showing 21 related works from this author
Benchmarking Wilms’ tumor in multisequence MRI data: why does current clinical practice fail? Which popular segmentation algorithms perform well?
2019
Wilms' tumor is one of the most frequent malignant solid tumors in childhood. Accurate segmentation of tumor tissue is a key step during therapy and treatment planning. Since it is difficult to obtain a comprehensive set of tumor data of children, there is no benchmark so far allowing evaluation of the quality of human or computer-based segmentations. The contributions in our paper are threefold: (i) we present the first heterogeneous Wilms' tumor benchmark data set. It contains multisequence MRI data sets before and after chemotherapy, along with ground truth annotation, approximated based on the consensus of five human experts. (ii) We analyze human expert annotations and interrater varia…
Expression of serologically identified tumor antigens in acute leukemias.
2003
Cancer/testis antigens (CTA) are an expanding family of immunogenic proteins selectively expressed in human neoplasms. As little is known about the expression of serologically identified CTA in leukemias so far, we investigated the expression of 5 CT genes (SSX-1, HOM-MEL-40/SSX-2, HOM-TES-14/SCP-1, SCP-3 and NY-ESO-1) in leukemic blood samples obtained from patients with either acute lymphatic leukemias (ALL) or myelocytic leukemia (AML). RT-PCR-analyses showed no expression of any of the CT-genes in the leukemia samples of 19 patients with AML, whereas frequent expression was found in ALL. In the 17 ALL cases studied, SCP3a, SSX-1, HOM-MEL-40/SXX-2 and HOM-TES-14/SCP-1 were expressed in 4…
Early deaths from childhood cancer in Germany 1980-2016
2020
Abstract Background Even though the survival of childhood cancer has improved over the last decades, there are still children dying shortly after diagnosis. The aim of the study is to add to understanding of the reasons for deaths shortly after date of diagnosis. Methods Using data of the population-based German Childhood Cancer Registry (cancer below 15 years of age diagnosed between 1980 and 2016), we compared characteristics of 671 children with cancer who died within 30 days of diagnosis to 53,649 patients with childhood cancer who survived longer. In addition to a descriptive analysis, we used logistic regression with multivariable fractional polynomials to describe the relationship be…
DrugTargetInspector: An assistance tool for patient treatment stratification
2016
Cancer is a large class of diseases that are characterized by a common set of features, known as the Hallmarks of cancer. One of these hallmarks is the acquisition of genome instability and mutations. This, combined with high proliferation rates and failure of repair mechanisms, leads to clonal evolution as well as a high genotypic and phenotypic diversity within the tumor. As a consequence, treatment and therapy of malignant tumors is still a grand challenge. Moreover, under selective pressure, e.g., caused by chemotherapy, resistant subpopulations can emerge that then may lead to relapse. In order to minimize the risk of developing multidrug-resistant tumor cell populations, optimal (comb…
Obesity after childhood craniopharyngioma--German multicenter study on pre-operative risk factors and quality of life.
2001
Craniopharyngiomas are tumorous embryogenic malformations. As the survival rate after craniopharyngioma is high (92 %), prognosis and quality of life (QoL) in survivors mainly depend on adverse late effects such as obesity.We analyzed 214 children and adolescents with craniopharyngioma. The records of 185 patients (86 %) were available for retrospective analysis of weight profiles and risk factors for obesity. Quality of life (QoL) was measured in 145 patients by the Fertigkeitenskala Münster/Heidelberg score (FMH) and in 77 patients by PEDQOL questionnaire.Eighty-two of 185 patients (44 %) developed severe obesity (body mass index [BMI]3 SD). Obese patients were compared with 79 patients (…
Parental informed consent in pediatric cancer trials: A population-based survey in Germany
2012
In Germany, nearly every child afflicted by a malignant dis-ease or a central nervous system tumor is enrolled in a clinicaltrial during treatment. Many of these children are under the age of5 years when they are first diagnosed [1]. The decision whether ornot to participate in a clinical trial is normally made by theparents on behalf of their child. Therefore, ensuring adequatelyinformed parental consent is essential to ethical practice in pedi-atric oncology.However, many empirical studies have revealed difficultieswith the informed consent process when parents are faced withthe decision to enroll their child in a clinical trial. Previous studyfindings have indicated that recalling signing th…
Effective childhood cancer treatment: The impact of large scale clinical trials in Germany and Austria
2013
In Germany and Austria, more than 90% of pediatric cancer patients are enrolled into nationwide disease-specific first-line clinical trials or interim registries. Essential components are a pediatric cancer registry and centralized reference laboratories, imaging review, and tumor board assistance. The five-year overall survival rate in countries where such infrastructures are established has improved from 80% since 1995. Today, treatment intensity is tailored to the individual patient's risk to provide the highest chances of survival while minimizing deleterious late effects. Multicenter clinical trials are internationalized and serve as platforms for further improvements by novel drugs an…
Impact of chemotherapy on disseminated low-grade glioma in children and adolescents: Report from the HIT-LGG 1996 trial
2011
Background We describe demographic data of disseminated childhood low-grade glioma (DLGG) prospectively recruited in the HIT-LGG 1996 study and evaluate the impact of primary chemotherapy (CT) on the outcome of these tumors, which have previously only been described in small and retrospective series. Patients and Methods The multicenter study HIT-LGG 1996 accrued 1181 children and adolescents with low-grade glioma. 61 patients (5.2%) had tumor dissemination, with 2.8% being present at diagnosis. Frequencies of dissemination for different subgroups were calculated. Efficiency of first-line CT with vincristine/carboplatin was defined in 24 children with dissemination prior to first-line non-s…
Durchführung eines neuen Therapiekonzepts für Nephroblastome im Bereich der Gesellschaft für Pädiatrische Onkologie und Hämatologie SIOP 9/GPOH
1997
Hintergrund: Die intensive Therapie der von der Gesellschaft fur Padiatrische Onkologie und Hamatologie (GPOH) ab 1980 durchgefuhrten Wilmstumorstudie sollte in der Folgestudie unter Wahrung der guten Ergebnisse reduziert werden. Methode: 1989 wurde das Therapiekonzept der International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP) mit praoperativer Chemotherapie nach bildgebender Diagnose ubernommen, wobei der Tumor durch die Vorbehandlung verkleinert wird, damit er bei einem Grosteil der Kinder vollstandig entfernbar ist. Ergebnisse: Bei 505 in 5,25 Jahren aus 78 Kliniken gemeldeten Patienten hatten 486 ein Nephroblastom, 14 ein anderes Malignom und 5 eine benigne renale Lasion. Von 438 gemeldeten…
Childhood cancer predisposition syndromes-A concise review and recommendations by the Cancer Predisposition Working Group of the Society for Pediatri…
2017
Heritable predisposition is an important cause of cancer in children and adolescents. Although a large number of cancer predisposition genes and their associated syndromes and malignancies have already been described, it appears likely that there are more pediatric cancer patients in whom heritable cancer predisposition syndromes have yet to be recognized. In a consensus meeting in the beginning of 2016, we convened experts in Human Genetics and Pediatric Hematology/Oncology to review the available data, to categorize the large amount of information, and to develop recommendations regarding when a cancer predisposition syndrome should be suspected in a young oncology patient. This review su…
REGGAE : a novel approach for the identification of key transcriptional regulators
2019
Abstract Motivation Transcriptional regulators play a major role in most biological processes. Alterations in their activities are associated with a variety of diseases and in particular with tumor development and progression. Hence, it is important to assess the effects of deregulated regulators on pathological processes. Results Here, we present REGulator-Gene Association Enrichment (REGGAE), a novel method for the identification of key transcriptional regulators that have a significant effect on the expression of a given set of genes, e.g. genes that are differentially expressed between two sample groups. REGGAE uses a Kolmogorov–Smirnov-like test statistic that implicitly combines assoc…
The role of TCF3 as potential master regulator in blastemal Wilms tumors
2018
Wilms tumors are the most common type of pediatric kidney tumors. While the overall prognosis for patients is favorable, especially tumors that exhibit a blastemal subtype after preoperative chemotherapy have a poor prognosis. For an improved risk assessment and therapy stratification, it is essential to identify the driving factors that are distinctive for this aggressive subtype. In our study, we compared gene expression profiles of 33 tumor biopsies (17 blastemal and 16 other tumors) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The analysis of this dataset using the Regulator Gene Association Enrichment algorithm successfully identified several biomarkers and associated molecular mechanisms that dist…
Preradiation chemotherapy of children and young adults with malignant brain tumors: Results of the german pilot trial HIT'88/'89
1998
Background Preradiation chemotherapy could be beneficial in malignant brain tumors, because the blood-brain tumor-barrier is disrupted after surgery, bone marrow recovery--essential for intense chemotherapy--is still intact, and CNS toxicity and ototoxicity of active drugs are lower before irradiation of a child's brain. Patients and methods A neoadjuvant phase 2 and a single arm pilot trial were initiated to investigate the efficacy and toxicity of an intense multidrug regimen before radiotherapy in 147 patients aged between 3 and 29; 9 years with medulloblastoma (94), malignant glioma (22), ependymoma (21), and stPNET (10). They were treated with one or two cycles consisting of procarbazi…
Nephroblastoma: does the decrease in tumor volume under preoperative chemotherapy predict the lymph nodes status at surgery?
2011
Background Partial nephrectomy (NSS) for unilateral nephroblastoma may be beneficial, although in case of regional lymph node (LN) involvement, radiotherapy counteracts the functional benefit of NSS. The aim is to verify whether decrease of tumor volume under preoperative chemotherapy implies clearance of regional LN. Procedure SIOP 9301 (1993–2001) collected 1,450 localized nephroblastoma patients of whom 1,360 (93%) had sufficiently available data and were retrospectively reviewed. Results Histologic subtypes were classically distributed. Patients were divided in those with tumor positive LN (76, 5.5%) and those with tumor negative LN (1,284, 94.5%) at surgery. In the LN(+) group, the tum…
First experience of the AML-Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster group in pediatric patients with standard-risk acute promyelocytic leukemia treated with arsenic…
2017
Recently, studies in adults with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) showed high cure rates in low-risk patients treated with all-trans retinoid acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (ATO), while toxicities were significantly reduced compared to the standard treatment with ATRA and chemotherapy. Here we report about first experience with 11 pediatric patients with low-risk APL treated with ATRA and ATO. All patients stayed in molecular remission. All suffered from hyperleukocytosis. Two patients experienced reversible severe side effects. One suffered from osteonecroses at both femurs, seizures, as well as posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, the other patient had an abducens paresis.
Clinical and genetic risk factors define two risk groups of extracranial malignant rhabdoid tumours (eMRT/RTK)
2020
Abstract Introduction Extracranial rhabdoid tumours are rare, highly aggressive malignancies primarily affecting young children. The EU-RHAB registry was initiated in 2009 to prospectively collect data of rhabdoid tumour patients treated according to the EU-RHAB therapeutic framework. Methods We evaluated 100 patients recruited within EU-RHAB (2009–2018). Tumours and matching blood samples were examined for SMARCB1 mutations by sequencing and cytogenetics. Results A total of 70 patients presented with extracranial, extrarenal tumours (eMRT) and 30 with renal rhabdoid tumours (RTK). Nine patients demonstrated synchronous tumours. Distant metastases at diagnosis (M+) were present in 35% (35/1…
Incidence, Trends, and Survival of Children With Embryonal Tumors.
2015
BACKGROUND: Central nervous system (CNS) and non-CNS embryonal tumors occur principally in children and are rarely seen in adults. The incidence rates for rare entities such as atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors (AT/RT) or primitive neuroectodermal tumors in the CNS are rarely published. Incidence rates for certain subgroups, such as hepatoblastomas, have been increasing in some countries. METHODS: Data of 8337 embryonal tumors, registered in children (0–14 years) between 1991 and 2012 (for AT/RT 2000–2012) in the population-based German Childhood Cancer Registry with complete national coverage were analyzed for incidence rates, time trends, and survival. RESULTS: For most entities, the inc…
Treatment of early childhood medulloblastoma by postoperative chemotherapy alone.
2005
The prognosis for young children with medulloblastoma is poor, and survivors are at high risk for cognitive deficits. We conducted a trial of the treatment of this brain tumor by intensive postoperative chemotherapy alone.After surgery, children received three cycles of intravenous chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, methotrexate, carboplatin, and etoposide) and intraventricular methotrexate. Treatment was terminated if a complete remission was achieved. Leukoencephalopathy and cognitive deficits were evaluated.Forty-three children were treated according to protocol. In children who had complete resection (17 patients), residual tumor (14), and macroscopic metastases (12), the five…
Complementary and alternative treatment methods in children with cancer: A population-based retrospective survey on the prevalence of use in Germany.
2008
Abstract Introduction Few studies have been conducted to date on the prevalence of use of complementary and alternative treatment methods (CAMs) in paediatric oncology, and those that have been conducted are often not representative. We therefore decided to study a representative sample of children with cancer in the German population. Patients and methods The study took the form of a retrospective survey amongst all parents whose children were first diagnosed with a disease covered by the German Childhood Cancer Registry in 2001. The primary objectives of the survey were to establish the prevalence of use of CAM and the factors related to its use. Results Of the 1595 questionnaires sent ou…
Treatment of early childhood medulloblastoma by postoperative chemotherapy and deferred radiotherapy
2008
To investigate the utility of postoperative chemotherapy in delaying radiotherapy and to identify prognostic factors in early childhood medulloblastoma, we studied children younger than 3 years of age registered to the HIT-SKK'87 (Therapieprotokoll für Säuglinge und Kleinkinder mit Hirntumoren [Brain Tumor Radiotherapy for Infants and Toddlers with Medulloblastoma] 1987) trial who received systemic interval chemotherapy until craniospinal radiotherapy was applied at 3 years of age or at relapse, from 1987 to 1993. Children with postoperative residual tumor or metastatic disease received systemic induction chemotherapy prior to interval chemotherapy. Twenty-nine children were eligible for an…
Making sense of big data in health research: {T}owards an {EU} action plan
2016
Genome medicine 8(1), 71 (2016). doi:10.1186/s13073-016-0323-y