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Maternal medication use and the risk of brain tumors in the offspring: the SEARCH international case-control study.

N-nitroso compounds (NOC) have been associated with carcinogenesis in a wide range of species, including humans. There is strong experimental data showing that nitrosamides (R(1)NNO.COR(2)), a type of NOC, are potent neuro-carcinogens when administered transplacentally. Some medications are a concentrated source of amides or amines, which in the presence of nitrites under normal acidic conditions of the stomach can form NOC. Therefore, these compounds, when ingested by women during pregnancy, may be important risk factors for tumors of the central nervous system in the offspring. The aim of the present study was to test the association between maternal use of medications that contain nitrosatable amines or amides and risk of primary childhood brain tumors (CBT). A case-control study was conducted, which included 1,218 cases and 2,223 population controls, recruited from 9 centers across North America, Europe and Australia. Analysis was conducted for all participants combined, by tumor type (astroglial, primitive neuroectodermal tumors and other glioma), and by age at diagnosis (< or =5 years; >5 years). There were no significant associations between maternal intake of medication containing nitrosatable amines or amides and CBT, for all participants combined and after stratification by age at diagnosis and histological subtype. This is the largest case-control study of CBT and maternal medications to date. Our data provide little support for an association between maternal use of medications that may form NOC and subsequent development of CBT in the offspring.

Adolescent↗

Childhood brain tumors that occupy more than one compartment at presentation. Multiple compartment tumors.

Children whose brain tumor involves two or more compartments at presentation differ clinically and pathologically from children whose brain tumor is confined to one compartment. In this study of 3,291 children with a brain tumor, at least 10% had a tumor that occupied two or three compartments at first hospitalization. Infratentorial tumors occupying multiple compartments were 1.7 times more likely to involve the cervicomedullary junction than the mesodiencephalic junction. Younger children (1-3 years) were more likely to have had multiple compartment tumors than older children. Children whose tumor was limited to the infratentorial compartment had a longer survival than children whose tumor also occupied other compartments. Ependymoma, anaplastic ependymoma, and astrocytoma (nos) were over represented among infratentorial multiple compartment tumors. Pilocytic astrocytoma, primitive neuroectodermal tumor (medulloblastoma), and desmoplastic medulloblastoma were less likely to have occupied multiple compartments at the time of the first surgical exploration. The distributions of histologic features in tumors at the cervicomedullary junction differed from those in tumors limited to the posterior fossa or to the spinal canal. Seizures were more likely if the tumor was confined to the supratentorial compartment, whereas nausea or vomiting and headache were more likely if the tumor was confined to the infratentorial compartment. Children whose tumor was confined to the spinal canal were significantly more likely to have bladder symptoms and back and/or abdominal pain than those whose tumor also involved compartments above the foramen magnum. We conclude that brain tumors apparently confined to one compartment at presentation are biologically and structurally different from tumors evident in two or more compartments.

Adolescent↗

MRI and pathological findings in two cases of Askin tumors.

Askin tumors are primitive peripheral neuroectodermal tumors (PPNET) located in the thoracopulmonary region. This entity was first proposed in 1979 by Askin et al. These highly malignant tumors occur primarily in children and young adults. Pre- und postoperative MRI findings are presented for two pathologically proven cases. MRI is the most appropriate imaging modality for the diagnosis and eventual follow-up for these tumors. They appear homogenous, and iso- or discretely hypointense in comparison to the spinal cord on T1-weighted images and hyperintense on proton density and T2-weighted images. They show a very stark contrast enhancement after i.v. injection of paramagnetic contrast agents. Sharp tissue borders, and exact tumor extension were shown in both cases. The high signal intensity on T2-weighted images was not altered by chemotherapy.

Adult↗

MR imaging of glioblastoma in children: usefulness of diffusion/perfusion-weighted MRI and MR spectroscopy.

BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma is relatively uncommon in childhood and maybe difficult to differentiate from other brain tumors such as primitive neuroectodermal tumor, ependymoma, or benign astrocytoma. OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristic MR features in children with glioblastoma and to evaluate the usefulness of diffusion and perfusion MR imaging and MR spectroscopy in pediatric glioblastoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR imaging in 11 children (12 tumors) with biopsy-proven glioblastoma was reviewed retrospectively. In one patient, there was a recurrent glioblastoma. We reviewed CT and MRI imaging for tumor location, density/signal intensity, and enhancement pattern. Routine MR imaging was performed with a 1.5-T scanner. In six patients, diffusion-weighted MR images (DWIs) were obtained with a single-shot spin echo EPI technique with two gradient steps, and apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) were calculated. Using the gradient EPI technique, perfusion-weighted MR images (PWIs) were obtained in four patients from the data of dynamic MR images. The maximum relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) ratio was calculated between the tumor and contralateral white matter in two cases. In three patients, proton MR spectroscopy was performed using a single voxel technique with either STEAM or PRESS sequences. The locations of the tumor were the thalamus and basal ganglia ( n=8), deep white matter ( n=3), and brain stem ( n=1). RESULTS: Intratumoral hemorrhage was seen in four tumors. The tumors showed high-signal intensity or DWIs, having a wide range of ADC values of 0.53-1.30 (mean +/-SD=1.011+/-0.29). The maximum rCBV ratios of glioblastoma were 10.2 and 8.5 in two cases. MR spectroscopy showed decreased N-acetylaspartate (NAA) and increased choline in three cases. The MR findings of glioblastoma in children were: a diffusely infiltrative mass with hemorrhage involving the deep cerebral white matter, thalami, and basal ganglia. CONCLUSION: Diffusion/perfusion MR imaging and MR spectroscopy are very helpful in diagnosing glioblastoma, determining the biopsy site, and evaluating tumor recurrence.

Adolescent↗

Pediatric brain tumors: statistics of SNUH, Korea (1959-2000).

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the age, gender, location and pathologic diagnosis of brain tumors in pediatric patients (less than 16 years old), we reviewed 677 patients who were operated on at the Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) during the period from January 1959 to June 2000. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Only tumors for which pathologic specimens were available were included. Tumors of bone origin, purely extradural mass, nontumorous cystic lesions, and vascular malformations were excluded. The mean age of the 677 patients was 7.8 years and the gender ratio (male-to-female ratio), 1.4:1. Supratentorial tumors (60.0%) were more common than infratentorial tumors (39.1%). Pathological examination showed that the most common tumors were astrocytic tumors (25.7%), medulloblastomas (17.9%), craniopharyngiomas (12.0%), germ cell tumors (11.2%), supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors (ST-PNETs) (5.5%), and neuronal tumors (5.2%). Choroid plexus tumors and ependymal tumors occurred more frequently in early childhood, while pituitary adenomas and non-teratomatous germ cell tumors occurred more frequently in older children. While most tumors were more predominant in males, oligodendroglial tumors and pituitary adenomas were more predominant in females. CONCLUSIONS: The relative incidences of germ cell tumors, neuronal tumors, and oligodendroglial tumors increased after the introduction of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In contrast, the incidence rates of medulloblastomas and ependymal tumors decreased.

Academic Medical Centers↗

Absence of detectable alterations in the putative tumor suppressor gene BTRC in cerebellar medulloblastomas and cutaneous basal cell carcinomas.

The sonic hedgehog signal transduction pathway is aberrantly activated in the majority of cutaneous basal cell carcinomas and a subset of cerebellar medulloblastomas. The latter tumors may also show activation of the wingless (Wnt) signaling pathway. In Drosophila, the F-box/WD40-repeat containing protein Slimb has been shown to function as an intracellular negative regulator of both pathways. The BTRC gene (beta-transducin repeat-containing protein) is a human homolog of Slimb that is located at 10q24.3, a chromosome region frequently deleted in medulloblastomas. Here, we report on the mutational analysis of BTRC in 91 human tumors, including 66 primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs) of the central nervous system (62 medulloblastomas and 4 supratentorial PNETs) and 25 cutaneous basal cell carcinomas (BCCs). These analyses revealed no tumor-associated BTRC mutations. BTRC transcripts were expressed in non-neoplastic brain tissue, normal skin, as well as in all PNETs and BCCs analyzed by real-time reverse transcription-PCR. Two novel BTRC transcript variants were expressed at higher levels in non-neoplastic brain tissue than in normal skin and the investigated tumors. Taken together, our results indicate that PNETs and BCCs neither show mutations nor loss of mRNA expression of BTRC. Therefore, BTRC alteration does not appear to be involved in the pathogenesis of these neoplasms.

Base Sequence↗

Early presence of activated ('exhausted') platelets in malignant tumors (breast adenocarcinoma and malignant melanoma).

To evaluate whether or not the finding of platelet activation in patients with tumors is related to the stage of malignancy, a study of biochemical markers indicative of the presence of circulating activated ('exhausted') platelets was carried out in 95 untreated patients with breast adenocarcinoma or malignant melanoma, localized or spread to regional lymph nodes with no detectable distant metastasis. These tumors were chosen as examples of tumors which can be accurately staged for localization or spread, and as examples of mucin-secreting tumors (breast adenocarcinoma) or neuroectodermic tumors (malignant melanoma). Results were compared with those for 26 patients with benign breast disease, 23 blood donors and 50 hospital workers. The most frequent abnormalities were low levels of intraplatelet ADP and 5-hydroxytryptamine and high ATP/ADP ratios. Although these abnormalities occurred with both types of tumor, they were more frequent and marked for melanomas and breast carcinomas spread to regional lymph nodes. Our data indicate that the presence of exhausted platelets is an early finding in patients with malignant tumors.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Changes in fibrinolysis in patients with localized tumors.

An array of fibrinolysis tests was applied to the plasmas of 125 untreated patients with breast carcinoma and malignant melanoma, localized or spread to regional lymph nodes with no detectable distant metastases, to see whether or not there may be changes related to the type or to the stage of malignancy. Breast carcinoma (a mucin secreting tumor) and melanoma (a neuroectodermal tumor) were chosen as examples of tumors that can be accurately staged for localization or spread. Forty healthy subjects matched for age served as controls. The most marked differences between malignant tumors and controls were elevated plasma levels of tissue plasminogen activator antigen (P less than 0.005), plasminogen activator inhibitor (P less than 0.01), cross-linked fibrin degradation products (P less than 0.001), fragment B beta 15-42 (P less than 0.001) and histidine-rich glycoprotein (P less than 0.005). For no fibrinolysis test were results significantly different between patients with localized and spread tumors. Our data indicate that in these tumors fibrinolytic alterations are an early phenomenon unrelated to spreading.

Adult↗

Cluster analysis of immunohistochemical profiles in synovial sarcoma, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, and Ewing sarcoma.

As a result of overlapping morphologic and immunohistochemical features, it can be difficult to distinguish synovial sarcoma, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, and Ewing sarcoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumor in core biopsies. To analyze and compare immunohistochemical profiles, we stained tissue microarrays of 23 synovial sarcomas, 23 malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, and 27 Ewing sarcomas with 22 antibodies potentially useful in the differential diagnosis, and analyzed the data with cluster analysis. Stain intensity was scored as none, weak, or strong. For CD99, tumors with membranous accentuation were independently categorized. Cluster analysis sorted five groups, with like tumors clustering together. Synovial sarcoma clustered into two groups: one cytokeratin and EMA positive (n = 11), the other mostly cytokeratin negative, EMA positive, bcl-2 positive and mostly CD56 positive (n = 9). Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor clustered into two groups: one S100 positive, with nestin and NGFR positivity in most (n = 10), the other mostly S100 negative, and variably but mostly weakly positive for nestin and NGFR (n = 11). Ewing sarcomas clustered into a single group driven by membranous CD99 staining. Thirteen cases failed to cluster (outliers), while three Ewing sarcomas clustered into groups of other tumor types. Paired antibodies for each tumor type determined by visual assessment of cluster analysis data and statistical calculations of specificity, sensitivity, and predictive values showed that EMA/CK7 for synovial sarcoma, nestin/S100 for malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, and membranous CD99/Fli-1 for Ewing sarcoma yielded high specificity and positive predictive values. Cluster analysis also highlighted aberrant staining reactions and diagnostic pitfalls in these tumors. Hierarchical cluster analysis is an effective method for analyzing high-volume immunohistochemical data.

12E7 Antigen↗

Megatherapy with hematopoietic stem cell rescue as a preoperative treatment in unresectable pediatric malignancies.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: To improve the quality of life and prognosis of the patients with advanced pediatric malignant tumors, the authors have used megatherapy (MT) with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT) before surgery. To elucidate the impact of preoperative MT on the treatments of pediatric advanced malignancies, the authors reviewed the timing of surgery, preoperative condition, postoperative recovery, and outcome. METHODS: Between 1991 and 2001, 24 children with malignant tumors received MT with SCT before surgery, and 19 tumors were resected after SCT. These tumors included 12 neuroblastomas, 2 hepatic tumors, 2 peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumors, one rhabdomyosarcoma, one Wilms' tumor, and one yolk sac tumor. RESULTS: The mean duration of white blood cell (WBC) recovery (>1,000/mm3) and platelet recovery (>50,000/mm3) after SCT was 17.1 and 42.5 days, respectively. Distant metastases were controlled in 9 of 15 cases. The tumors were resected completely in 14 cases (73.7%), and complete remission (CR) was achieved after surgery in 9 cases (47.4%). There was no postoperative complication or remarkable functional impairment. At 7 months to 7 years after diagnosis, 9 patients are alive without disease, one with disease, 6 have died of recurrent tumor, and 2 have died of chemotherapy-associated complications. CONCLUSIONS: The current study suggested that MT with SCT before surgical resection contributes to increase in resectability and achieving CR. In the treatment of advanced pediatric malignancies, especially in the case of unresectable tumor, preoperative MT with SCT should be considered.

Adolescent↗

131-I coupled to monoclonal antibodies as therapeutic agents for neuroectodermally derived tumors: fact or fiction?

It has been suggested that monoclonal antibodies may be useful in targeting cytotoxic compounds to tumor cells. We have explored their use in targeting 131-I to highly radiosensitive primitive neural tumors such as neuroblastoma and pineoblastomas. Two routes of administration have been employed, intravenous and intrathecal. Our current experience in using radiolabelled antibodies is described, indicating toxicities seen and any therapeutic benefit observed. The results of the study suggest that if targeted radiation has a role in the treatment of these malignancies, it will be restricted to the eradication of small tumor masses from the body.

Animals↗

Clear cell sarcoma of the kidney: a review of 351 cases from the National Wilms Tumor Study Group Pathology Center.

We reviewed 351 cases of clear cell sarcoma of the kidney (CCSK), including 182 cases entered on National Wilms Tumor Study Group (NWTSG) trials 1-4 for which clinical follow-up information was available. Tumors were restaged using NWTS 5 criteria. Mean age at diagnosis in the NWTS group was 36 months with a range of 2 months to 14 years. The male to female ratio was 2:1. Typical gross features included large size (mean diameter 11.3 cm), a mucoid texture, foci of necrosis, and prominent cyst formation. Nine major histologic patterns were identified (classic, myxoid, sclerosing, cellular, epithelioid, palisading, spindle, storiform, and anaplastic); virtually all tumors contained multiple patterns that blended with one another. Immunohistochemical stains were performed on 45 cases; only vimentin was consistently immunoreactive. Consistently negative results with other antibodies helped exclude other tumors in the differential diagnosis; all CCSKs were cytokeratin-negative, including epithelioid tumors that mimicked Wilms tumor, and MIC2-negative, including cellular tumors that mimicked primitive neuroectodermal tumor. The p53 gene product was rarely overexpressed in non-anaplastic CCSKs, but strikingly overexpressed in two of three anaplastic CCSKs. Overall survival was 69%. Multivariate analysis revealed four independent prognostic factors for survival: treatment with doxorubicin, stage, age at diagnosis, and tumor necrosis. Of note, stage 1 patients had a remarkable 98% survival rate. No other histologic or clinical variable independently correlated with survival.

Adolescent↗

Practical application of molecular genetic testing as an aid to the surgical pathologic diagnosis of sarcomas: a prospective study.

The strong correlation of specific reciprocal translocations with individual tumor types and the demonstration that polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods can detect translocations in tissue samples have stimulated interest in the role of molecular genetic testing in diagnostic surgical pathology. To evaluate the clinical utility of PCR-based molecular analysis of soft tissue neoplasms in routine surgical pathology, 131 consecutive soft tissue tumors submitted for molecular genetic testing at a tertiary care teaching hospital were prospectively analyzed over a 36-month period. RT-PCR was used to test tumor RNA for fusion transcripts characteristic of malignant round cell tumors (including Ewing sarcoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumor, desmoplastic small round cell tumor, and alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma), spindle cell tumors (including synovial sarcoma and congenital fibrosarcoma), and fatty tumors (myxoid liposarcoma). DNA sequence analysis was used to confirm the identity of all PCR products, and the PCR results were compared with the histopathologic diagnosis. We found that sufficient RNA for RT-PCR-based testing was recovered from 96% of the 131 cases and the percentage of tumors that tested positive for the associated characteristic fusion transcript was in general agreement with those reported in the literature. DNA sequence analysis of PCR products identified both variant transcripts and spurious PCR products, underscoring the value of product confirmation steps when testing formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue. Only in rare cases did testing yield a genetic result that was discordant with the histopathologic diagnosis. We conclude that PCR-based testing is a useful adjunct for the diagnosis of malignant small round cell tumors, spindle cell tumors, and other miscellaneous neoplasms in routine surgical pathology practice.

Base Sequence↗

Ovarian neoplasms composed of small round cells: a review.

Ovarian neoplasms composed predominantly or exclusively of small round cells with scant cytoplasm are relatively rare. However, there is a wide differential, and pathologists often struggle to make a correct diagnosis because of overlapping histologic features. Perhaps the best known of these neoplasms is ovarian small cell carcinoma of hypercalcemic type (OSCCHT), a tumor of unknown histogenesis. This may be confused with a wide range of neoplasms ranging from sex cord-stromal tumors (some of which may exhibit a small cell phenotype) to neoplasms in the family of small round blue cell tumors to various undifferentiated malignancies. A neuroendocrine small cell carcinoma, so-called small cell carcinoma of pulmonary type, may also arise within the ovary, and this may be a component of a typical ovarian surface epithelial-stromal tumor. In addition to the well-known family of small round blue cell tumors of childhood, other small cell neoplasms that may arise within the ovary or involve the ovary include intra-abdominal desmoplastic small round cell tumor, metastatic small cell carcinoma, peripheral and central primitive neuroectodermal tumor, and endometrial stromal sarcoma. Malignant melanoma, undifferentiated carcinoma, and various germ cell tumors, especially dysgerminoma and immature teratoma, also on occasion enter into the differential diagnosis of an ovarian small cell neoplasm. In this review, the morphologic features of some of these neoplasms are described, as is the value of immunohistochemistry and other ancillary techniques in establishing a diagnosis.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗

March 1997--4 year old girl with ring chromosome 22 and brain tumor.

A four year old Caucasian girl with a constitutional ring chromosome 22 abnormality and developmental delay presented with increasing ataxia and a six week history of non-specific symptoms. Imaging studies demonstrated a large third ventricular tumor with apparent involvement of the septum. Microscopic and immunohistochemical studies demonstrated an atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor. This tumor is compared and contrasted to peripheral malignant rhabdoid tumors and central primitive neuroectodermal tumors. The role of a putative tumor suppressor gene on the long arm of chromosome 22 in the pathogenesis of these tumors is also discussed.

Brain Neoplasms↗