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Dang H, Khan AB, Gadgil N, Sharma H, Trandafir C, Malbari F, Weiner HL. Behavioral Improvements following Lesion Resection for Pediatric Epilepsy: Pediatric Psychosurgery? Pediatr Neurosurg 2023; 58:80-88. [PMID: 36787706 PMCID: PMC10233708 DOI: 10.1159/000529683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Resection of brain lesions associated with refractory epilepsy to achieve seizure control is well accepted. However, concurrent behavioral effects of these lesions such as changes in mood, personality, and cognition and the effects of surgery on behavior have not been well characterized. We describe 5 such children with epileptogenic lesions and significant behavioral abnormalities which improved after surgery. CASE DESCRIPTIONS Five children (ages 3-14 years) with major behavioral abnormalities and lesional epilepsy were identified and treated at our center. Behavioral problems included academic impairment, impulsivity, self-injurious behavior, and decreased social interaction with diagnoses of ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder, and autism. Pre-operative neuropsychiatric testing was performed in 4/5 patients and revealed low-average cognitive and intellectual abilities for their age, attentional difficulties, and poor memory. Lesions were located in the temporal (2 gangliogliomas, 1 JPA, 1 cavernoma) and parietal (1 DNET) lobes. Gross total resection was achieved in all cases. At mean 1-year follow-up, seizure freedom (Engel 1a in 3 patients, Engel 1c in 2 patients) and significant behavioral improvements (academic performance, attention, socialization, and aggression) were achieved in all. Two patients manifested violence pre-operatively; one had extreme behavior with violence toward teachers and peers despite low seizure burden. Since surgery, his behavior has normalized. CONCLUSION We identified 5 patients with severe behavioral disorders in the setting of lesional epilepsy, all of whom demonstrated improvement after surgery. The degree of behavioral abnormality was disproportionate to epilepsy severity, suggesting a more complicated mechanism by which lesional epilepsy impacts behavior. We propose a novel paradigm in which lesionectomy may offer behavioral benefit even when seizures are not refractory. Thus, behavioral improvement may be an important novel goal for neurosurgical resection in children with epileptic brain lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huy Dang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA,
| | - Abdul Basit Khan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Nisha Gadgil
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Himanshu Sharma
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Cristina Trandafir
- Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Division of Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience, Department of Pediatrics, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Fatema Malbari
- Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Division of Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience, Department of Pediatrics, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Howard L Weiner
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
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Estevez-Ordonez D, Gary SE, Atchley TJ, Maleknia PD, George JA, Laskay NMB, Gross EG, Devulapalli RK, Johnston JM. Immunotherapy for Pediatric Brain and Spine Tumors: Current State and Future Directions. Pediatr Neurosurg 2022; 58:313-336. [PMID: 36549282 PMCID: PMC10233708 DOI: 10.1159/000528792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Brain tumors are the most common solid tumors and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children. Incidence in the USA has been on the rise for the last 2 decades. While therapeutic advances in diagnosis and treatment have improved survival and quality of life in many children, prognosis remains poor and current treatments have significant long-term sequelae. SUMMARY There is a substantial need for the development of new therapeutic approaches, and since the introduction of immunotherapy by immune checkpoint inhibitors, there has been an exponential increase in clinical trials to adopt these and other immunotherapy approaches in children with brain tumors. In this review, we summarize the current immunotherapy landscape for various pediatric brain tumor types including choroid plexus tumors, embryonal tumors (medulloblastoma, AT/RT, PNETs), ependymoma, germ cell tumors, gliomas, glioneuronal and neuronal tumors, and mesenchymal tumors. We discuss the latest clinical trials and noteworthy preclinical studies to treat these pediatric brain tumors using checkpoint inhibitors, cellular therapies (CAR-T, NK, T cell), oncolytic virotherapy, radioimmunotherapy, tumor vaccines, immunomodulators, and other targeted therapies. KEY MESSAGES The current landscape for immunotherapy in pediatric brain tumors is still emerging, but results in certain tumors have been promising. In the age of targeted therapy, genetic tumor profiling, and many ongoing clinical trials, immunotherapy will likely become an increasingly effective tool in the neuro-oncologist armamentarium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dagoberto Estevez-Ordonez
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA,
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Children's of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama, USA,
| | - Sam E Gary
- Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Travis J Atchley
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Children's of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Pedram D Maleknia
- Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Jordan A George
- Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Nicholas M B Laskay
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Children's of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Evan G Gross
- Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Rishi K Devulapalli
- Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - James M Johnston
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Children's of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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Current Understanding of Neurofibromatosis Type 1, 2, and Schwannomatosis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22115850. [PMID: 34072574 PMCID: PMC8198724 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22115850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurofibromatosis (NF) is a neurocutaneous syndrome characterized by the development of tumors of the central or peripheral nervous system including the brain, spinal cord, organs, skin, and bones. There are three types of NF: NF1 accounting for 96% of all cases, NF2 in 3%, and schwannomatosis (SWN) in <1%. The NF1 gene is located on chromosome 17q11.2, which encodes for a tumor suppressor protein, neurofibromin, that functions as a negative regulator of Ras/MAPK and PI3K/mTOR signaling pathways. The NF2 gene is identified on chromosome 22q12, which encodes for merlin, a tumor suppressor protein related to ezrin-radixin-moesin that modulates the activity of PI3K/AKT, Raf/MEK/ERK, and mTOR signaling pathways. In contrast, molecular insights on the different forms of SWN remain unclear. Inactivating mutations in the tumor suppressor genes SMARCB1 and LZTR1 are considered responsible for a majority of cases. Recently, treatment strategies to target specific genetic or molecular events involved in their tumorigenesis are developed. This study discusses molecular pathways and related targeted therapies for NF1, NF2, and SWN and reviews recent clinical trials which involve NF patients.
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Long J, Zhang Y, Huang X, Ren J, Zhong P, Wang B. A Review of Drug Therapy in Vestibular Schwannoma. DRUG DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND THERAPY 2021; 15:75-85. [PMID: 33447015 PMCID: PMC7802892 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s280069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Vestibular schwannomas (VSs, also known as acoustic neuromas) are benign intracranial tumors commonly managed with observation, surgery, and radiotherapy. There is currently no approved pharmacotherapy for VS patients, which is why we conducted a detailed search of relevant literature from PubMed and Web of Science to explore recent advances and experiences in drug therapy. VSs feature a long course of disease that requires treatment to have minimal long-term side effects. Conventional chemotherapeutic agents are characterized by neurotoxicity or ototoxicity, poor effect on slow-growing tumors, and may induce new mutations in patients who have lost tumor suppressor function, and therefore are unsuitable for treating VSs. Along with the well-investigated molecular pathophysiology of VS and the increasingly accessible technology such as drug repositioning platform, many molecular targeted inhibitors have been identified and shown certain therapeutic effects in preclinical experiments or clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianfei Long
- Department of Pharmacy, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiang Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Junwei Ren
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Ping Zhong
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
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Tamura R, Morimoto Y, Sato M, Hikichi T, Yoshida K, Toda M. A Pilot Study of the Adverse Events Caused by the Combined Use of Bevacizumab and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-Targeted Vaccination for Patients with a Malignant Glioma. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8030498. [PMID: 32887369 PMCID: PMC7564945 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8030498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Anti-angiogenic therapy, targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A/VEGF receptors (VEGFRs), is beneficial for tumor growth prevention in a malignant glioma. A simultaneous blockade using both bevacizumab (Bev), which targets circulating VEGF-A, and a multi-kinase inhibitor on VEGFRs was more effective for advanced solid cancers, including melanoma and renal cell carcinoma. However, previous clinical trials demonstrated a high adverse event rate. Additionally, no studies previously assessed treatment efficacy and safety using both VEGF-A and VEGFR-targeted agents for malignant gliomas. We had conducted clinical trials investigating VEGFRs peptide vaccination in patients with malignant gliomas, in which the treatment exhibited safety and yielded therapeutic effects in some patients. The combined use of Bev and VEGFRs vaccination may enhance the anti-tumor effect in malignant gliomas. In this pilot study, the adverse event profile in patients treated with Bev after the vaccination was investigated to establish this treatment strategy, in comparison to those treated with Bev collected from the published data or treated with the vaccination alone. In our previous clinical studies on patients with malignant gliomas, Bev was administered to 13 patients after VEGFRs vaccinations. One patient had a Grade 4 pulmonary embolism. Two patients had Grade 2 cerebral infarctions. There were no significant differences in the adverse event rates among patients treated with Bev, with the vaccination, or with Bev after the vaccination. Although careful observation is imperative for patients after this combination treatment strategy, VEGFRs-targeted vaccination may coexist with Bev for malignant gliomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryota Tamura
- Department of Neurosurgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan; (R.T.); (Y.M.); (M.S.); (K.Y.)
| | - Yukina Morimoto
- Department of Neurosurgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan; (R.T.); (Y.M.); (M.S.); (K.Y.)
| | - Mizuto Sato
- Department of Neurosurgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan; (R.T.); (Y.M.); (M.S.); (K.Y.)
| | - Tetsuro Hikichi
- OncoTherapy Science Inc., 3-2-1, Sakado, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa 213-0012, Japan;
| | - Kazunari Yoshida
- Department of Neurosurgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan; (R.T.); (Y.M.); (M.S.); (K.Y.)
| | - Masahiro Toda
- Department of Neurosurgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan; (R.T.); (Y.M.); (M.S.); (K.Y.)
- Correspondence:
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