top
BRAINLIFE NEWSLETTER
Volume 4, Number 46 - 8 November 2005

Volume 4
Archive


1: Cancer. 2005 Nov 1; [Epub ahead of print]
 
Topotecan as a radiosensitizer in the treatment of children with malignant diffuse brainstem gliomas.

Bernier-Chastagner V, Grill J, Doz F, Bracard S, Gentet JC, Marie-Cardine A, Luporsi E, Margueritte G, Lejars O, Laithier V, Mechinaud F, Millot F, Kalifa C, Chastagner P.

Radiotherapy Service, Centre Alexis Vautrin, Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, France.

BACKGROUND: The current Phase II study was conducted to evaluate the survival and toxicity observed in children with newly diagnosed brainstem gliomas who were treated with the daily radiotherapy with topotecan used as a radiosensitizer. METHODS: Eligible patients were those ages 3-18 years with previously untreated tumors arising in the pons diagnosed within the previous 6 months. Histologic confirmation was not mandatory provided that the clinical and magnetic resonance imaging findings were typical for a diffusely infiltrating brainstem lesion. Treatment was comprised of a 6-week course of topotecan administered intravenously at a dose of 0.4 mg/m(2)/day over 30 minutes within 1 hour before irradiation. Radiotherapy was comprised of a once-daily treatment of 1.8 grays (Gy) per fraction to a total dose of 54 Gy. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients were included in the current study between August 2000 and October 2002. All patients completed the combined treatment in accordance with the treatment design. Only partial responses were observed, occurring in 40% of the patients. The 9-month and 12-month survival rates were 34.4% +/- 8% and 25.5% +/- 8%, respectively. The median duration of survival for these 32 patients was 8.3 months. An intratumoral cystic/necrotic change was observed in five patients, with clinical impairment noted in two patients. One intratumoral hemorrhage occurred during radiotherapy, and was associated with transitory neurologic impairment. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the current study regarding newly diagnosed brainstem glioma patients treated with topotecan given as a radiosensitizing agent did not reproduce the encouraging results obtained in preclinical studies. Therefore, the concomitant combination of topotecan and radiotherapy at this schedule and these doses cannot be recommended for the treatment of patients with brainstem gliomas. Cancer 2005. (c) 2005 American Cancer Society.

PMID: 16265674 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

 
2: Cancer Res. 2005 Nov 1;65(21):9982-90.
 
Myxoma virus is a novel oncolytic virus with significant antitumor activity against experimental human gliomas.

Lun X, Yang W, Alain T, Shi ZQ, Muzik H, Barrett JW, McFadden G, Bell J, Hamilton MG, Senger DL, Forsyth PA.

Department of Oncology, University of Calgary, and Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Myxoma virus, a poxvirus previously considered rabbit specific, can replicate productively in a variety of human tumor cells in culture. The purpose of this study was to determine if there was efficacy or toxicities of this oncolytic virus against experimental models of human malignant gliomas in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo in malignant glioma specimens. In vitro, the majority of glioma cell lines tested (7 of 8, 87.5%) were fully permissive for myxoma virus replication and killed by infection. In vivo, intracerebral (i.c.) myxoma virus inoculation was well tolerated and produced only minimal focal inflammatory changes at the site of viral inoculation. U87 and U251 orthotopic xenograft models were used to assess myxoma virus efficacy in vivo. A single intratumoral injection of myxoma virus dramatically prolonged median survival compared with treatment with UV-inactivated myxoma virus. Median survival was not reached in myxoma virus-treated groups versus 47.3 days (U87; P = 0.0002) and 50.7 days (U251; P = 0.0027) in UV-inactivated myxoma virus-treated groups. Most myxoma virus-treated animals (12 of 13, 92%) were alive and apparently "cured" when the experiment was finished (>130 days). Interestingly, we found a selective and long-lived myxoma virus infection in gliomas in vivo. This is the first demonstration of the oncolytic activity of myxoma virus in vivo. The nonpathogenic nature of myxoma virus outside of the rabbit host, its capacity to be genetically modified, its ability to produce a long-lived infection in human tumor cells, and the lack of preexisting antibodies in the human population suggest that myxoma virus may be an attractive oncolytic agent against human malignant glioma.

PMID: 16267023 [PubMed - in process]

 
3: Cancer Res. 2005 Nov 1;65(21):9843-50.
 
Cerebrospinal fluid proteomic analysis reveals dysregulation of methionine aminopeptidase-2 expression in human and mouse neurofibromatosis 1-associated glioma.

Dasgupta B, Yi Y, Hegedus B, Weber JD, Gutmann DH.

Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.

Individuals affected with the neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) tumor predisposition syndrome are prone to the development of multiple nervous system tumors, including optic pathway gliomas (OPG). The NF1 tumor suppressor gene product, neurofibromin, functions as a Ras GTPase-activating protein, and has been proposed to regulate cell growth by inhibiting Ras activity. Recent studies from our laboratory have shown that neurofibromin also regulates the mammalian target of rapamycin activity in a Ras-dependent fashion, and that the rapamycin-mediated mammalian target of rapamycin inhibition ameliorates the Nf1-/- astrocyte growth advantage. Moreover, Nf1-deficient astrocytes exhibit increased protein translation. As part of a larger effort to identify protein markers for NF1-associated astrocytomas that could be exploited for therapeutic drug design, we did an objective proteomic analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid from genetically engineered Nf1 mice with optic glioma. One of the proteins found to be increased in the cerebrospinal fluid of OPG-bearing mice was the eukaryotic initiation factor-2alpha binding protein, methionine aminopeptidase 2 (MetAP2). In this study, we show that Nf1 mouse OPGs and NF1-associated human astrocytic tumors, but not sporadic pilocytic or other low-grade astrocytomas, specifically expressed high levels of MetAP2. In addition, we show that Nf1-deficient astrocytes overexpress MetAP2 in vitro and in vivo, and that treatment with the MetAP2 inhibitor fumagillin significantly reduces Nf1-/- astrocyte proliferation in vitro. These observations suggest that MetAP2 is regulated by neurofibromin, and that MetAP2 inhibitors could be potentially employed to treat NF1-associated tumor proliferation.

PMID: 16267007 [PubMed - in process]

 
4: J Clin Oncol. 2005 Nov 1;23(31):7951-7.
 
{beta}-Catenin Status Predicts a Favorable Outcome in Childhood Medulloblastoma: The United Kingdom Children's Cancer Study Group Brain Tumour Committee.

Ellison DW, Onilude OE, Lindsey JC, Lusher ME, Weston CL, Taylor RE, Pearson AD, Clifford SC.

Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Paul O'Gorman Building, University of Newcastle, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE2 4HH, United Kingdom; e-mail: D.W.Ellison@ncl.ac.uk.

PURPOSE Identifying pathobiological correlates of clinical behavior or therapeutic response currently represents a key challenge for medulloblastoma research. Nuclear accumulation of the beta-catenin protein is associated with activation of the Wnt/Wg signaling pathway, and mutations affecting components of this pathway have been reported in approximately 15% of sporadic medulloblastomas. We tested the hypothesis that nuclear immunoreactivity for beta-catenin is a prognostic marker in medulloblastoma, and assessed the relationship between nuclear beta-catenin immunoreactivity and mutations of CTNNB1 and APC. PATIENTS AND METHODS Medulloblastomas from children entered onto the International Society for Pediatric Oncology (SIOP)/United Kingdom Children's Cancer Study Group (UKCCSG) PNET3 trial (n = 109) were examined for beta-catenin immunoreactivity, and where tissue was available, evidence of CTNNB1 and APC mutations. The results were correlated with clinicopathologic variables, principally outcome. Results Children with medulloblastomas that showed a nucleopositive beta-catenin immunophenotype (27 of 109; 25%) had significantly better overall (OS) and event-free (EFS) survivals than children with tumors that showed either membranous/cytoplasmic beta-catenin immunoreactivity or no immunoreactivity (P = .0015 and P = .0026, respectively). For beta-catenin nucleopositive and nucleonegative medulloblastomas, 5-year OS was 92.3% (95% CI, 82% to 100%) versus 65.3% (95% CI, 54.8 to 75.7%), and 5-year EFS was 88.9% (95% CI, 77% to 100%) versus 59.5% (95% CI, 48.8 to 70.2%), respectively. Mutations in CTNNB1 were found exclusively among medulloblastomas that demonstrated nuclear beta-catenin immunoreactivity, but no evidence of APC mutation was found in these cases. All children with beta-catenin nucleopositive large cell/anaplastic medulloblastomas and beta-catenin nucleopositive medulloblastomas presenting with metastatic disease are alive at least 5 years postdiagnosis. CONCLUSION Nuclear accumulation of beta-catenin appears to be a marker of favorable outcome in medulloblastoma, and should be investigated further in large group-wide trials.

PMID: 16258095 [PubMed - in process]

 
5: J Clin Oncol. 2005 Oct 1;23(28):7152-60.
 
Intellectual and functional outcome of children 3 years old or younger who have CNS malignancies.

Fouladi M, Gilger E, Kocak M, Wallace D, Buchanan G, Reeves C, Robbins N, Merchant T, Kun LE, Khan R, Gajjar A, Mulhern R.

Department of Hematology-Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 332 N Lauderdale, Memphis, TN 38105-2794, USA. maryam.fouladi@stjude.org

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of tumor location, clinical parameters, and therapy on neurocognitive, neuroendocrine, and functional outcomes in children < or = 3 years old with intracranial CNS malignancies who survived at least 2 years after diagnosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Records were retrospectively reviewed for 194 children diagnosed from 1985 to 1999 at St Jude Children's Research Hospital (Memphis, TN). RESULTS: The median age at diagnosis was 1.8 years (range, 0.1 to 3.5 years). Median follow-up was 7.64 years (2.0 to 19.4 years). Tumors were infratentorial (102), diencephalic (53), and hemispheric (39); 47% required ventriculoperitoneal shunts, 36% developed seizure disorders, and 20% developed severe ototoxicity. Therapy included no radiation therapy (RT) in 57 (30%), local RT in 87 (45%), and craniospinal irradiation (CSI) in 49 (25%). Overall survival at 10 years was 78 +/- 4%. In a longitudinal analysis of 126 patients with at least one neurocognitive evaluation (NE), the mean rate of intelligence quotient (IQ) change for patients who received CSI (-1.34 points per year) and local RT (-0.51 points per year) was significantly different from the no RT group (0.91 points per year; P = .005 and P = .036, respectively). Patients with hemispheric tumors had a significantly greater IQ decline (-1.52 points per year) than those with midline tumors (0.59 points per year; P = .038). Among those with NE > or = 5 years after diagnosis, 71.4% of CSI recipients compared with 23% of local RT recipients had IQ less than 70 (P = .021). Patients undergoing CSI were more likely to develop endocrinopathies (P < .0001) and to require special education (P = .0007). CONCLUSION: In young children with CNS tumors, CSI and hemispheric location are associated with significant declines in IQ scores.

PMID: 16192599 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 
6: J Natl Cancer Inst. 2005 Nov 2;97(21):1589-600.
 
Expression of transcription factor E2F1 and telomerase in glioblastomas: mechanistic linkage and prognostic significance.

Alonso MM, Fueyo J, Shay JW, Aldape KD, Jiang H, Lee OH, Johnson DG, Xu J, Kondo Y, Kanzawa T, Kyo S, Bekele BN, Zhou X, Nigro J, McDonald JM, Yung WK, Gomez-Manzano C.

Department of Neuro-Oncology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.

BACKGROUND: Several tumor suppressor pathways have been identified as modulators of telomerase function. We examined the functional role of the retinoblastoma-E2F1 pathway in regulating telomerase activity in malignant gliomas. METHODS: Adenovirus vectors were used to transfer cDNAs into human glioblastoma and sarcoma cells. Telomerase activity was assessed with a telomere repeat amplification protocol. Promoter activity in cancer cells was assessed with promoter-luciferase reporter constructs. Promoter binding was assessed with the chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay. We isolated astrocytes from E2F1 transgenic mice and normal mice for in vivo studies. We evaluated the expression of E2F1 and hTERT (the catalytic subunit of human telomerase) mRNAs by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and proteins in human glioblastoma samples by immunoblot analysis. Associations between survival among 61 glioblastoma multiforme patients and expression of E2F1 and hTERT mRNA and protein were examined with Kaplan-Meier analysis, the log-rank test, and Cox proportional hazards regression models. All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS: Ectopic E2F1 expression increased hTERT promoter activity in cancer cells. We detected an interaction between E2F1 protein and the hTERT promoter. Transgenic E2F1 astrocytes contained functional telomerase protein. E2F1 mRNA expression and hTERT mRNA expression were statistically significantly correlated in human glioblastoma specimens (R = .8; P < .001). Longer median survival was statistically significantly associated with lower E2F1 mRNA expression in tumors (103.6 weeks) rather than with higher expression (46.1 weeks) (difference = 57.5 weeks; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 14.7 to 159.7; log-rank P = .002). E2F1 mRNA was the only factor that was statistically significantly associated with overall survival in a multivariable model (P = .04). Among 27 patients with glioblastoma multiforme samples, the expression of E2F1 protein was statistically significantly associated with survival (log-rank P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: E2F1 may participate in telomerase activity regulation in malignant glioma cells. Its expression appears to be strongly associated with the survival of patients with malignant brain tumors.

PMID: 16264179 [PubMed - in process]

 
7: J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 2005 Oct;64(10):891-901.
 
Altered expression of immune defense genes in pilocytic astrocytomas.

Huang H, Hara A, Homma T, Yonekawa Y, Ohgaki H.

International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France, and Department of Neurosurgery, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

Pilocytic astrocytoma (WHO grade I) is a circumscribed, slowly growing, benign astrocytoma that most frequently develops in the cerebellar hemispheres and in midline structures and occurs predominantly in childhood and adolescence. In contrast to diffusely infiltrating gliomas in adults (e.g. grade II astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas), survival of patients with pilocytic astrocytoma is excellent after surgical intervention. To search for potential molecular mechanisms underlying its benign biologic behavior, we compared gene expression profiles of pilocytic astrocytomas (8 cases) with those of normal cerebellum (4 cases), low-grade astrocytomas (WHO grade II; 15 cases), and oligodendrogliomas (WHO grade II; 17 cases) by cDNA array analysis. A number of immune system-related genes such as HLA-DRalpha, HLA-DPB1, HLA-DQB1, IgG3, IgGK, FCER1G, A2M, FCRN, IFI-56K, and DAP12 were upregulated in pilocytic astrocytomas relative to normal cerebellum, grade II astrocytomas, and oligodendrogliomas. Genes expressed at higher levels in pilocytic astrocytomas than in grade II astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas include HLA-DRalpha, HLA-DPA1, HLA-DPB1, HLA-DQB1, A2M, TIMP1, TIMP2, CDKN1A, and SOCS3 and those expressed at lower levels include EGFR and PDGFRA. Hierarchical clustering analysis using the entire set of 1176 genes distinguished pilocytic astrocytomas from grade II astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas. Clustering analysis using selected subgroups of genes based on their molecular functions revealed that immune system-related genes (75 genes) or cell adhesion, migration, and angiogenesis-related genes (69 genes) showed similar power to the entire gene set for separation of pilocytic astrocytomas from diffusely infiltrating low-grade gliomas. Immunohistochemistry revealed that HLA-DRalpha is expressed diffusely in neoplastic cells in pilocytic astrocytomas, whereas in oligodendrogliomas, expression was limited to scattered reactive astrocytes. These results suggest that gene expression profiles of pilocytic astrocytomas differ significantly from those of diffusely infiltrating low-grade gliomas and that their benign biologic behavior may be related to upregulation of immune defense-associated genes.

PMID: 16215461 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 
8: J Neurosurg. 2005 Oct;103(4):702-6.

Gliomatosis cerebri: quantitative proof of vessel recruitment by cooptation instead of angiogenesis.

Bernsen H, Van der Laak J, Kusters B, Van der Ven A, Wesseling P.

Department of Neurology, Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. h.bersen@cwz.nl

OBJECT: Gliomas are the most common primary brain tumors, many of which (especially astrocytic and oligodendroglial neoplasms) are characterized by diffuse infiltrative growth in the preexisting brain tissue. Gliomatosis cerebri is a rare glial tumor and represents an extreme example of such diffuse infiltrative growth. This growth pattern not only hampers curative treatment but also allows for vessel cooptation rather than tumor angiogenesis as a way of vessel recruitment by the tumor tissue. The goal of this study was to establish the extent to which tumor angiogenesis occurs in gliomatosis cerebri. METHODS: Computerized image analysis was performed to assess quantitatively two microvascular parameters (vessel density and diameter) in different areas of a brain harboring a gliomatosis cerebri. These regions were the cerebral white and gray matter in which there was a diffuse infiltrative tumor, cerebral white and gray matter in which there was a more compact growth pattern of tumor cells, and normal cerebral white and gray matter. In addition, the authors performed immunohistochemical stainings for blood-brain barrier (BBB) characteristics (Glut-1 and PgP) on samples obtained in these different areas. The results of the quantitative analysis strongly indicated that in gliomatosis cerebri tumor, angiogenesis was completely absent, a finding that is corroborated by the fact that the microvasculature in gliomatosis cerebri persists in exhibiting immunohistochemical characteristics of the BBB. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study may help resolve the difficulties in radiological detection and delineation of the diffuse infiltrative part of glial brain tumors and put the expectations for antiangiogenic treatment of such tumors into perspective.

PMID: 16266053 [PubMed - in process]

 
9: J Neurosurg. 2005 Sep;103(3 Suppl):277-81.

Neonatal hypothalamic hamartoma: a differentiating nonlethal hamartoblastoma.

Saxonhouse MA, Yachnis AT, Burchfield DJ, Quisling R, Sullivan MP, Pincus DW.

Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Shands Children's Hospital, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida 32610-0296, USA. saxonma@peds.ufl.edu

The authors report on a patient with a large hypothalamic hamartoma with a cleft lip and palate and seizures. Neuroimaging revealed a large extraaxial, intradural mass in the prepontine and interpeduncular cisterns with significant distortion of the brainstem. A stereotactic transfontanel needle biopsy revealed a cellular lesion that contained immature-appearing neuroepithelial cells consistent with prior descriptions of hypothalamic hamartoblastoma. While having a low level of proliferation by Ki67 (MIB-1) labeling, the lesion also contained evidence of neuronal maturation, with many cells expressing neuronal nuclear antigen as observed during immunohistochemical analysis. Further clinical evaluation revealed no other significant congenital abnormalities, and the patient was discharged home. Outpatient follow up has continued for 2 years and the patient has been doing well, requiring no further treatment. This case illustrates that, despite its immature and proliferative histological appearance, this rare neonatal mass can be regarded as a "differentiating" hypothalamic hamartoma and can have a favorable prognosis.

Publication Types:
PMID: 16238084 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 
10: J Neurosurg. 2005 Sep;103(3 Suppl):272-6.

Intramedullary capillary hemangioma associated with hydrocephalus in an infant.

Iannelli A, Lupi G, Castagna M, Valleriani A, Bacherini F.

Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pisa, Italy. a.iannelli@ao-pisa.toscana.it

This 3-month-old child presented with an enlarging head circumference arising from communicating hydrocephalus with large subarachnoid spaces in the posterior fossa. Neuroimaging performed to clarify the origin and pathogenesis of the hydrocephalus revealed a vascular lesion within the dorsal spinal cord. Insertion of a cerebrospinal fluid shunt and total removal of the spinal tumor were performed successfully. Histological examination of the medullar lesion demonstrated a capillary hemangioma. Proposed mechanisms for increased intracranial pressure and spinal cord lesions are presented. A spinal hemangioma in this age range associated with hydrocephalus has not been reported previously, but spinal lesions must be considered in the presence of hydrocephalus with no clear origin.

Publication Types:
PMID: 16238083 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 
11: J Neurosurg. 2005 Sep;103(3 Suppl):266-9.

Noncommunicating spinal extradural arachnoid cyst causing spinal cord compression in a child.

Liu JK, Cole CD, Sherr GT, Kestle JR, Walker ML.

Department of Neurosurgery, Primary Children's Medical Center, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132, USA.

Extradural arachnoid cysts in the spine are relatively uncommon causes of spinal cord compression in the pediatric population that are thought to arise from congenital defects in the dura mater. Most reports describe such cysts communicating with the intrathecal subarachnoid space through a small defect in the dura. The authors describe the case of a child who presented with spinal cord compression caused by a large spinal extradural arachnoid cyst that did not communicate with the intradural subarachnoid space. An 11-year-old girl presented with urinary urgency, progressive lower-extremity weakness, myelopathy, and severe gait ataxia. Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine demonstrated a large extradural arachnoid cyst extending from T-8 to T-12. The patient underwent a thoracic laminoplasty for en bloc resection of the spinal extradural arachnoid cyst. Intraoperatively, the dura was intact and there was no evidence of communication into the intradural subarachnoid space. Postoperatively, the patient's motor strength and ambulation improved immediately, and no subsequent cerebrospinal fluid leak occurred. Noncommunicating spinal extradural arachnoid cysts are extremely rare lesions that can cause spinal cord compression in children. Because the dura remains intact, they can be removed entirely without subsequent dural repair. The authors review the literature and discuss the proposed underlying mechanisms of formation of these arachnoid cysts.

Publication Types:
PMID: 16238081 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 
12: J Neurosurg. 2005 Sep;103(3 Suppl):253-9.

Bobble-head doll syndrome successfully treated with an endoscopic ventriculocystocisternostomy.

Hagebeuk EE, Kloet A, Grotenhuis JA, Peeters EA.

Department of Child Neurology, Medisch Centrum Haaglanden, Westeinde, The Hague. e.e.hagebeuk@amc.uva.nl

The bobble-head doll syndrome (BHDS) is characterized by a back-and-forth movement of the head with a frequency of 2 to 3 Hz, which increases during walking and excitement and decreases during concentration. The head movements are accompanied by macrocephaly, ocular disturbances, psychomotor retardation, and sometimes endocrine dysfunction. The BHDS is frequently associated with a suprasellar arachnoid cyst. The authors present the case of a 4-year-old patient with BHDS; an endoscopic cystoventriculostomy was performed by fenestrating a cyst in the suprasellar region. After wide fenestration of the cyst wall that was protruding and obstructing the foramen of Monro, the cyst was entered with the endoscope and a small, natural, valvelike communication of the cyst with the basal prepontine cistern was seen close to the basilar artery. This communication was widened by balloon dilation. After completion of the ventriculocystocisternostomy, the cyst collapsed and the obstruction of the aqueduct was resolved. In view of the source mechanism and cerebrospinal fluid dynamics of the suprasellar arachnoid cyst, a ventriculocystocisternostomy is an important treatment option for BHDS arising from a suprasellar cyst. Three years after treatment, the head bobbing had resolved completely and psychomotor development was improving. Delay of diagnosis and treatment of this condition can cause permanent neurological dysfunction and psychomotor retardation. The authors recommend early ventriculocystocisternostomy as a physiologically based treatment for BHDS originating from a suprasellar cyst.

Publication Types:
PMID: 16238079 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 
13: J Neurosurg. 2005 Sep;103(3 Suppl):247-52.

Persistent hydrocephalus after early surgical management of posterior fossa tumors in children: is routine preoperative endoscopic third ventriculostomy justified?

Morelli D, Pirotte B, Lubansu A, Detemmerman D, Aeby A, Fricx C, Berre J, David P, Brotchi J.

Department of Neurosurgery, Erasme Hospital, Universite, Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.

OBJECT: The authors evaluate the incidence of persistent hydrocephalus after early surgical management of pediatric posterior fossa tumors and the indicators for routine preoperative endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV). METHODS: Between 1989 and 2004, 160 children with a posterior fossa tumor were treated at Erasme Hospital in Brussels, Belgium. Hydrocephalus was present at admission in 114 of the patients. Thirty-one patients had severe hydrocephalus (Evans index [EI] > 0.4). Twenty-four of these and the 83 patients with mild hydrocephalus (EI between 0.3 and 0.4) were treated with early posterior fossa surgery (Group 1; 107 patients). In this group, 93 patients underwent a total or subtotal tumor resection associated with external ventricular drainage (Group 1A), and 14 underwent a stereotactic biopsy associated with an ETV (Group 1B). The 53 remaining patients underwent elective posterior fossa surgery (Group 2). Early tumor resection (Group 1A) resolved hydrocephalus in 85 (91%) of 93 patients, whereas an ETV resolved intracranial hypertension in 11 patients (Group 1B). In Group 1, persistent hydrocephalus affected 11 (10%) of 107 patients, seven of whom had symptoms and were treated (three with shunts and four with ETVs). Persistent hydrocephalus was more frequent in children with severe preoperative hydrocephalus (p = 0.002) and with medulloblastomas (p = 0.0154). A total of 22 technically successful ETV procedures were performed. The ETV success rate for controlling hydrocephalus was 81% (18 of 22) and the rate of severe complications was 9% (two of 22). CONCLUSIONS: An ETV is an efficient procedure for controlling hydrocephalus associated with posterior fossa tumor. The authors confirm that a routine postoperative ETV is indicated for treating persistent hydrocephalus. For preventing it, however, they recommend early posterior fossa surgery whenever possible. The low rate of persistent hydrocephalus does not justify adopting routine preoperative ETVs.

PMID: 16238078 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 
14: J Neurosurg. 2005 Sep;103(3):448-54.

Predictors of diabetes insipidus after transsphenoidal surgery: a review of 881 patients.

Nemergut EC, Zuo Z, Jane JA Jr, Laws ER Jr.

Department of Anesthesiology, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA. en3x@virginia.edu

OBJECT: Diabetes insipidus (DI) is a common complication of transsphenoidal surgery. The purpose of this study was to elucidate patient- and surgery-specific risk factors for DI. METHODS: The perioperative records of 881 patients who had undergone transsphenoidal microsurgery at the authors' institution between January 1995 and June 2001 were reviewed. Among 857 patients without preoperative DI, the overall incidence of immediate postoperative DI was 18.3%, with 12.4% of patients requiring treatment with desmopressin at some point during their hospitalization. Persistent DI requiring long-term treatment with desmopressin was noted in 2% of all patients. An observable intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak was strongly associated with an increased incidence of both transient (33.3%) and persistent (4.4%) DI. Craniopharyngioma and Rathke cleft cyst (RCC) were also associated with an increased incidence of transient and persistent DI, whereas repeated operation was not. Among patients with pituitary adenomas, those with Cushing's disease had an increased risk of transient (22.2%), but not persistent, DI. Patients with a microadenoma were more likely to suffer transient DI than those harboring a macroadenoma (21.6 compared with 14.3%) but were not more likely to experience persistent DI. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes insipidus remains a common complication of transsphenoidal surgery; however, it is most frequently transient in nature. Patients with an intraoperative CSF leak, a microadenoma, a craniopharyngioma, or an RCC appear to have an increased risk of transient DI. Risk factors for persistent DI include an intraoperative CSF leak, a craniopharyngioma, or an RCC.

PMID: 16235676 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 
15: J Nucl Med. 2005 Nov;46(11):1923-30.
 
Evaluation of 76Br-FBAU as a PET Reporter Probe for HSV1-tk Gene Expression Imaging Using Mouse Models of Human Glioma.

Cho SY, Ravasi L, Szajek LP, Seidel J, Green MV, Fine HA, Eckelman WC.

NeuroOncology Branch, National Cancer Institute and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.

The utility of 5-(76)Br-bromo-2'-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine ((76)Br-FBAU), a uracil analog, as a PET reporter probe for use with the herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase (HSV1-tk) reporter gene system for gene expression imaging was evaluated in vivo and in vitro using human and rat glioma cells. METHODS: Human glioma cell lines U87 and U251 were transduced with replication-defective adenovirus constitutively expressing HSV1-tk (Ad.TK) or a control expressing green fluorescent protein (Ad.GFP). These cells were incubated with (76)Br-FBAU for 20-120 min to determine the percentage of total dose uptake. In vitro uptake of equimolar concentrations (1.8 x 10(-8) mol/L) of (76)Br-FBAU and 2'-fluoro-2'-deoxy-5-iodouracil-beta-d-arabinofuranoside ((14)C-FIAU) was also determined in RG2-TK rat glioma cells stably expressing HSV1-tk and in control RG2 cells at 30-120 min. In vivo uptake of (76)Br-FBAU was determined in subcutaneous U87 tumor intratumorally transduced with Ad.TK by ex vivo biodistribution. Uptake in intracranial U87 tumors transduced with Ad.TK expressing HSV1-tk was measured by brain autoradiography. In vivo PET was performed on subcutaneous and intracranial U87 tumors transduced with Ad.TK and on subcutaneous and intracranial stably expressing RG2-TK tumors. RESULTS: U87 and U251 cells transduced with Ad.TK had significantly increased uptake of (76)Br-FBAU compared with cells transduced with Ad.GFP over 20-120 min. In stably expressing cells at 120 min, (14)C-FIAU uptake in RG2-TK tumor cells was 11.3 %ID (percentage injected dose) and in RG2 control cells was 1.7 %ID, and (76)Br-FBAU uptake in RG2-TK tumor cells was 14.2 %ID and in RG2 control cells was 1.5 %ID. Ex vivo biodistribution of subcutaneous U87 tumors transduced with Ad.TK accumulated (76)Br-FBAU significantly more than in the control Ad.GFP transduced tumor and normal tissue, with the lowest uptake in brain. Autoradiography showed localized uptake in intracranial U87 and U251 cells transduced with Ad.TK. PET image analyses of mice with RG2-TK tumors resulted in an increased tumor-to-background ratio of 13 and 26 from 2 to 6 h after injection, respectively, in intracranial tumors. CONCLUSION: (76)Br-FBAU accumulates in glioma cells constitutively expressing HSV1-tk by either adenoviral transduction or in stably expressing cell lines both in vitro and in vivo. (76)Br-FBAU shows promise as a PET reporter probe for use with the HSV1-tk in vivo gene expression imaging system.

PMID: 16269608 [PubMed - in process]

 
16: J Nucl Med. 2005 Nov;46(11):1858-65.
 
Evaluation of Pharmacokinetics of 4-Borono-2-18F-Fluoro-L-Phenylalanine for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy in a Glioma-Bearing Rat Model with Hyperosmolar Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption.

Hsieh CH, Chen YF, Chen FD, Hwang JJ, Chen JC, Liu RS, Kai JJ, Chang CW, Wang HE.

Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.

This study evaluated the pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of 4-borono-2-(18)F-fluoro-l-phenylalanine ((18)F-FBPA) after intracarotid injection and with blood-brain barrier disruption (BBB-D) in F98 glioma-bearing F344 rats. The pharmacokinetics of l-p-boronophenylalanine (BPA) and (18)F-FBPA following different administration routes were compared to demonstrate the optimal delivery route and the time period for thermal neutron irradiation. METHODS: F98 glioma-bearing rats were injected intravenously or intracarotidly with (18)F-FBPA and BPA and with or without mannitol-induced hyperosmotic BBB-D. The boron concentration and (18)F radioactivity in tissues were determined by invasive (inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy, gamma-counting) and noninvasive PET methods. RESULTS: The biodistributions of (18)F-FBPA and BPA in F98 glioma-bearing rats were similar after intracarotid administration with BBB-D. The accumulation of BPA and (18)F-FBPA in brain tumor and the tumor-to-ipsilateral brain ratios were the highest after intracarotid injection with BBB-D, whereas the retention of boron drugs in contralateral brains exhibited only nonsignificant differences compared with those after intracarotid injection without BBB-D and intravenous injection. The high boron concentration in brain tumor (76.6 mug/g) and the high tumor-to-ipsilateral brain ratio (6.3) may afford enough radiation doses to destroy the tumor cells while sparing the normal tissues in boron neutron capture therapy. The pharmacokinetic parameters of k(el), k(12), k(21), and V(1) for intracarotid injection of (18)F-FBPA with BBB-D derived from the open 2-compartment model are 0.0206 +/- 0.0018 min(-1), 0.0260 +/- 0.0016 min(-1), 0.0039 +/- 0.0003 min(-1), and 3.1 +/- 0.1 mL, respectively. The effect of BBB-D varied depending on the anesthetic agents used and the anesthetic conditions. A smaller degree of BBB-D and, thus, lower boron concentrations in tumor and ipsilateral brain were observed under isoflurane anesthesia than under ketamine anesthesia. The k(12)/k(21) ratio may serve as a good indication for evaluating the extent of BBB-D, tumor uptake, and tumor-to-brain ratio after intracarotid injection of boron compounds. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide important information for establishing an optimal treatment protocol when intracarotid injection with BPA after BBB-D is applied in clinical boron neutron capture therapy.

PMID: 16269600 [PubMed - in process]

 
17: Surg Neurol. 2005 Nov;64 Suppl 2:S82-8.
 
An analysis of stereotactic biopsy of brain tumors and nonneoplastic lesions: a prospective clinicopathologic study.

Heper AO, Erden E, Savas A, Ceyhan K, Erden I, Akyar S, Kanpolat Y.

Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Ankara University, Shhiye, Ankara 06100, Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Appropriate management of progressive, unverified brain lesions should be guided by conclusive pathological diagnosis. Stereotactic biopsy (SB) is established as a less invasive surgical procedure that provides diagnosis. In this prospective study, we analyzed the diagnostic difficulties and risk of SB in the various brain mass lesions, the rate of conclusive pathological diagnosis, and the rate of and the reasons for discrepancy between the intraoperative smear results and conclusive paraffin diagnosis. METHODS: Using computed tomography (CT) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), 130 cases underwent SB procedure to assess intra-axial brain mass lesions. A CT-MRI fusion and a multiplanar image processing stereotactic program were used in cases who had lesions adjacent to the neurovascular and critical areas. The intraoperative evaluations were made with the smear preparations (SPs) of 1 or 2 biopsy specimens. The conclusive diagnosis was achieved by paraffin preparations of the remainder of the biopsies. The discrepancy between the smear results and the conclusive diagnosis was analyzed. RESULTS: Conclusive histopathologic diagnosis was achieved in 99.23% of the cases. A discrepancy between smear results and conclusive diagnosis was detected in 6.98% of the conclusively diagnosed cases. The major reasons for the discrepancy were necrosis and improper quality of the preparations. There was no mortality, and hemorrhage-related morbidity was observed in 1 case (0.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Necrosis and the improper quality of the smear preparations (SPs) can cause difficulties in establishing a histopathologic diagnosis in SB. Small tissue samples do not decrease the diagnostic yield with the new stereotactic technologies used by an experienced team consisting of a neurosurgeon, pathologist, and radiologist.

PMID: 16256850 [PubMed - in process]

 
18: Surg Neurol. 2005 Nov;64 Suppl 2:S67-71.
 
Evaluation of petrosal sinus patency with 3-dimensional contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance venography in petroclival meningiomas for surgical strategy.

Deda H, Erden I, Yagmurlu B.

Department of Neurosurgery, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara 06100, Turkey.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to perform a detailed anatomical analysis of petroclival venous structures as well as their patencies with 3D contrast-enhanced (CE) magnetic resonance venography (MRV) and to identify the potential contribution of these data to the therapeutic approach. METHODS: Ten patients (8 women and 2 men) with unilateral petroclival meningioma were examined using 3D CE MRV in addition to conventional brain protocol. Both coronal source and multiplanar reconstructed images were evaluated for the anatomical orientation. Patency of the cavernous sinus, superior petrosal sinus (SPS), and inferior petrosal sinus (IPS) was assessed. RESULTS: All the patients had a unilateral meningioma (7 on the right and 3 on the left) at the petroclival region. Both SPS and IPS were visualized with adequate intraluminal contrast enhancement in 6 patients, but IPS was absent in 3 on the lesion side, with a patent superior petrosal sinus as the drainage route. One patient had a partially occluded SPS, with IPS being the main course of cavernous sinus drainage. CONCLUSIONS: Cerebral venous anatomy is a challenge to display with noninvasive methods because of flow dynamics, and CE 3D imaging seems to be the modality of choice to evaluate the variational anatomy and patency, which is essential in petroclival meningiomas. Because the cavernous sinus drains into either IPS or SPS, the patent sinus should be protected in surgery if there is tumoral occlusion of the others.

PMID: 16256846 [PubMed - in process]

 
19: Surg Neurol. 2005 Nov;64S2:S58-S66.
 
Changing treatment strategy of cavernous sinus meningiomas: experience of a single institution.

Pamir MN, Kilic T, Bayrakli F, Peker S.

Institute of Neurological Sciences, Marmara University, PK 53 Maltepe, Istanbul 81532, Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Oncological treatment of a neoplasm is more than surgical removal of the tumor. Probably, this truth is the reason for the ongoing discussion on cavernous sinus meningiomas in the last decade. Debate on optimal management of cavernous sinus meningiomas aims to compare the different treatment strategies: (a) radical surgical resection and (b) conservative surgical resection complemented with radiosurgical treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Natural history of the change in the management strategy of cavernous sinus meningiomas in our department before and after GK facility became available in 1997 allowed us to compare the 2 aforementioned strategies. Before installation of a Leksell GK unit at the hospital in 1997, the neurosurgical team at Marmara University Institute of Neurological Sciences and Faculty of Medicine (Istanbul, Turkey) treated patients with cavernous sinus meningioma using radical resection (radical strategy, group A, 10 patients). After 1997, the same neurosurgical team used understanding of surgical removal of the extracavernous sinus tumor component with GK irradiation of the intracavernous part (conservative strategy, group B, 12 patients). Another group of patients, who were treated with GK as a first-step treatment, was analyzed (GK group, group C, 26 patients). RESULTS: At the end of the third year, more stable tumor volume control was achieved in groups B and C; after the second year, an incline in the tumor volume-time graph was detected. Group B resulted in less cranial nerve-related complications; a certain degree of improvement in cranial nerve deficits was observed. CONCLUSION: Comparing 2 different management strategies for cavernous sinus meningiomas in the same hospital setting using the same neurosurgical group, we conclude that extracavernous resection followed by GK is as effective as radical surgery. Considering cranial nerve complications and third-year tumor volume control achievement, conservative approach yielded better results. Longer follow-up with larger series is necessary.

PMID: 16256845 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
 
 

HOME | Detection | Diagnosis | Epidemiology | Etiology & Pathogenesis | Integrative Medicine | Overall Mngt & Case Reports | Prevention | Prognosis | Psychosocial Aspects | Treatment 
About BrainLife
|
Children's Corner | E-mail Alerts | Journals | Newsletter | Patients & Caregivers | Search | Stem Cells | WHO Classification | SITEMAP