Net Guides: Childhood Tumors

//THE ONLINE ONCOLOGIST™

American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

The American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (ASPHO) is a multidisciplinary organization that works to promote the care of children and adolescents with blood disorders and cancer through the advancement of research, professional education, treatment, and clinical practice. For a regular fee, physicians can become a member of ASPHO. Membership grants a number of benefits, including a bimonthly e-newsletter; monthly issues of Pediatric Blood & Cancer, the official journal of ASPHO; and a discount on the registration fee for ASPHO’s annual meeting. Members can take ASPHO’s review course for physicians planning to take the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) examination for initial certification in pediatric hematology/oncology or Part III of the ABP’s Program for Maintenance of Certification in the Pediatric Subspecialties. An online review course features 22 hour-long lectures with slideshows prepared by experts in the field. Membership also grants access to ASPHO’s online member community tools, which enable members to locate and communicate with one another, share information and documents in a searchable library, participate in discussions, and view or create blogs.

//THE EDUCATED PATIENT®

Pediatric Low Grade Astrocytoma Foundation

The Pediatric Low Grade Astrocytoma (PLGA) Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children with PLGAs and their families through information and support. The PLGA Foundation Website has a section with information on PLGAs that covers what PLGAs are, other types of brain tumors, brain tumor locations, newly diagnosed patients, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, treatment complications, clinical trials, and common questions patients may have. This part of the site also features a video gallery with Webcasts that are both educational and inspirational. The “Resources” section helps patients and their families find support groups, information on children’s specialists and programs, financial support, and other useful sites. A community section includes a parent support network, a news center, a calendar of upcoming events, inspirational stories, and more.

www.fightplga.org

//ONLINE CME

Ultrasound Biomicroscopy in the Management of Retinoblastoma

Credits: 1.00

Fee: None

Expires: January 14, 2012

This CME activity is based on a study that evaluated the role of ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) in the management of children with retinoblastoma. The study reviewed the clinical records of children who were diagnosed with retinoblastoma at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada, from January 1995 to December 2007, for whom UBM was used to determine the extent of the intraocular tumor. Pathological correlation was then performed for enucleated eyes. For all of the enucleated eyes included in the final analysis, UBM did not yield any false-negative or false-positive results. The authors concluded that UBM provided a sensitive and reproducible visualization of the ciliary region, anterior segment, and anterior retina, enabling more accurate staging of the advanced disease process, which is vital for optimal management. On completing this CME activity, participants should have an understanding of the prognosis of retinoblastoma and the current imaging techniques that can inform prognosis. Participants should also be able to describe the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound biomicroscopy in the detection of retinoblastoma’s anterior extension.

www.medscape.org/viewarticle/735659

//eABSTRACT

Definitive Radiotherapy for Unresectable Pediatric and Young Adult Nonrhabdomyosarcoma Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Journal: Pediatric Blood & Cancer

Authors: Smith KB, Indelicato DJ, Knapik JA, et al

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic factors, outcomes, and complications in pediatric and young adult (age ≤30 years) patients with nonrhabdomyosarcoma soft tissue sarcoma (NRSTS) who were treated at the University of Florida from 1973 to 2002. The study included 19 patients who were diagnosed with NRSTS and treated with radiotherapy after biopsy, 13 of whom had high-grade tumors. Median patient age at the time of radiotherapy treatment was 19.6 years, and median dose was 55.2 Gy. Twelve patients underwent chemotherapy. Prognostic factors for local recurrence, distant metastases, and survival were analyzed. Results: The median follow-up was 2.6 years, and the 5-year local-control rate was 40%. Nine out of 13 local failures occurred in the absence of metastatic disease, and all patients with local failures died of their disease. Eight patients died without evidence of distant metastases. A total of 14 patients died of their cancer. Low/intermediate-grade tumors tended to have improved local control. The rates of freedom from distant metastases and overall survival at 5 years were 68% and 37%, respectively. There was 1 grade 4 complication. The authors concluded that pediatric and young adult patients with unresectable NRSTS have a poor prognosis, and that study efforts focusing on treatment intensification are justified. The authors also noted that because all patients with local recurrence died of the disease and a majority of those deaths occurred without distant spread, improving local control might improve survival.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21241007

//CLINICAL TRIAL

Combination Chemotherapy and Surgery in Treating Young Patients With Wilms Tumor

Study Type: Interventional

Age/Sex Requirements: ≤29 years (None)

Sponsor: Children’s Oncology Group

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00945009

Purpose: This study will test the efficacy of combination chemotherapy with surgery in the treatment of young patients with Wilms tumor. The chemotherapy regimen consists of carboplatin, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin hydrochloride, etoposide phosphate, and vincristine sulfate. It will be administered before surgery to shrink the tumor and reduce the amount of healthy tissue that needs to be removed, as well as after surgery to kill any remaining tumor cells.

http://bit.ly/ghjX1j