37
brain cancer articles
- Impact Factor
- brain neoplasms -
36
- skull base neoplasms -
1
High complication rates have been cited following olfactory groove meningioma (OGM) resection but data are lacking on attendant risk factors. We aimed to review the complications following OGM resection and identify prognostic factors.
Over the last decade, the approach to the management of brain tumours and the understanding of glioblastoma tumour biology has advanced and a number of therapeutic interventions have evolved, some of which have shown statistically significant effects on overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival in glioblastoma. The aim of this study is to compare survival in glioblastoma patients over a 10-year period (1999-2000 and 2009-2010).
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary brain tumor in adults, with a dismal prognosis. Treatment is hampered by GBM's unique biology, including differential cell response to therapy. Although several mitochondrial abnormalities have been identified, how mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations contribute to GBM biology and therapeutic response remains poorly described. We sought to determine the spectrum of functional complex III and IV mtDNA mutations in GBM.
Dendritic cell (DC) immunotherapy is developing as a promising treatment modality for patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). The aim of this article is to review the data from clinical trials and prospective studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of DC vaccines for newly diagnosed (ND)- and recurrent (Rec)-GBM and for other high-grade gliomas (HGGs). By searching all major databases we identified and reviewed twenty-two (n=22) such studies, twenty (n=20) of which were phase I and II trials, one was a pilot study towards a phase I/II trial and one was a prospective study. GBM patients were exclusively recruited in 12/22 studies, while 10/22 studies enrolled patients with any diagnosis of a HGG. In 7/22 studies GBM was newly diagnosed. In the vast majority of studies the vaccine was injected subcutaneously or intradermally and consisted of mature DCs pulsed with tumour lysate or peptides. Median overall survival ranged between 16.0 and 38.4 months for ND-GBM and between 9.6 and 35.9 months for Rec-GBM. Vaccine-related side effects were in general mild (grade I and II), with serious adverse events (grade III, IV and V) reported only rarely. DC immunotherapy therefore appears to have the potential to increase the overall survival in patients with HGG, with an acceptable side effect profile. The findings will require confirmation by the ongoing and future phase III trials.
While neuron-glia 2 (NG2) is well-characterized in the developing brain and in adult high-grade gliomas, little is known about NG2 expression in paediatric brain tumors. Here, NG2 expression was examined in a range of paediatric brain tumors.
Dendritic cell (DC) immunotherapy is emerging as a potential addition to the standard of care in the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). In the last decade or so various research groups have conducted phase I and II trials of DC-immunotherapy on patients with newly diagnosed (ND) and recurrent GBM and other high-grade gliomas in an attempt to improve the poor prognosis. Results show an increase in overall survival (OS), while vaccination-related side effects are invariably mild. Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.A. (NWBT) developed the DCVax®-L vaccine as an adjunct to the treatment of GBM. It is currently under evaluation in a phase III trial in patients with ND-GBM, which is the only ongoing trial of its kind. In this review current data and perspectives of this product are examined.
Patients and relatives experiences of behavioural and personality changes following brain tumour were assessed to determine whether these changes are more prominent in the experience of patients with frontal tumours and their relatives as a first step to evaluate the need to develop appropriate support and management of such changes, which have a substantial impact on social functioning, and ultimately to improve quality of life.
Dendritic cell immunotherapy is emerging as a promising addition to the multimodal treatment of patients with glioblastoma multiform. Initial Phase I and II trials have demonstrated favorable outcomes with minimal toxicity. In this editorial, the current status and the future challenges of this therapy are discussed.
The association of anorexia nervosa (AN) with organic brain lesions may offer insight into underlying illness neuropathology. A systematic review reported an association between AN and lesions located in the right frontal lobe. To date, no studies have studied such a case longitudinally. A case of a male presenting with AN and a frontal lobe glioma is described.
We report two cases of papillary glioneuronal tumour (PGNT). One was located in the supratentorial parenchyma and the other was intraventricular. Both patients underwent gross total resection of their tumour and have returned to normal lifestyle. Papillary glioneuronal tumor is a recently described rare cerebral neoplasm. Recently classified by the World Health Organization in 2007 as a Grade I neuronal-glial tumour, these tumours are infrequent lesions that can be challenging to the practising pathologist. Patients commonly present with headaches or seizures, but may be asymptomatic with the mass discovered incidentally. The characteristic radiological, histological and immunohistochemical features are discussed. Surgical excision has been curative in most of the cases with only a handful of cases of recurrence reported. The increasing number of reports in the literature shows how PGNT forms a good example of a newly diagnosed tumour category in evolution. New classifications and re-classifications of broad categories of brain tumours will hopefully lead to a narrower diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic profile. The even rarer presence of atypia calls for longer follow-up to help elucidate further its biological behaviour.
Multidisciplinary team (MDT) working in oncology aims to improve outcomes for patients with cancer. One role is to ensure the implementation of best practice and National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance. In this study, we have assessed the role of MDT in implementing the TA121 appraisal of the use of carmustine wafers in high grade gliomas.
Since 2006, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines advise referral of any suspected brain tumour to a dedicated neuro-oncology multidisciplinary team (MDT). We investigated two aspects of MDT safety: whether time to operation was delayed and whether brain abscesses were inappropriately referred to the MDT. MATERIAL(S) AND METHODS: We reviewed the notes of 220 consecutive patients referred to our neuro-oncology service before and after implementation of a pre-operative MDT meeting.
We present a case of recurrent metastatic brain tumour spread across a cranial fixation device.
Rust P, Ashkan K, Ball C, Stapleton S, Marsh H. Gliomatosis cerebri: Pitfalls in diagnosis. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience. 2001;8(4):361-3.
Ashkan K, Casey A, D’Arrigo C, Harkness W, Thomas D. Benign Central Neurocytoma: A double misnomer. Cancer. 2000;89(5):1111-20.
Stacey R, Ashkan K, Rice Edwards M. Rapid growth in a cavernoma. British Journal of Neurosurgery. 2000;14(6):585-588.
Pardhanani G, Ashkan K, Mendoza N. Primary non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma of the cranial vault presenting with unilateral proptosis. Acta Neurochirurgica. 2000;142(5):597-8.
Ashkan K, Casey A. The Christmas Tree Sign. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry. 1999;67(6):824.
Ashkan K, Pollock J, D’Arrigo C, Kitchen N. Intracranial osteosarcoma: Report of four cases and review of the literature. Journal of Neuro-Oncology. 1998;40(1):87-96.
Ashkan K, Casey A. Pulmonary apex schwannoma. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry. 1997;63(6):719.
Research focus in neuro-oncology has shifted in the last decades towards the exploration of tumor infiltration by a variety of immune cells and their products. T cells, macrophages, B cells, and mast cells (MCs) have been identified.
Effective treatments for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) are lacking due, in part, to cellular heterogeneity. Consequently, single-target therapeutic strategies are unlikely to succeed. Simultaneous targeting of different neoplastic cell populations within the same tumour may, therefore, prove of value. Neuron-glia 2 (NG2), a transmembrane chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan, present on developing glial cells, and GD3(A), a ganglioside expressed on developing migratory glia, are re-expressed in GBM.
Primary central nervous system (CNS) marginal zone B cell lymphoma is a rare condition. It has an indolent disease course and usually presents as a dural-based lesion. We present a patient with non-dural-based, primary CNS marginal zone B cell lymphoma with an unusual imaging appearance, not previously described to our knowledge.
Dendritic cell immunotherapy is emerging as a promising addition to the multimodal treatment of patients with glioblastoma multiform. Initial Phase I and II trials have demonstrated favorable outcomes with minimal toxicity. In this editorial, the current status and the future challenges of this therapy are discussed.
Jassam S, Maherally Z, Smith J, Ashkan K, Roncaroli F, Fillmore H, Pilkington G. TNF-alpha enhancement of CD62E mediates adhesion of non small cell lung cancer cells to brain endothelium via CD15 in lung brain metastasis. Neuro Oncology. 2016;18(5):679-90.
Denmark T, Fish J, Jansari A, Tailor J, Ashkan K (joint last author), Morris R. Using Virtual Reality to investigate multitasking ability in individuals with frontal lobe lesions. Neuropsychol Rehabil. 2017 Jun 8:1-22. [Epub ahead of print].
Sokratous G, Polyzoidis S, Ashkan K. Immune infiltration of tumor microenvironment following immunotherapy for glioblastoma multiforme. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2017 Mar 31:0. [Epub ahead of print].
Geevarghese R, Marcus R, Aizpura M, Al-Sarraj S, Ashkan K. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the cauda equina: a rare entity. British Journal of Neurosurgery On line: 2016 August 29:1-2. [Epub ahead of print].
Jassam S, Maherally Z, Smith J, Ashkan K, Roncaroli F, Fillmore H, Pilkington G. CD15s/CD62E Interaction Mediates the Adhesion of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells on Brain Endothelial Cells: Implications for Cerebral Metastasis. Int J Mol Sci. 2017;18(7) pii: E1474.
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Laxton R, Doey L, Aizpurua M, Bodi I, King A, Chandler C, Bhangoo R, Beaney R, Brazil L, Ashkan K (joint last author), Al-Sarraj S. Co-deletion of 1p/19q is strongly correlated with a high level of MGMT promoter methylation in high grade gliomas as revealed by pyrosequencing. Journal of Molecular and Genetic Medicine. Epub 2015;9:1.
Laxton R, Jones C, Doey L, Teelock N, Popov S, Jury A, Bhangoo R, Gullan R, Chandler C, Brazil L, Sadler G, Beaney R, Sibtain N, King A, Bodi I, Ashkan K (joint last author), Al-Sarraj S. Primary glioblastoma with oilgodendroglial differentiation has better clinical outcome but no difference in common biological markers compared with other types of glioblastoma. Neuro-Oncology. 2013;15(12):1635-43.
Kenyon A, Haider S, Ashkan K, Nelson-Piercy C. Cerebellar haemangioblastoma presenting with dizziness in pregnancy: case report and review of literature. Obstetric Medicine. 2009;2:164-7.
Ahluwalia S, Ashkan K, Casey A. Meningeal melanocytoma: clinical features and review of the literature. British Journal of Neurosurgery. 2003;17(4):347-51.
Ashkan K, Moore A. Spinal cord compression by an extradural lipoma in Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome. Journal of Neurosurgery. 2002;97(2):269.
Ashkan K, Rose P, Walter P. Cystic meningioma: Challenges in the diagnosis. British Journal of Neurosurgery. 2002;16(1):72-3.
