Journal of neuro-oncology
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Journal of neuro-oncology · Oct 2007
Historical controls for phase II surgically based trials requiring gross total resection of glioblastoma multiforme.
New treatments for patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) are frequently tested in phase II surgically based clinical trials that require gross total resection (GTR). In order to determine efficacy in such single-arm phase II clinical trials, the results are often compared to those from a historical control group that is not limited to patients with GTR. Recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) can define risk groups within historical control groups; however, RPA analyses to date included patients irrespective of whether a patient had a GTR or not. ⋯ Within the GTR group, the median age was 54 years (range 25-77 years), and median Karnofsky Performance Score was 90 (range 60-100). Considering only patients with GTR, age at diagnosis continued to be a statistically significant prognostic factor. Patients treated during surgically based phase II studies should be matched with a historical control group restricted to patients with similar pretreatment variables, including GTR.
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Journal of neuro-oncology · Sep 2007
Retrospective analysis of the efficacy and tolerability of levetiracetam in patients with metastatic brain tumors.
Seizures are a common complication of metastatic brain tumors (MBT), affecting approximately 27-50% of all patients during the course of their illness. Treatment of tumor-induced seizures is often inadequate with traditional antiepileptic drugs (AED) due to a variety of factors, including activation of glutamatergic NMDA receptors, alterations of neuronal input pathways, and tumor growth. Levetiracetam (LEV) is a 2nd generation non-enzyme inducing AED with a novel mechanism of action, binding to neuronal synaptic vesicle protein SV2A, that has been previously shown to reduce seizure activity in patients with primary brain tumors. ⋯ The seizure frequency was reduced to less than 50% of the pre-LEV baseline in 100% of patients (P=0.0002, Sign test), with 10 patients (77%; confidence interval: 46-95%) noting complete seizure control. The most common adverse event was somnolence and headache, noted in 3 of 13 patients (23%). LEV was very effective and well tolerated in MBT patients with seizures and should be considered for add-on therapy or as a substitute AED for monotherapy.
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Journal of neuro-oncology · Aug 2007
Clinical TrialMultivoxel 3D proton MR spectroscopy in the distinction of recurrent glioma from radiation injury.
To explore the usefulness of multivoxel 3D proton MR spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) in assessing the recurrent contrast-enhancing areas at the site of the previously treated gliomas. ⋯ 3D (1)H-MRS could differentiate recurrent tumor from radiation injury in patients with recurrent contrast-enhancing lesions in the vicinity of the previously treated gliomas.
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To determine the incidence, the causes and the prognostic value for survival of acute confusion (delirium) in patients admitted to a general cancer hospital. ⋯ Confusion is common in general cancer population. TME is the leading etiology and it is due to multiple causes in most patients. SBL causes confusion in one third of the patients. Patients with TME have a greater chance to recover, and survive longer especially if they have only one toxic or metabolic change.
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Journal of neuro-oncology · Jul 2007
Massive apoptotic cell death of human glioma cells via a mitochondrial pathway following 5-aminolevulinic acid-mediated photodynamic therapy.
The basic mechanism of cell death induced by 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA)-mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) (ALA-PDT) in glioma cells has not been fully elucidated. In this study, the details of the cell death mechanism induced by ALA-PDT were investigated in three human glioma cell lines (U251MG, U87MG, and U118MG) in vitro. To evaluate the manner of accumulation of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), intracellular PpIX contents were measured by flow cytometry after incubation with 5-ALA. ⋯ These results indicate that a dysfunction of MMP is followed by mitochondrial cytochrome c release, which triggers apoptosis through a mitochondrial pathway. ALA-PDT induces massive apoptosis due to the direct activation of a mitochondrial pathway, which is resistant to many anti-apoptotic processes, in human glioma cells. This finding implies that ALA-PDT is a promising therapy for the treatment of apoptosis-reluctant tumors such as malignant gliomas.