singapore, 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, 308433, Singapore
| | - Miriam S Kimpo
- Division of Paediatric Oncology, Department of Paediatrics, National University Health System, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Rd, 119074, Singapore
| | - Enrica Ee Kar Tan
- Paediatric Haematology/Oncology Service, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, 229899, Singapore
| | - Tseng Tsai Yeo
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Sharon Y Y Low
- Neurosurgical Service, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, 229899, Singapore; Department of Neurosurgery, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore; SingHealth Duke-NUS Neuroscience Academic Clinical Program, Singapore, 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, 308433, Singapore.
| | - Vincent D W Nga
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, National University Health System, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Sasaki T, Uematsu Y, Fukai J, Tanaka S, Mukasa A, Saito N, Narita Y, Nakao N. Prognostic Factors and Histopathological Features of Pediatric Intracranial Ependymomas: Nationwide Brain Tumor Registry-based Study of Japan. Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo) 2022; 62:322-327. [PMID: 35545504 PMCID: PMC9357454 DOI: 10.2176/jns-nmc.2022-0027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
To assess the clinicopathological features and prognostic factors of pediatric intracranial ependymomas and to explore the current diagnostic practice, we analyzed clinical data from the Brain Tumor Registry of Japan (BTRJ). Data of fifty children under 18 years of age diagnosed with intracranial ependymoma were extracted from the BTRJ database. Cases were reviewed for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), with attention to gender, preoperative Karnofsky performance status score, location of the tumor, the extent of resection, World Health Organization (WHO) histopathological grading, and adjuvant therapy. The median age at diagnosis was 6.1 years, ranging from 7 months to 17.6 years. Based on the WHO histopathological grading, 27 patients were classified under grade 2 (54%) and 23 patients were classified under grade 3 (46%). Gross total resection (GTR) was achieved in 30 patients (60%). The median follow-up time was 65 months. Five-year PFS and OS were 47.2 ± 7.3% and 73.3 ± 6.7%, respectively. GTR was associated with longer OS (P = 0.02). The histopathological grading was not an independent prognostic factor for the OS. Mitosis and microvascular proliferation were higher among patients with grade 3 than in those with grade 2, which aided in deciding the WHO grade. This nationwide study revealed the characteristics and outcomes of patients with childhood ependymomas. GTR was the factor most consistently associated with improved survival. In contrast, the histopathological grading in this cohort was not a significant prognostic factor. More reproducible and practical criteria for the diagnosis of intracranial ependymomas should be further pursued in future studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Takahiro Sasaki
- Department of Neurological Surgery, School of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University
| | - Yuji Uematsu
- Department of Neurological Surgery, School of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University.,School of Health and Nursing Science, Wakayama Medical University
| | - Junya Fukai
- Department of Neurological Surgery, School of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University
| | - Shota Tanaka
- Department of Neurosurgery, the University of Tokyo Hospital
| | - Akitake Mukasa
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University
| | - Nobuhito Saito
- Department of Neurosurgery, the University of Tokyo Hospital
| | - Yoshitaka Narita
- Department of Neurosurgery and Neuro-Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital
| | - Naoyuki Nakao
- Department of Neurological Surgery, School of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To review state of art and relevant advances in the molecular genetics and management of ependymomas of children and adults. RECENT FINDINGS Ependymomas may occur either in the brain or in the spinal cord. Compared with intracranial ependymomas, spinal ependymomas are less frequent and exhibit a better prognosis. The new WHO classification of CNS tumors of 2021 has subdivided ependymomas into different histomolecular subgroups with different outcome. The majority of studies have shown a major impact of extent of resection; thus, a complete resection must be performed, whenever possible, at first surgery or at reoperation. Conformal radiotherapy is recommended for grade 3 or incompletely resected grade II tumors. Proton therapy is increasingly employed especially in children to reduce the risk of neurocognitive and endocrine sequelae. Craniospinal irradiation is reserved for metastatic disease. Chemotherapy is not useful as primary treatment and is commonly employed as salvage treatment for patients failing surgery and radiotherapy. Standard treatments are still the mainstay of treatment: the discovery of new druggable pathways will hopefully increase the therapeutic armamentarium in the near future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Rudà
- Division of Neuro-Oncology, Department of Neuroscience “Rita Levi Montalcini”, University of Turin, Via Cherasco 15, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Francesco Bruno
- Division of Neuro-Oncology, Department of Neuroscience “Rita Levi Montalcini”, University of Turin, Via Cherasco 15, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Alessia Pellerino
- Division of Neuro-Oncology, Department of Neuroscience “Rita Levi Montalcini”, University of Turin, Via Cherasco 15, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Riccardo Soffietti
- Division of Neuro-Oncology, Department of Neuroscience “Rita Levi Montalcini”, University of Turin, Via Cherasco 15, 10126 Turin, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Saleh AH, Samuel N, Juraschka K, Saleh MH, Taylor MD, Fehlings MG. The biology of ependymomas and emerging novel therapies. Nat Rev Cancer 2022; 22:208-222. [PMID: 35031778 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-021-00433-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Ependymomas are rare central nervous system tumours that can arise in the brain's supratentorial region or posterior fossa, or in the spinal cord. In 1924, Percival Bailey published the first comprehensive study of ependymomas. Since then, and especially over the past 10 years, our understanding of ependymomas has grown exponentially. In this Review, we discuss the evolution in knowledge regarding ependymoma subgroups and the resultant clinical implications. We also discuss key oncogenic and tumour suppressor signalling pathways that regulate tumour growth, the role of epigenetic dysregulation in the biology of ependymomas, and the various biological features of ependymoma tumorigenesis, including cell immortalization, stem cell-like properties, the tumour microenvironment and metastasis. We further review the limitations of current therapies such as relapse, radiation-induced cognitive deficits and chemotherapy resistance. Finally, we highlight next-generation therapies that are actively being explored, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors, telomerase inhibitors, anti-angiogenesis agents and immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amr H Saleh
- MD Program, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nardin Samuel
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kyle Juraschka
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mohammad H Saleh
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Michael D Taylor
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Michael G Fehlings
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Division of Neurosurgery, University Health Network, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Krembil Neuroscience Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Napieralska A, Mizia-Malarz A, Stolpa W, Pawłowska E, Krawczyk MA, Konat-Bąska K, Kaczorowska A, Brąszewski A, Harat M. Polish Multi-Institutional Study of Children with Ependymoma-Clinical Practice Outcomes in the Light of Prospective Trials. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:diagnostics11122360. [PMID: 34943596 PMCID: PMC8700631 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11122360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
We performed a multi-institutional analysis of 74 children with ependymoma to evaluate to what extent the clinical outcome of prospective trials could be reproduced in routine practice. The evaluation of factors that correlated with outcome was performed with a log rank test and a Cox proportional-hazard model. Survival was estimated with the Kaplan–Meier method. The majority of patients had brain tumours (89%). All had surgery as primary treatment, with adjuvant radiotherapy (RTH) and chemotherapy (CTH) applied in 78% and 57%, respectively. Median follow-up was 80 months and 18 patients died. Five- and 10-year overall survival (OS) was 83% and 73%. Progression was observed in 32 patients, with local recurrence in 28 cases. The presence of metastases was a negative prognostic factor for OS. Five- and 10-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 55% and 40%, respectively. The best outcome in patients with non-disseminated brain tumours was observed when surgery was followed by RTH (+/−CTH afterwards; p = 0.0001). Children under 3 years old who received RTH in primary therapy had better PFS (p = 0.010). The best outcome of children with ependymoma is observed in patients who received radical surgery followed by RTH, and irradiation should not be omitted in younger patients. The role of CTH remains debatable.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Napieralska
- Department of Radiotherapy, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology Gliwice Branch, 44-101 Gliwice, Poland
- Correspondence:
| | - Agnieszka Mizia-Malarz
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Silesia, 40-752 Katowice, Poland; (A.M.-M.); (W.S.)
| | - Weronika Stolpa
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Silesia, 40-752 Katowice, Poland; (A.M.-M.); (W.S.)
| | - Ewa Pawłowska
- Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210 Gdansk, Poland;
| | - Małgorzata A. Krawczyk
- Department of Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210 Gdansk, Poland;
| | - Katarzyna Konat-Bąska
- Wroclaw Comprehensive Cancer Center, 53-413 Wrocław, Poland;
- Department of Oncology, Wroclaw Medical University, 53-413 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Aneta Kaczorowska
- Department of Children Oncology and Haematology, Wroclaw Medical University, 53-413 Wrocław, Poland;
| | - Arkadiusz Brąszewski
- Department of Neurooncology and Radiosurgery, Franciszek Lukaszczyk Memorial Oncology Center, 85-796 Bydgoszcz, Poland; (A.B.); (M.H.)
| | - Maciej Harat
- Department of Neurooncology and Radiosurgery, Franciszek Lukaszczyk Memorial Oncology Center, 85-796 Bydgoszcz, Poland; (A.B.); (M.H.)
- Department of Oncology and Brachytherapy, Nicolas Copernicus University, Collegium Medicum, 85-067 Bydgoszcz, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Arakaki AKS, Szulzewsky F, Gilbert MR, Gujral TS, Holland EC. Utilizing preclinical models to develop targeted therapies for rare central nervous system cancers. Neuro Oncol 2021; 23:S4-S15. [PMID: 34725698 PMCID: PMC8561121 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noab183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with rare central nervous system (CNS) tumors typically have a poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options. Historically, these cancers have been difficult to study due to small number of patients. Recent technological advances have identified molecular drivers of some of these rare cancers which we can now use to generate representative preclinical models of these diseases. In this review, we outline the advantages and disadvantages of different models, emphasizing the utility of various in vitro and ex vivo models for target discovery and mechanistic inquiry and multiple in vivo models for therapeutic validation. We also highlight recent literature on preclinical model generation and screening approaches for ependymomas, histone mutated high-grade gliomas, and atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors, all of which are rare CNS cancers that have recently established genetic or epigenetic drivers. These preclinical models are critical to advancing targeted therapeutics for these rare CNS cancers that currently rely on conventional treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aleena K S Arakaki
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Frank Szulzewsky
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Mark R Gilbert
- Neuro-Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Taranjit S Gujral
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Eric C Holland
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Waran V, Thillainathan R, Karuppiah R, Pickard JD. Equitable Access to State-of-the-Art Medical Technology-a Malaysian Mini-Public-Private Partnership Case Study. World Neurosurg 2021; 157:135-142. [PMID: 34687934 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2021.10.112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The provision of equitable and affordable health care has become increasingly challenging as advanced technology is introduced, particularly in developing countries. We explored the hypothesis that focused, small-scale mini-public-private partnerships have a potential role in providing equitable and affordable access to advanced technology for the benefit of all patients in developing nations, particularly middle-income countries. METHODS A clinician-led financial plan was developed at the University of Malaya to create the Centre for Image Guidance and Minimally Invasive Therapy (CIGMIT) to provide an integrated platform for high-end care for Malaysian patients of all ages, both public and private, requiring complex neurosurgical and spinal procedures and stereotactic and intensity-modulated radiotherapy. The challenges faced during development of the plan were documented together with an audit of patient throughput and analyses of financial risk and return. RESULTS CIGMIT opened in 2015. Patient throughput, both public and private, progressively increased in all facilities. In 2015-2019, 37,724 patients used the Centre's facilities. CIGMIT has become progressively more profitable for the University of Malaya, the public and private hospitals, and the investor. CIGMIT has weathered the challenges posed by coronavirus disease 19. CONCLUSIONS Focused, small-scale mini-public-private partnerships have a potential role in providing advanced technology for the benefit of patients in developing nations, particularly middle-income countries, subject to an approach that balances equity of access between public and private health care systems with fair reward.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vicknes Waran
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | | | - Ravindran Karuppiah
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - John D Pickard
- Department of Neurosurgery, Addenbrooke's Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Review of the genomic landscape of common pediatric CNS tumors and how data sharing will continue to shape this landscape in the future. Mol Biol Rep 2021; 48:7537-7544. [PMID: 34643931 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-021-06811-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Over the past decade we have witnessed a rapid increase in our understanding of the molecular characteristics of pediatric central nervous system (CNS) tumors. Studies that utilize genomic sequencing have revealed a heterogeneous group of genetic drivers in pediatric CNS tumors including point mutations, gene fusions, and copy number alterations. This manuscript provides an overview of somatic genomic alterations in the most common pediatric CNS tumors including low grade gliomas, high grade gliomas, medulloblastomas, and ependymomas. Additionally, we will discuss the need and opportunity for genomic and clinical data sharing through the children's brain tumor network and other international initiatives.
Collapse
|
23
|
Citation analysis of the most influential ependymoma research articles illustrates improved knowledge of the molecular biology of ependymoma. Neurosurg Rev 2021; 45:1041-1088. [PMID: 34613526 PMCID: PMC8976812 DOI: 10.1007/s10143-021-01579-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The history of academic research on ependymoma is expansive. This review summarizes its history with a bibliometric analysis of the 100 most cited articles on ependymoma. In March 2020, we queried the Web of Science database to identify the most cited articles on ependymoma using the terms “ependymoma” or “ependymal tumors,” yielding 3145 publications. Results were arranged by the number of times each article was cited in descending order. The top 100 articles spanned across nearly a century; the oldest article was published in 1924, while the most recent was in 2017. These articles were published in 35 unique journals, including a mix of basic science and clinical journals. The three institutions with the most papers in the top 100 were St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (16%), the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (6%), and the German Cancer Research Center (5%). We analyzed the publications that may be considered the most influential in the understanding and treatment management of ependymoma. Studies focused on the molecular classification of ependymomas were well-represented among the most cited articles, reflecting the field’s current area of focus and its future directions. Additionally, this article also offers a reference for further studies in the ependymoma field.
Collapse
|
24
|
Massimino M, Barretta F, Modena P, Johann P, Ferroli P, Antonelli M, Gandola L, Garrè ML, Bertin D, Mastronuzzi A, Mascarin M, Quaglietta L, Viscardi E, Sardi I, Ruggiero A, Boschetti L, Giagnacovo M, Biassoni V, Schiavello E, Chiapparini L, Erbetta A, Mussano A, Giussani C, Mura RM, Barra S, Scarzello G, Scimone G, Carai A, Giangaspero F, Buttarelli FR. Treatment and outcome of intracranial ependymoma after first relapse in AIEOP 2 nd protocol. Neuro Oncol 2021; 24:467-479. [PMID: 34605902 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noab230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND More than 40% of patients with intracranial ependymoma need a salvage treatment within 5 years after diagnosis, and no standard treatment is available as yet. We report the outcome after first relapse of 64 patients treated within the 2 nd AIEOP protocol. METHODS We considered relapse sites and treatments ,i.e. various combinations of complete/incomplete surgery, if followed by standard or hypo-fractionated radiation(RT) ± chemotherapy(CT). Molecular analyses were available for 38/64 samples obtained at first diagnosis. Of the 64 cases, 55 were suitable for subsequent analyses. RESULTS The median follow-up was 147 months after diagnosis, 84 after first relapse, 5-year EFS/OS were 26.2%/30.8% (median EFS/OS 13/32 months) after relapse. For patients with a local relapse(LR), the 5-year cumulative incidence of second LRs was 51.6%, with a 5-year event-specific probability of being LR-free of 40.0%. Tumor site/grade, need for shunting, age above/below 3 years, molecular subgroup at diagnosis, had no influence on outcomes. Due to variation in the RT dose/fractionation used and the subgroup sizes it was not possible to assess the impact of the different RT modalities. Multivariable analyses identified completion of surgery, absence of symptoms at relapse, and female sex as prognostically favorable. Tumors with a 1q gain carried a higher cumulative incidence of dissemination after first relapse. CONCLUSIONS Survival after recurrence was significantly influenced by symptoms and completeness of surgery. Only a homogeneous protocol with well posed, randomized questions could clarify the numerous issues, orient salvage treatment and ameliorate prognosis for this group of patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maura Massimino
- Pediatric, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Barretta
- Medical Statistics, Biometry and Bioinformatics, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Pascal Johann
- Hopp-Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg KiTZ, German Cancer Research Center DKFZ, German Cancer Consortium DKTK Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Paolo Ferroli
- Neurosurgery , IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Manila Antonelli
- Radiological, Oncological and Anatomo-Pathological Sciences, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenza Gandola
- Pediatric Radiotherapy, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Garrè
- Neuroncology and Neurosurgery Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Daniele Bertin
- Pediatric Onco-Hematology, Azienda Ospedaliera Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Department of Oncology Italy
| | - Angela Mastronuzzi
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Department, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Lucia Quaglietta
- Pediatric Oncology Unit, Ospedale Santobono-Pausillipon, Napoli, Italy
| | | | - Iacopo Sardi
- Neuroncology, Ospedale Pediatrico Meyer, Firenze, Italy
| | | | - Luna Boschetti
- Pediatric, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Veronica Biassoni
- Pediatric, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Luisa Chiapparini
- Radiology Units, IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Anna Mussano
- Radiotherapy Units, Azienda Ospedaliera Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Department of Oncology Italy
| | | | | | - Salvina Barra
- Pediatric Radiotherapy and Special Techniques Unit, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova
| | | | - Giuseppe Scimone
- Radiotherapy Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria S. Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi D'Aragona - Salerno
| | - Andrea Carai
- Department of Neurosciences, Neurosurgery Unit, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy
| | - Felice Giangaspero
- Radiological, Oncological and Anatomo-Pathological Sciences, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli; for the AIEOP Central Nervous System Working Group
| | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
Carter-Febres M, Sloan EA, Pekmezci M, Putnam AR, Linscott L, Cheshier S, Aldape K, Bruggers CS. Aggressive chemotherapy aimed at obviating radiation in two very young infants with disseminated anaplastic ependymoma. PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGY ONCOLOGY JOURNAL 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phoj.2021.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
|
26
|
Shah S, Gates K, Mallory C, Rubens M, Maher OM, Niazi TN, Khatib Z, Kotecha R, Mehta MP, Hall MD. Effect of Postoperative Radiation Therapy Timing on Survival in Pediatric and Young Adult Ependymoma. Adv Radiat Oncol 2021; 6:100691. [PMID: 34409202 PMCID: PMC8360936 DOI: 10.1016/j.adro.2021.100691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Postoperative radiation therapy (RT) is commonly used for World Health Organization grade II-III intracranial ependymoma. Clinicians generally aim to begin RT ≤5 weeks after surgery, but postoperative recovery and need for second look surgery can delay the initiation of adjuvant therapy. On ACNS 0831, patients were required to enroll ≤8 weeks after initial surgery and begin adjuvant therapy within 3 weeks after enrollment. The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal timing of RT after surgery. Methods and Materials The National Cancer Database was queried for patients (aged 1-39 years) with localized World Health Organization grade II-III intracranial ependymoma treated with surgery and postoperative RT. Overall survival (OS) curves were plotted based on RT timing (≤5 weeks, 5-8 weeks, and >8 weeks after surgery) and were compared by log-rank test. Factors associated with OS were identified by multivariate analysis. After 2009, complete data were available on whether patients underwent gross total resection or subtotal resection. Planned subset analysis was performed to examine the effect of RT timing on OS in patients with known extent of resection. Results In the final analytical data set of 1043 patients, no difference in 3-year OS was observed in patients who initiated RT ≤5 weeks, 5 to 8 weeks, and >8 weeks after surgery (89.8% vs 89.1% vs 88.4%; P = .796). On multivariate analysis, grade III tumors (hazard ratio, 2.752; 95% confidence interval, 1.969-3.846, P < .001) and subtotal resection (hazard ratio, 2.253; 95% confidence interval, 1.405-3.611, P < .001) were significantly associated with reduced OS. Timing of RT, total RT dose, age, and other factors were not significant. These findings were affirmed in the subset of patients treated between 2010 and 2016, when extent of resection was routinely recorded. Conclusions Delayed postoperative RT was not associated with inferior survival in patients with intracranial ependymoma. Delayed RT initiation may be acceptable in patients who require longer postoperative recovery or referral to an appropriate RT center, but should be minimized whenever practical.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sunny Shah
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Miami Cancer Institute, Baptist Health South Florida, Miami, Florida
| | - Kevin Gates
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Miami Cancer Institute, Baptist Health South Florida, Miami, Florida
| | - Chase Mallory
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Miami Cancer Institute, Baptist Health South Florida, Miami, Florida
| | - Muni Rubens
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Miami Cancer Institute, Baptist Health South Florida, Miami, Florida
| | | | - Toba N Niazi
- Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Nicklaus Children's Hospital, Miami, Florida
| | | | - Rupesh Kotecha
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Miami Cancer Institute, Baptist Health South Florida, Miami, Florida
| | - Minesh P Mehta
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Miami Cancer Institute, Baptist Health South Florida, Miami, Florida
| | - Matthew D Hall
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Miami Cancer Institute, Baptist Health South Florida, Miami, Florida
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Tsai JW, Manoharan N, Alexandrescu S, Zimmerman MA, Scully J, Chordas C, Clymer J, Wright KD, Filbin M, Ullrich NJ, Marcus KJ, Haas-Kogan D, Chi SN, Bandopadhayay P, Yeo KK. Outcomes after first relapse of childhood intracranial ependymoma. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2021; 68:e28930. [PMID: 33565268 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.28930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ependymoma is the third most common malignant CNS tumor in children. Despite multimodal therapy, prognosis of relapsed ependymoma remains poor. Approaches to therapy for relapsed ependymoma are varied. We present a single-institution retrospective review of the outcomes after first relapse of intracranial ependymoma in children. PROCEDURE We performed a retrospective, IRB-approved chart review of patients with recurrent intracranial ependymoma treated at Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center from 1990 to 2019. RESULTS Thirty-four patients with relapsed intracranial ependymoma were identified. At initial diagnosis, 11 patients had supratentorial disease, 22 with posterior fossa disease and one with metastatic disease. Median time-to-first relapse was 14.9 months from initial diagnosis (range 1.4-52.5). Seven patients had metastatic disease at first relapse. Gross total resection (GTR) was associated with improved 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) relative to subtotal resection (STR) and no surgery (p = .005). Localized disease at relapse was associated with improved 5-year overall survival (OS) when compared to metastatic disease (p = .02). Irradiation at first relapse seemed to delay progression but was not associated with statistically prolonged PFS or OS. Tumor location, histology, and chromosomal 1q status did not impact outcome at first relapse, although available molecular data were limited making definitive conclusions difficult. Median time-to-second relapse was 10 months (range 0.7-124). Five-year PFS and OS after first relapse were 19.9% and 45.1%, respectively. Median PFS and OS were 10.0 and 52.5 months after first relapse, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Relapsed intracranial ependymoma has a poor prognosis despite multimodal therapy. Novel therapeutic strategies are desperately needed for this disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica W Tsai
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorder Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Neevika Manoharan
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorder Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sanda Alexandrescu
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorder Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mary Ann Zimmerman
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorder Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jacqueline Scully
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorder Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Christine Chordas
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorder Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jessica Clymer
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorder Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Karen D Wright
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorder Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mariella Filbin
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorder Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nicole J Ullrich
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorder Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Karen J Marcus
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorder Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Division of Radiation Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Daphne Haas-Kogan
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorder Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Division of Radiation Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Susan N Chi
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorder Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Pratiti Bandopadhayay
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorder Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kee Kiat Yeo
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorder Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Plant-Fox AS, O'Halloran K, Goldman S. Pediatric brain tumors: the era of molecular diagnostics, targeted and immune-based therapeutics, and a focus on long term neurologic sequelae. Curr Probl Cancer 2021; 45:100777. [PMID: 34303558 DOI: 10.1016/j.currproblcancer.2021.100777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Pediatric brain tumors are the second most common malignancy of childhood after acute leukemia and the number one cause of cancer-related mortality1. Over the past decade, advanced molecular diagnostics have led to the discovery of new molecularly-defined tumor types with prognostic and therapeutic implications. Methylation profiles, whole genome sequencing, and transcriptomics have defined subgroups and revealed heterogeneity within commonly defined tumor entities2,3. These findings have also revealed important differences between adult and pediatric brain tumors of similar histology. The majority of pediatric low grade gliomas (pLGG) are defined by alterations in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway including BRAFV600E point mutation, K1AA1549-BRAF fusion, and FGFR1 alterations as opposed to IDH1/2 mutations and 1p/19q co-deletion seen more frequently in adult low grade gliomas4. These findings have led to targeted therapies, namely BRAF and MEK inhibitors, which are currently being evaluated in phase III clinical trials and may soon supplant chemotherapy as standard of care for pLGG's. While targeted therapy trials for pediatric brain tumors have had significant success, immunotherapy remains a challenge in a group of tumors with generally lower mutational burden compared to adult tumors and relatively "cold" immune microenvironment. Despite this, a wide array of immunotherapy trials including vaccine therapies, immune checkpoint blockade, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, and viral therapies are on-going. Unique to pediatrics, multiple clinical trials have sought to answer the question of whether the most malignant pediatric brain tumors in the youngest patients can be successfully treated with high dose chemotherapy in lieu of radiation to avoid devastating long-term neurocognitive deficits. Due to the collaborative work of multiple pediatric neuro-oncology consortiums, the recent history of pediatric brain tumor research is one of efficient translation from bench to bedside in a rare group of tumors resulting in significant progress in the field. Here, advances in the areas of molecular characterization, targeted and immune-based therapies, and reduction in long term co-morbidities will be reviewed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashley S Plant-Fox
- Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. Division of Hematology/Oncology/Stem Cell Transplantation/Neuro-Oncology. Chicago, Illinois.
| | - Katrina O'Halloran
- Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. Division of Hematology/Oncology, Los Angeles, California
| | - Stewart Goldman
- Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. Division of Hematology/Oncology/Stem Cell Transplantation/Neuro-Oncology. Chicago, Illinois
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
An Insight into Pathophysiological Features and Therapeutic Advances on Ependymoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13133221. [PMID: 34203272 PMCID: PMC8269186 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13133221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Although biological information and the molecular classification of ependymoma have been studied, the treatment systems for ependymoma are still insufficient. In addition, because the disease occurs infrequently, it is difficult to obtain sufficient data to conduct large-scale or randomized clinical trials. Therefore, this study is intended to emphasize the importance of understanding its pathological characteristics and prognosis as well as developing treatments for ependymoma through multilateral studies. Abstract Glial cells comprise the non-sensory parts of the central nervous system as well as the peripheral nervous system. Glial cells, also known as neuroglia, constitute a significant portion of the mammalian nervous system and can be viewed simply as a matrix of neural cells. Despite being the “Nervenkitt” or “glue of the nerves”, they aptly serve multiple roles, including neuron repair, myelin sheath formation, and cerebrospinal fluid circulation. Ependymal cells are one of four kinds of glial cells that exert distinct functions. Tumorigenesis of a glial cell is termed a glioma, and in the case of an ependymal cell, it is called an ependymoma. Among the various gliomas, an ependymoma in children is one of the more challenging brain tumors to cure. Children are afflicted more severely by ependymal tumors than adults. It has appeared from several surveys that ependymoma comprises approximately six to ten percent of all tumors in children. Presently, the surgical removal of the tumor is considered a standard treatment for ependymomas. It has been conspicuously evident that a combination of irradiation therapy and surgery is much more efficacious in treating ependymomas. The main purpose of this review is to present the importance of both a deep understanding and ongoing research into histopathological features and prognoses of ependymomas to ensure that effective diagnostic methods and treatments can be developed.
Collapse
|
30
|
Affiliation(s)
- Timothy A Ritzmann
- The Children's Brain Tumour Research Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - John-Paul Kilday
- Children's Brain Tumour Research Network (CBTRN), Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Richard G Grundy
- The Children's Brain Tumour Research Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Blattner-Johnson M, Jones DTW, Pfaff E. Precision medicine in pediatric solid cancers. Semin Cancer Biol 2021; 84:214-227. [PMID: 34116162 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2021.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Despite huge advances in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric cancers over the past several decades, it remains one of the leading causes of death during childhood in developed countries. The development of new targeted treatments for these diseases has been hampered by two major factors. First, the extremely heterogeneous nature of the types of tumors encountered in this age group, and their fundamental differences from common adult carcinomas, has made it hard to truly get a handle on the complexities of the underlying biology driving tumor growth. Second, a reluctance of the pharmaceutical industry to develop products or trials for this population due to the relatively small size of the 'market', and a too-easy mechanism of obtaining waivers for pediatric development of adult oncology drugs based on disease type rather than mechanism of action, led to significant difficulties in getting access to new drugs. Thankfully, the field has now started to change, both scientifically and from a regulatory perspective, in order to address some of these challenges. In this review, we will examine some of the recent insights into molecular features which make pediatric tumors so unique and how these might represent therapeutic targets; highlight ongoing international initiatives for providing comprehensive, personalized genomic profiling of childhood tumors in a clinically-relevant timeframe, and look briefly at where the field of pediatric precision oncology may be heading in future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mirjam Blattner-Johnson
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Pediatric Glioma Research Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - David T W Jones
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Pediatric Glioma Research Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Elke Pfaff
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Pediatric Glioma Research Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology, Immunology and Pulmonology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Gillen AE, Riemondy KA, Amani V, Griesinger AM, Gilani A, Venkataraman S, Madhavan K, Prince E, Sanford B, Hankinson TC, Handler MH, Vibhakar R, Jones KL, Mitra S, Hesselberth JR, Foreman NK, Donson AM. Single-Cell RNA Sequencing of Childhood Ependymoma Reveals Neoplastic Cell Subpopulations That Impact Molecular Classification and Etiology. Cell Rep 2021; 32:108023. [PMID: 32783945 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Revised: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Ependymoma (EPN) is a brain tumor commonly presenting in childhood that remains fatal in most children. Intra-tumoral cellular heterogeneity in bulk-tumor samples significantly confounds our understanding of EPN biology, impeding development of effective therapy. We, therefore, use single-cell RNA sequencing, histology, and deconvolution to catalog cellular heterogeneity of the major childhood EPN subgroups. Analysis of PFA subgroup EPN reveals evidence of an undifferentiated progenitor subpopulation that either differentiates into subpopulations with ependymal cell characteristics or transitions into a mesenchymal subpopulation. Histological analysis reveals that progenitor and mesenchymal subpopulations co-localize in peri-necrotic zones. In conflict with current classification paradigms, relative PFA subpopulation proportions are shown to determine bulk-tumor-assigned subgroups. We provide an interactive online resource that facilitates exploration of the EPN single-cell dataset. This atlas of EPN cellular heterogeneity increases understanding of EPN biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Austin E Gillen
- RNA Biosciences Initiative, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Kent A Riemondy
- RNA Biosciences Initiative, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Vladimir Amani
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Andrea M Griesinger
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Ahmed Gilani
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Sujatha Venkataraman
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Krishna Madhavan
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Eric Prince
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Bridget Sanford
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Todd C Hankinson
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Michael H Handler
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Rajeev Vibhakar
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Ken L Jones
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Siddhartha Mitra
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Jay R Hesselberth
- RNA Biosciences Initiative, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Nicholas K Foreman
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Andrew M Donson
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Massimino M, Barretta F, Modena P, Witt H, Minasi S, Pfister SM, Pajtler KW, Antonelli M, Gandola L, Luisa Garrè M, Bertin D, Mastronuzzi A, Mascarin M, Quaglietta L, Viscardi E, Sardi I, Ruggiero A, Pollo B, Buccoliero A, Boschetti L, Schiavello E, Chiapparini L, Erbetta A, Morra I, Gessi M, Donofrio V, Patriarca C, Giangaspero F, Johann P, Buttarelli FR. Second series by the Italian Association of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology of children and adolescents with intracranial ependymoma: an integrated molecular and clinical characterization with a long-term follow-up. Neuro Oncol 2021; 23:848-857. [PMID: 33135735 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noaa257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A prospective 2002-2014 study stratified 160 patients by resection extent and histological grade, reporting results in 2016. We re-analyzed the series after a median of 119 months, adding retrospectively patients' molecular features. METHODS Follow-up of all patients was updated. DNA copy number analysis and gene-fusion detection could be completed for 94/160 patients, methylation classification for 68. RESULTS Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) at 5/10 years were 66/58%, and 80/73%. Ten patients had late relapses (range 66-126 mo), surviving after relapse no longer than those relapsing earlier (0-5 y). On multivariable analysis a better PFS was associated with grade II tumor and complete surgery at diagnosis and/or at radiotherapy; female sex and complete resection showed a positive association with OS. Posterior fossa (PF) tumors scoring ≥0.80 on DNA methylation analysis were classified as PFA (n = 41) and PFB (n = 9). PFB patients had better PFS and OS. Eighteen/32 supratentorial tumors were classified as RELA, and 3 as other molecular entities (anaplastic PXA, LGG MYB, HGNET). RELA had no prognostic impact. Patients with 1q gain or cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A) loss had worse outcomes, included significantly more patients >3 years old (P = 0.050) and cases of dissemination at relapse (P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS Previously described prognostic factors were confirmed at 10-year follow-up. Late relapses occurred in 6.2% of patients. Specific molecular features may affect outcome: PFB patients had a very good prognosis; 1q gain and CDKN2A loss were associated with dissemination. To draw reliable conclusions, modern ependymoma trials need to combine diagnostics with molecular risk stratification and long-term follow-up.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maura Massimino
- Pediatric Radiotherapy, Oncology Referral Center, Aviano, Italy
| | - Francesco Barretta
- Medical Statistics, Biometry and Bioinformatics, IRCCS Fondazione Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Hendrik Witt
- Hopp-Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg, German Cancer Research Center, German Cancer Consortium , Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Simone Minasi
- Departments of Neurology and Psychiatric, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefan M Pfister
- Hopp-Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg, German Cancer Research Center, German Cancer Consortium , Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kristian W Pajtler
- Hopp-Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg, German Cancer Research Center, German Cancer Consortium , Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Manila Antonelli
- Radiological, Oncological and Anatomo-Pathological Sciences, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenza Gandola
- Pediatric Radiotherapy, IRCCS Fondazione Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Garrè
- Neuroncology and Neurosurgery Unit, Giannina Gaslini Institute, Genova, Italy
| | - Daniele Bertin
- Pediatric Onco-Hematology, Units, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, Torino, Italy
| | - Angela Mastronuzzi
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Department, Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Maurizio Mascarin
- Departments of Pediatric, IRCCS Fondazione Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Lucia Quaglietta
- Departments of Pediatric Oncology, Santobono-Pausillipon Hospital, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Iacopo Sardi
- Neuroncology, Units, Meyer Pediatric Hospital, Firenze, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Luna Boschetti
- Departments of Pediatric, IRCCS Fondazione Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Schiavello
- Departments of Pediatric, IRCCS Fondazione Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Isabella Morra
- Pathology, Units, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, Torino, Italy
| | - Marco Gessi
- Pathology, Units, Carlo Besta Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Pascal Johann
- Hopp-Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg, German Cancer Research Center, German Cancer Consortium , Heidelberg, Germany
| | | |
Collapse
|
34
|
Foreman NK. Long-term outcomes from the second l'Associazione Italiana di Ematologia e Oncologia Pediatrica (AIEOP) protocol. Neuro Oncol 2021; 23:713-714. [PMID: 33684222 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noab055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas K Foreman
- The Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Targeted Therapy with Sirolimus and Nivolumab in a Child with Refractory Multifocal Anaplastic Ependymoma. REPORTS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/reports4020012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pediatric ependymoma (EPN) is the third most common central nervous system (CNS) tumor, with 90% arising intracranially. Management typically involves maximal surgical resection and radiotherapy, but patients’ outcome is poor. Moreover, there are only a few therapeutical options available for recurrent or refractory disease. In this report, we present the case of a 7-year-old girl with relapsed refractory multifocal grade III EPN who failed conventional treatments and experienced a stable and durable response to the immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICPI) nivolumab in association with the mammalian target of rapamycin (m-TOR) inhibitor sirolimus. This experimental therapy was targeted on immune phenotypical analyses of the patient’s last relapse tumor sample, and this procedure should be routinely done to find new possible therapeutical approaches in recurrent solid tumors.
Collapse
|
36
|
Lundar T, Due-Tønnessen BJ, Frič R, Sundseth J, Brandal P, Due-Tønnessen P. Outcome After Treatment of Spinal Ependymoma in Children and Adolescents: Long-Term Follow-up of a Single Consecutive Institutional Series of 33 Patients Treated Over Eight Decades. World Neurosurg 2021; 150:e228-e235. [PMID: 33684583 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2021.02.131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/27/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long-term outcomes for pediatric patients treated for spinal ependymoma are unknown. METHODS We performed a retrospective analysis of outcome data from 33 children and young adults (0-22 years) who were operated on for a spinal ependymoma at our institution during the last 8 decades (1938-2019). RESULTS Nineteen patients are alive, with follow-up period up to 60 years. Twelve of them are tumor-free, and 7 are alive with disease. Fourteen patients are dead, 9 of them due to recurrent and/or progressive disease 1-56 years (median: 11 years) after the initial surgery. Four of the deceased patients were treated before 1948, 3 of them with excellent long-term survival for 62-66 years after the initial surgery. Tumor recurrence was observed in half of the patients, both local at the site of the primary tumor resection as well as widespread intraspinal presentations. Recurrences were observed within months but also occurred after up to 20 years after initial treatment. After the implementation of magnetic resonance imaging in 1987, details of recurrent disease became more easily demonstrated. Repeated resections were performed when the symptomatic spinal disease was in progress (n = 11). Furthermore, 2 patients have intracranial tumor manifestations, 1 of them underwent resection of a suprasellar tumor in 1991. Four deceased patients experienced aggressive extraspinal progressive disease requiring multiple surgeries, including pulmonary metastasis in 1 of them. CONCLUSIONS Pediatric spinal ependymomas can be treated with favorable results and functional outcome may be good even after more than half a century of follow-up. Nevertheless, unexpected and late recurrences may occur, and life-long follow-up is therefore recommended.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tryggve Lundar
- Department of Neurosurgery, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
| | | | - Radek Frič
- Department of Neurosurgery, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jarle Sundseth
- Department of Neurosurgery, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Petter Brandal
- Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | | |
Collapse
|
37
|
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Recent genetic and molecular findings have impacted the diagnosis, prognosis, and in some instances, treatment strategies for children with pediatric central nervous system tumors. Herein, we review the most up-to-date molecular findings and how they have impacted tumor classification and clinical care. RECENT FINDINGS It is now recognized that aberrations of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway are present in the majority of pediatric low-grade glioma. Also, there has been the identification of recurrent histone H3 K27M mutations in diffuse intrinsic pontine and other midline gliomas. Medulloblastoma is now divided into four molecular subgroups with distinct characteristics and prognoses. The classification of other unique embryonal tumors is also highlighted. Finally, we present the newest classification of ependymoma; supratentorial ependymomas comprise two subtypes based on expression of the chromosome 11 Open Reading Frame 95-reticuloendotheliosis Viral Oncogene Homolog A or yes-associated protein 1 fusion, whereas posterior fossa ependymomas are divided into two distinct molecular subgroups, posterior fossa-A and posterior fossa-B. SUMMARY These advances in the molecular classification of pediatric central nervous system tumors have not only assisted in diagnoses, but they have led to a new era of tumor classification and prognostication. They also have served as drivers for the evaluation of new targeted therapies based upon molecular aberrations with the hope for improved survival outcomes for our patients.
Collapse
|
38
|
Malbari F, Aldave G, Birchansky SB, Paulino AC, Lopez-Terrada DH, Mohila CA, Zhao S, Chintagumpala M. Ependymoma Presenting as a -Rim-Enhancing Lesion in the Brainstem. Pediatr Neurosurg 2021; 56:455-459. [PMID: 34148044 DOI: 10.1159/000516001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The posterior fossa is the most common intracranial location for pediatric ependymoma. While ependymoma usually arises from the ventricular lining of the fourth ventricle as a solid mass, it rarely originates from the brainstem. Grade II ependymomas also infrequently appear as a cavitary ring-enhancing lesion. CASE PRESENTATION We describe a case of a 6-year-old boy with an ependymoma arising within the medulla with imaging features of a thick-walled rim-enhancing cavitary lesion. A stereotactic biopsy was obtained which confirmed a grade II ependymoma. The patient received focal proton beam radiation therapy and is doing well with no concerns for disease progression at 28 months after diagnosis. CONCLUSION Posterior fossa ependymomas typically arise from ependymal cells within the fourth ventricle or foramina of Luschka. They rarely invade or arise within the brainstem parenchyma. Our case had atypical imaging findings in addition to the atypical tumor location. The lesion was described as a thick-walled rim-enhancing focal cystic necrotic lesion centered within the medulla with surrounding nonenhancing expansile infiltrative changes. Ring-enhancing lesions can be seen in patients with anaplastic ependymoma, but is not commonly reported in grade II ependymomas. In summary, this report highlights a unique case of a posterior fossa ependymoma in a pediatric patient arising in an atypical brainstem location as well as having unique imaging features.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fatema Malbari
- Division of Neurology and Developmental Neurosciences, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Guillermo Aldave
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Sherri B Birchansky
- Edward B. Singleton Department of Radiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Arnold C Paulino
- Division of Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiation Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Dolores H Lopez-Terrada
- Deparment of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Carrie A Mohila
- Deparment of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Sibo Zhao
- Hematology and Oncology Center, Neuro-Oncology Program, Cook Children's Hospital, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
| | - Murali Chintagumpala
- Department of Pediatrics, Texas Children's Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Abemaciclib, A Selective CDK4/6 Inhibitor, Restricts the Growth of Pediatric Ependymomas. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12123597. [PMID: 33271970 PMCID: PMC7760843 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12123597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Pediatric ependymomas are malignant pediatric brain tumors, and one-third of patients exhibit recurrence within two years of initial treatment. Therefore, this study aimed to find new agents to overcome these chemoresistant tumors and defer radiotherapy treatment. By using integrated bioinformatics and experimental validation, we demonstrated that abemaciclib, a CDK4/6 inhibitor, effectively inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell death. Therefore, treatment with abemaciclib showed encouraging results in preclinical pediatric ependymoma models and provide a new therapeutic strategy in the future. Abstract Pediatric ependymomas are a type of malignant brain tumor that occurs in children. The overall 10-year survival rate has been reported as being 45–75%. Maximal safe surgical resection combined with adjuvant chemoradiation therapy is associated with the highest overall and progression-free survival rates. Despite aggressive treatment, one-third of ependymomas exhibit recurrence within 2 years of initial treatment. Therefore, this study aimed to find new agents to overcome chemoresistance and defer radiotherapy treatment since, in addition, radiation exposure may cause long-term side effects in the developing brains of young children. By using integrated bioinformatics and through experimental validation, we found that at least one of the genes CCND1 and CDK4 is overexpressed in ependymomas. The use of abemaciclib, a highly selective CDK4/6 inhibitor, effectively inhibited cell proliferation and reduced the expression of cell-cycle-related and DNA-repair-related gene expression via the suppression of RB phosphorylation, which was determined through RNA-seq and Western blot analyses. Furthermore, abemaciclib effectively induced cell death in vitro. The efficiency of abemaciclib was validated in vivo using subcutaneously implanted ependymoma tissues from patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) in mouse models. Treatment with abemaciclib showed encouraging results in preclinical pediatric ependymoma models and represents a potential therapeutic strategy for treating challenging tumors in children.
Collapse
|
40
|
Lopez-Rivera V, Dono A, Abdelkhaleq R, Sheth SA, Chen PR, Chandra A, Ballester LY, Esquenazi Y. Treatment trends and overall survival in patients with grade II/III ependymoma: The role of tumor grade and location. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2020; 199:106282. [PMID: 33045626 DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2020.106282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/04/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Treatment of ependymoma (EPN) is guided by associated tumor features, such as grade and location. However, the relationship between these features with treatments and overall survival in EPN patients remains uncharacterized. Here, we describe the change over time in treatment strategies and identify tumor characteristics that influence treatment and survival in EPN. METHODS AND MATERIALS Using the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 18 Registries (1973-2016) database, we identified patients with EPN microscopically confirmed to be grade II (EPN-GII) or III (EPN-GIII) tumors between 2004-2016. Overall survival (OS) was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival estimates and multivariable Cox proportional hazard models. A sub-analysis was performed by tumor location (supratentorial, posterior fossa, and spine). Change over time in rates of gross total resection (GTR), radiotherapy (RT), and chemotherapy (CS) were analyzed using linear regression, and predictors of treatment were identified using multivariable logistic regression models. RESULTS Between 2004-2016, 1,671 patients were diagnosed with EPN, of which 1,234 (74 %) were EPN-GII and 437 (26 %) EPN-GIII. Over the study period, EPN-GII patients underwent a less aggressive treatment (48 % vs 27 %, GTR; 60 % vs 30 %, RT; 22 % vs 2%, CS; 2004 vs 2016; p < 0.01 for all). Age, tumor size, location, and grade were positive predictors of undergoing treatment. Univariate analysis revealed that tumor grade and location were significantly associated with OS (p < 0.0001 for both). In multivariable Cox regression, tumor grade was an independent predictor of OS among patients in the cohort (grade III, HR 3.89 [2.84-5.33]; p < 0.0001), with this finding remaining significant across all tumor locations. CONCLUSIONS In EPN, tumor grade and location are predictors of treatment and overall survival. These findings support the importance of histologic WHO grade and location in the decision-making for treatment and their role in individualizing treatment for different patient populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Victor Lopez-Rivera
- Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Antonio Dono
- Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Rania Abdelkhaleq
- Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sunil A Sheth
- Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA; Memorial Hermann Hospital-Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Peng R Chen
- Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA; Memorial Hermann Hospital-Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ankush Chandra
- Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA; Memorial Hermann Hospital-Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Leomar Y Ballester
- Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA; Memorial Hermann Hospital-Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yoshua Esquenazi
- Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA; Memorial Hermann Hospital-Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA; Center for Precision Health, School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Ritzmann TA, Rogers HA, Paine SML, Storer LCD, Jacques TS, Chapman RJ, Ellison D, Donson AM, Foreman NK, Grundy RG. A retrospective analysis of recurrent pediatric ependymoma reveals extremely poor survival and ineffectiveness of current treatments across central nervous system locations and molecular subgroups. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2020; 67:e28426. [PMID: 32614133 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.28426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Revised: 05/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Relapse occurs in 50% of pediatric ependymoma cases and has poor prognosis. Few studies have investigated the clinical progress of relapsed disease, and treatment lacks a standardized approach. METHODS AND MATERIALS We analyzed 302 pediatric ependymoma cases. Tumor, demographic, and treatment variables were investigated for association with relapse risk, time to recurrence, and survival after relapse. DNA methylation profiling was performed for 135/302 cases, and predominant subgroups were EPN_PFA (n = 95) and EPN_RELA (n = 24). Chromosome 1q status was ascertained for 185/302 cases by fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH), multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA), and DNA methylation profiles. RESULTS Sixty-two percent of cases relapsed, with a median of two recurrences with no difference between posterior fossa and supratentorial locations (66% vs 55% relapse rate). One hundred seventeen (38%) cases relapsed within two years and five (2%) beyond 10 years. The late relapses were clinically heterogeneous. Tumor grade and treatment affected risk and time to relapse variably across subgroups. After relapse, surgery and irradiation delayed disease progression with a minimal impact on survival across the entire cohort. In the EPN_PFA and EPN_RELA groups, 1q gain was independently associated with relapse risk (subhazard ratio [SHR] 4.307, P = 0.027 and SHR 1.982, P = 0.010, respectively) while EPN_PFA had increased relapse risk compared with EPN_RELA (SHR = 0.394, P = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS Recurrent pediatric ependymoma is an aggressive disease with poor outcomes, for which current treatments are inadequate. We report that chromosome 1q gain increases relapse risk in common molecular subgroups in children but a deeper understanding of the underlying biology at relapse and novel therapeutic approaches are urgently needed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Timothy A Ritzmann
- Children's Brain Tumor Research Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Hazel A Rogers
- Children's Brain Tumor Research Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Simon M L Paine
- Department of Neuropathology, Nottingham University Hospital, Nottingham, UK
| | - Lisa C D Storer
- Children's Brain Tumor Research Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Thomas S Jacques
- Developmental Biology and Cancer Programme, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health and Department of Histopathology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Rebecca J Chapman
- Children's Brain Tumor Research Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - David Ellison
- Department of Pathology, St Jude Children's Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Andrew M Donson
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado, Denver, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Nicholas K Foreman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado, Denver, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Richard G Grundy
- Children's Brain Tumor Research Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Upadhyaya SA, Robinson GW, Onar-Thomas A, Orr BA, Billups CA, Bowers DC, Bendel AE, Hassall T, Crawford JR, Partap S, Fisher PG, Tatevossian RG, Seah T, Qaddoumi IA, Vinitsky A, Armstrong GT, Sabin ND, Tinkle CL, Klimo P, Indelicato DJ, Boop FA, Merchant TE, Ellison DW, Gajjar A. Molecular grouping and outcomes of young children with newly diagnosed ependymoma treated on the multi-institutional SJYC07 trial. Neuro Oncol 2020; 21:1319-1330. [PMID: 30976811 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noz069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This report documents the clinical characteristics, molecular grouping, and outcome of young children with ependymoma treated prospectively on a clinical trial. METHODS Fifty-four children (aged ≤3 y) with newly diagnosed ependymoma were treated on the St Jude Young Children 07 (SJYC07) trial with maximal safe surgical resection, 4 cycles of systemic chemotherapy, consolidation therapy using focal conformal radiation therapy (RT) (5-mm clinical target volume), and 6 months of oral maintenance chemotherapy. Molecular groups were determined by tumor DNA methylation using Infinium Methylation EPIC BeadChip and profiled on the German Cancer Research Center/Molecular Neuropathology 2.0 classifier. RESULTS One of the 54 study patients had metastases (cerebrospinal fluid positive) at diagnosis. Gross or near-total resection was achieved in 48 (89%) patients prior to RT. At a median follow-up of 4.4 years (range, 0.2-10.3 y), 4-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 75.1% ± 7.2%, and overall survival was 92.6% ± 4.4%. The molecular groups showed no significant difference in PFS (4-year estimates: posterior fossa ependymoma group A [PF-EPN-A; 42/54], 71.2% ± 8.3%; supratentorial ependymoma positive for v-rel avian reticuloendotheliosis viral oncogene homolog A [ST-EPN-RELA; 8/54], 83.3% ± 17.0%; and supratentorial ependymoma positive for Yes-associated protein [4/54], 100%, P = 0.22). Subtotal resection prior to RT was associated with an inferior PFS compared with gross or near-total resection (4-year PFS: 41.7% ± 22.5% vs 79.0% ± 7.1%, P = 0.024), as was PF-EPN-A group with 1q gain (P = 0.05). Histopathologic grading was not associated with outcomes (classic vs anaplastic; P = 0.89). CONCLUSIONS In this prospectively treated cohort of young children with ependymoma, ST-EPN-RELA tumors had a more favorable outcome than reported from retrospective data. Histologic grade did not impact outcome. PF-EPN-A with 1q gain and subtotal resection were associated with inferior outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Santhosh A Upadhyaya
- Department of Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Giles W Robinson
- Department of Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Arzu Onar-Thomas
- Department of Biostatistics, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Brent A Orr
- Department of Pathology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Catherine A Billups
- Department of Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.,Department of Biostatistics, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Daniel C Bowers
- Departments of Pediatrics and Neurological Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School/Children's Health, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Anne E Bendel
- Department of Hematology Oncology, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Tim Hassall
- Department of Medicine, Queensland Children's Hospital, South Brisbane, Australia
| | - John R Crawford
- Department of Neurosciences and Pediatrics, University of California San Diego and Rady Childrens Hospital, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Sonia Partap
- Department of Neurology & Division of Child Neurology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Paul G Fisher
- Department of Neurology & Division of Child Neurology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Ruth G Tatevossian
- Department of Pathology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Tiffany Seah
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, London, UK
| | - Ibrahim A Qaddoumi
- Department of Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.,Department of Global Pediatric Medicine, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Anna Vinitsky
- Department of Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Gregory T Armstrong
- Department of Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.,Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Noah D Sabin
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Christopher L Tinkle
- Department of Radiation Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Paul Klimo
- Department of Surgery, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.,Semmes-Murphey Clinic, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.,Department of Neurosurgery, University of Tennessee and Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Danny J Indelicato
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, USA
| | - Frederick A Boop
- Department of Surgery, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.,Semmes-Murphey Clinic, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.,Department of Neurosurgery, University of Tennessee and Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Thomas E Merchant
- Department of Radiation Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - David W Ellison
- Department of Pathology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Amar Gajjar
- Department of Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.,Department of Pediatric Medicine, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Yang D, Holsten T, Börnigen D, Frank S, Mawrin C, Glatzel M, Schüller U. Ependymoma relapse goes along with a relatively stable epigenome, but a severely altered tumor morphology. Brain Pathol 2020; 31:33-44. [PMID: 32633004 PMCID: PMC8018105 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.12875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The molecular biology of ependymomas is not well understood and this is particularly true for ependymoma relapses. We aimed at finding out if and to which extent, relapses differ from their corresponding primary tumors on the morphological, chromosomal and epigenetic level. We investigated 24 matched ependymoma primary and relapsed tumor samples and, as a first step, compared cell density, necrosis, vessel proliferation, Ki67 proliferative index, trimethylation at H3K27 and expression of CXorf67. For the investigation of global methylation profiles, we used public data in order to analyze copy number variation profiles, differential methylation, methylation status and fractions of hypo‐ and hypermethylated CpGs in different epigenomic substructures. Morphologically, we found a significant increase with relapse in cell density and proliferation. H3K27 trimethylation and CXorf67 expression remained stable between primary and relapse tumor samples, and the analysis of DNA methylation profiles neither revealed significant differences in copy number variations nor differentially methylated regions. Significant differences in the methylation status were found for CpG islands, but also in N Shelves or S Shelves, depending on the molecular subgroup. The fraction of probes changing their methylation in the epigenomic substructures appeared subgroup‐specific. Most changes occur in CpG islands, for which relapsed tumors demonstrate higher methylation values than primary tumors. The morphological differences reflect increased aggressiveness upon ependymoma relapse, but, despite slight changes, this observation does not appear to be sufficiently explained by epigenetic changes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Denise Yang
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Research Institute Children's Cancer Center Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Till Holsten
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Research Institute Children's Cancer Center Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Daniela Börnigen
- Bioinformatics Core Unit, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stephan Frank
- Division for Neuropathology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christian Mawrin
- Institute for Neuropathology, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Markus Glatzel
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ulrich Schüller
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Research Institute Children's Cancer Center Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.,Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Lundar T, Due-Tønnessen BJ, Frič R, Brandal P, Due-Tønnessen P. Adult outcome after treatment of pediatric posterior fossa ependymoma: long-term follow-up of a single consecutive institutional series of 22 patients with more than 5 years of survival. J Neurosurg Pediatr 2020; 26:22-26. [PMID: 32217795 DOI: 10.3171/2020.1.peds19700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Ependymoma is the third most common posterior fossa tumor in children; however, there is a lack of long-term follow-up data on outcomes after surgical treatment of posterior fossa ependymoma (PFE) in pediatric patients. Therefore, the authors sought to investigate the long-term outcomes of children treated for PFE at their institution. METHODS The authors performed a retrospective analysis of outcome data from children who underwent treatment for PFE and survived for at least 5 years. RESULTS The authors identified 22 children (median age at the time of surgery 3 years, range 0-18 years) who underwent primary tumor resection of PFE during the period from 1945 to 2014 and who had at least 5 years of observed survival. None of these 22 patients were lost to follow-up, and they represent the long-term survivors (38%) from a total of 58 pediatric PFE patients treated. Nine (26%) of the 34 children treated during the pre-MRI era (1945-1986) were long-term survivors, while the observed 5-year survival rate in the children treated during the MRI era (1987-2014) was 13 (54%) of 24 patients. The majority of patients (n = 16) received adjuvant radiotherapy, and 4 of these received proton-beam irradiation. Six children had either no adjuvant treatment (n = 3) or only chemotherapy as adjuvant treatment (n = 3). Fourteen patients were alive at the time of this report. According to MRI findings, all of these patients were tumor free except 1 patient (age 78 years) with a known residual tumor after 65 years of event-free survival.Repeat resections for residual or recurrent tumor were performed in 9 patients, mostly for local residual disease with progressive clinical symptoms; 4 patients underwent only 1 repeated resection, whereas 5 patients each had 3 or more resections within 15 years after their initial surgery. At further follow-up, 5 of the patients who underwent a second surgery were found to be dead from the disease with or without undergoing additional resections, which were performed from 6 to 13 years after the second procedure. The other 4 patients, however, were tumor free on the latest follow-up MRI, performed from 6 to 27 years after the last resection. Hence, repeated surgery appears to increase the chance of tumor control in some patients, along with modern (proton-beam) radiotherapy. Six of 8 patients with more than 20 years of survival are in a good clinical condition, 5 of them in full-time work and 1 in part-time work. CONCLUSIONS Pediatric PFE occurs mostly in young children, and there is marked risk for local recurrence among 5-year survivors even after gross-total resection and postoperative radiotherapy. Repeated resections are therefore an important part of treatment and may lead to persistent tumor control. Even though the majority of children with PFE die from their tumor disease, some patients survive for more than 50 years with excellent functional outcome and working capacity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Paulina Due-Tønnessen
- 3Radiology, Oslo University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Wang Q, Cheng J, Zhang S, Li Q, Hui X, Ju Y. Supratentorial pediatric cortical ependymomas: a comprehensive retrospective study. Neurosurg Rev 2020; 44:1543-1551. [PMID: 32607870 DOI: 10.1007/s10143-020-01336-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2020] [Revised: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Pediatric cortical ependymomas (CEs) are rare; the clinical features and optimal treatment remain ill-defined. We aimed to clarify the clinical characteristics and outcome of pediatric CEs based on institutional series and literature review. Thirteen children with CEs from our department were included in the present study. Furthermore, a search of English language peer-reviewed articles yielded 43 patients with CEs. The clinical data, treatment, and outcome were retrospectively reviewed and statistically analyzed. Our institutional series consisted of nine males and four females. The literature review yielded 56 pediatric CE cases (including ours) for further analysis. Of these 56 cases, frontal lobe (n = 19, 41.3%) was the most common location and most of the tumors were located in the right hemisphere (n = 27, 58.7%). Seizures (n = 23, 41.1%) were the most frequent preoperative symptoms. Thirty patients (n = 30, 53.6%) were WHO grade II. Five continuous patients in our series screened for C11orf95-RELA fusion and all the patients (100%) were RELA fusion positive. Fourteen (26.4%) patients experienced tumor recurrence and 4 (7.5%) patients died during the follow-up. Multivariate survival analysis depicted extent of surgery resection was the only prognostic factor for PFS and patient with gross total resection (P = 0.037, HR 3.682, 95% CI 1.082-13.79) had longer PFS. Furthermore, Log-rank testing for Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed the extent of surgery resection (P = 0.007) was the only prognostic factor for OS. Pediatric CEs are rare, commonly seen in frontal lobe and right hemisphere. Seizures are the most common symptoms. They may have higher rate of RELA fusions, but favorable outcome. A low incidence of anaplastic histology has been depicted. Gross total resection is significantly associated with longer PFS and OS. Careful follow-up is necessary because the tumors may progress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qiguang Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Wu Hou District, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Jian Cheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Wu Hou District, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Si Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Wu Hou District, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Qiang Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Wu Hou District, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Xuhui Hui
- Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Wu Hou District, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Yan Ju
- Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Wu Hou District, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Hanz SZ, Adeuyan O, Lieberman G, Hennika T. Clinical trials using molecular stratification of pediatric brain tumors. Transl Pediatr 2020; 9:144-156. [PMID: 32477915 PMCID: PMC7237976 DOI: 10.21037/tp.2020.03.04] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death in children and adolescents, surpassing leukemia. The heterogeneity and invasiveness of pediatric brain tumors have historically made them difficult to treat. Although surgical intervention and standard of care therapies such as radiation and chemotherapy have improved the outlook for those affected, results are often transient and lend themselves to tumor recurrence or resistance. There also still exists a subset of brain tumors which remain unresponsive to treatment altogether. Therefore, there is great need for new therapeutic approaches. With the recent advent of molecularly-driven technologies, many of these complex tumors can now be classified by integrating molecular profiling data with clinical information such as demographics and outcomes. This new knowledge has allowed for the molecular stratification of pediatric brain tumors into distinct subgroups and the identification of molecular targets, which is changing how these children are treated, namely in the setting of clinical trials. Notable examples include reduced doses of radiation and chemotherapy in the wingless-activated subgroup of medulloblastoma, which has a favorable prognosis, and novel experimental drugs targeting BRAF alterations in low-grade gliomas and dopamine receptors in high-grade gliomas. In this review, we highlight several key previous and ongoing clinical trials that utilize molecular stratifications and targets for the treatment of pediatric brain tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Z Hanz
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Division of Child Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Oluwaseyi Adeuyan
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Division of Child Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Grace Lieberman
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Child Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tammy Hennika
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Child Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Wu T, Zhang ZW, Li S, Wang B, Yang Z, Li P, Zhang J, Tong WM, Li C, Zhao F, Niu Y, Liu P. Characterization of global 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in pediatric posterior fossa ependymoma. Clin Epigenetics 2020; 12:19. [PMID: 31992357 PMCID: PMC6988368 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-020-0809-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) is a novel epigenetic mark and may be involved in the mechanisms of tumorigenesis and malignant transformation. However, the role of 5hmC in ependymoma, the third most common brain tumor in children, remains unclear. The aim of this study sought to identify the characterization of 5hmC levels in pediatric posterior fossa ependymoma and to evaluate whether 5hmC levels could be a potential factor to predict clinical outcomes. Results Our results showed that 5hmC levels were globally decreased in posterior fossa ependymoma compared with normal cerebellum tissues (P < 0.001). Group A posterior fossa ependymomas had higher 5hmC levels than group B tumors (P = 0.007). Moreover, 5hmC levels positively correlated with Ki-67 index in posterior fossa ependymoma (r = 0.428, P = 0.003). Multivariate Cox hazards model revealed that patients with high 5hmC levels (> 0.102%) had worse PFS and OS than patients with lower 5hmC levels (< 0.102%) (PFS: HR = 3.014; 95% CI, 1.040–8.738; P = 0.042; OS: HR = 2.788; 95% CI, 0.974–7.982; P = 0.047). Conclusions Our findings suggest that loss of 5hmC is an epigenetic hallmark for pediatric posterior fossa ependymoma. 5hmC levels may represent a potential biomarker to predict prognosis in children with posterior fossa ependymoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tao Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, 119# South 4th Ring Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100070, China.,Department of Neural reconstruction, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, No. 119, South 4th Ring Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100070, China
| | - Zhi-Wei Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Science, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College; Molecular Pathology Research Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100005, China
| | - Shiwei Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, 119# South 4th Ring Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100070, China
| | - Bo Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, 119# South 4th Ring Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100070, China
| | - Zhijun Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, 119# South 4th Ring Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100070, China.,Department of Neural reconstruction, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, No. 119, South 4th Ring Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100070, China
| | - Peng Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, 119# South 4th Ring Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100070, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Neural reconstruction, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, No. 119, South 4th Ring Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100070, China
| | - Wei-Min Tong
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Science, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College; Molecular Pathology Research Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100005, China
| | - Chunde Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, 119# South 4th Ring Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100070, China.,Department of Neural reconstruction, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, No. 119, South 4th Ring Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100070, China
| | - Fu Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, 119# South 4th Ring Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100070, China.,Department of Neural reconstruction, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, No. 119, South 4th Ring Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100070, China
| | - Yamei Niu
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Science, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College; Molecular Pathology Research Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100005, China.
| | - Pinan Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, 119# South 4th Ring Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100070, China. .,Department of Neural reconstruction, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, No. 119, South 4th Ring Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100070, China.
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Giangaspero F, Minasi S, Gianno F, Alzoubi H, Antonelli M, Buttarelli F. Mechanisms of telomere maintenance in pediatric brain tumors: Promising targets for therapy – A narrative review. GLIOMA 2020. [DOI: 10.4103/glioma.glioma_20_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
|
49
|
Lester A, McDonald KL. Intracranial ependymomas: molecular insights and translation to treatment. Brain Pathol 2020; 30:3-12. [PMID: 31433520 PMCID: PMC8018002 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.12781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Ependymomas are primary central nervous system tumors (CNS), arising within the posterior fossa and supratentorial regions of the brain, and in the spine. Over the last decade, research has resulted in substantial insights into the molecular characteristics of ependymomas, and significant advances have been made in the establishment of a molecular classification system. Ependymomas both within and between the three CNS regions in which they arise, have been shown to contain distinct genetic, epigenetic and cytogenic aberrations, with at least three molecularly distinct subgroups identified within each region. However, these advances in molecular characterization have yet to be translated into clinical practice, with the standard treatment for ependymoma patients largely unchanged. This review summarizes the advances made in the molecular characterization of intracranial ependymomas, outlines the progress made in establishing preclinical models and proposes strategies for moving toward subgroup-specific preclinical investigations and treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashleigh Lester
- Adult Cancer Program, Lowy Cancer Research CentreUniversity of NSWSydneyAustralia
| | - Kerrie L. McDonald
- Adult Cancer Program, Lowy Cancer Research CentreUniversity of NSWSydneyAustralia
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Pierce AM, Witt DA, Donson AM, Gilani A, Sanford B, Sill M, Van Court B, Oweida A, Prince EW, Steiner J, Danis E, Dorris K, Hankinson T, Handler MH, Jones KL, Karam SD, Serkova NJ, Vibhakar R, Foreman NK, Griesinger AM. Establishment of patient-derived orthotopic xenograft model of 1q+ posterior fossa group A ependymoma. Neuro Oncol 2019; 21:1540-1551. [PMID: 31276586 PMCID: PMC6917412 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noz116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Treatment for pediatric posterior fossa group A (PFA) ependymoma with gain of chromosome 1q (1q+) has not improved over the past decade owing partially to lack of clinically relevant models. We described the first 2 1q+ PFA cell lines, which have significantly enhanced our understanding of PFA tumor biology and provided a tool to identify specific 1q+ PFA therapies. However, cell lines do not accurately replicate the tumor microenvironment. Our present goal is to establish patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse models. METHODS Disaggregated tumors from 2 1q+ PFA patients were injected into the flanks of NSG mice. Flank tumors were then transplanted into the fourth ventricle or lateral ventricle of NSG mice. Characterization of intracranial tumors was performed using imaging, histology, and bioinformatics. RESULTS MAF-811_XC and MAF-928_XC established intracranially within the fourth ventricle and retained histological, methylomic, and transcriptomic features of primary patient tumors. We tested the feasibility of treating PDX mice with fractionated radiation or chemotherapy. Mice tolerated radiation despite significant tumor burden, and follow-up imaging confirmed radiation can reduce tumor size. Treatment with fluorouracil reduced tumor size but did not appear to prolong survival. CONCLUSIONS MAF-811_XC and MAF-928_XC are novel, authentic, and reliable models for studying 1q+ PFA in vivo. Given the successful response to radiation, these models will be advantageous for testing clinically relevant combination therapies to develop future clinical trials for this high-risk subgroup of pediatric ependymoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Angela M Pierce
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Davis A Witt
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Andrew M Donson
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Ahmed Gilani
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Bridget Sanford
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Martin Sill
- Hopp Children’s Cancer Centre at National Centre for Tumour Diseases Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Benjamin Van Court
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
- Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and University of Colorado Cancer Center
| | - Ayman Oweida
- Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and University of Colorado Cancer Center
| | - Eric W Prince
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Jenna Steiner
- Department of Radiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and University of Colorado Cancer Center
| | - Etienne Danis
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Kathleen Dorris
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Todd Hankinson
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Michael H Handler
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Kenneth L Jones
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Sana D Karam
- Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and University of Colorado Cancer Center
| | - Natalie J Serkova
- Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and University of Colorado Cancer Center
- Department of Radiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and University of Colorado Cancer Center
| | - Rajeev Vibhakar
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Nicholas K Foreman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
- Corresponding Author: Nicholas Foreman, 12800 E. 19th Ave. RC1N-4104, Aurora, CO 80045 ()
| | - Andrea M Griesinger
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
| |
Collapse
|