• Title/Summary/Keyword: temozolomide chemotherapy

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Advancements in the treatment of pediatric acute leukemia and brain tumor - continuous efforts for 100% cure

  • Ju, Hee Young;Hong, Che Ry;Shin, Hee Young
    • Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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    • v.57 no.10
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    • pp.434-439
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    • 2014
  • Treatment outcomes of pediatric cancers have improved greatly with the development of improved treatment protocols, new drugs, and better supportive measures, resulting in overall survival rates greater than 70%. Survival rates are highest in acute lymphoblastic leukemia, reaching more than 90%, owing to risk-based treatment through multicenter clinical trials and protocols developed to prevent central nervous system relapse and testicular relapse in boys. New drugs including clofarabine and nelarabine are currently being evaluated in clinical trials, and other targeted agents are continuously being developed. Chimeric antigen receptor-modified T cells are now attracting interest for the treatment of recurrent or refractory disease. Stem cell transplantation is still the most effective treatment for pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, in order to reduce treatment-related death after stem cell transplantation, there is need for improved treatments. New drugs and targeted agents are also needed for improved outcome of AML. Surgery and radiation therapy have been the mainstay for brain tumor treatment. However, chemotherapy is becoming more important for patients who are not eligible for radiotherapy owing to age. Stem cell transplant as a means of high dose chemotherapy and stem cell rescue is a new treatment modality and is often repeated for improved survival. Drugs such as temozolomide are new chemotherapeutic options. In order to achieve 100% cure in children with pediatric cancer, every possible treatment modality and effort should be considered.

Cerebellar Glioblastoma Multiforme in an Adult

  • Hur, Hyuk;Jung, Shin;Jung, Tae-Young;Kim, In-Young
    • Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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    • v.43 no.4
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    • pp.194-197
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    • 2008
  • Primary cerebellar glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a rare tumor in adults that accounts for just 1% of all cases of GBM. Due to their rarity, cerebellar GBMs are not yet completely understood about the pathogenesis and the prognosis. Here, we present a case of GBM in a 69-year-old man. Neurologic examination revealed the presence of cerebellar signs. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a 4.5${\times}$3.6 cm-sized, ill-defined, heterogeneously enhancing mass in the left cerebellum and two patchy hyperintense lesions in the right cerebellum with minimal enhancement. After operation, glioblastoma was histologically confrimed. Postoperative radiotherapy with concomittent and adjuvant temozolomide chemotherapy was subsequently followed. Here, a case of unusual GBM in the cerebellum is reported with review of literature regarding the pathogenesis, the differential diagnosis and prognosis. There was no evidence of recurrence during postoperative one year. This patient showed a good prognosis in spite of the multiple lesions.

Midline Glioblastoma Multiforme With Bilateral Symmetric Cysts

  • Lee, Hai-Ong;Koh, Eun-Jeong;Oh, Young-Min;Choi, Ha-Young
    • Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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    • v.43 no.2
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    • pp.105-108
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    • 2008
  • Cystic glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a rare disease. Its exact prevalence has not yet been reported. Also, the mechanism of cyst formation remains to be elucidated. We report a case of GBM with a large peripheral cyst. A 43-year-old woman visited our clinic with a 3-month history of severe headache, memory impairment and general weakness. T1-weighted gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) image revealed a midline enhanced solid mass and bilateral symmetric banana-shaped peripheral cysts. A centrally enhanced mass was measured $2{\times}4$ cm in size and both mass and cysts as $7{\times}7$ cm. Both the frontal lobe and the frontal horn were severely compressed inferiorly and posteriorly. We resected a midline solid tumor and cysts via the bilateral interhemispheric transcortical approach. Histopathologic examination revealed GBM. The patient was subsequently treated with fractionated conventional brain radiation therapy, followed by temozolomide chemotherapy. Eighteen months later, there was no tumor recurrence and no neurological deficits were noted. Our patient showed no tumor recurrence and a long survival at a long follow-up.