1. |
- Ljungman, Lisa, 1981-, et al.
(author)
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Health-related quality of life in long-term survivors of childhood brain tumors : a population-based cohort study
- 2022
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In: Supportive Care in Cancer. - : Springer Nature. - 0941-4355 .- 1433-7339. ; 30:6, s. 5157-5166
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose Survivors of childhood brain tumors (BT) are at high risk for long-term physical and psychological sequelae. Still, knowledge about health-related quality of life (HRQL) and associated factors in this population is sparse. This study investigated HRQL and its predictors in long-term survivors of childhood BT.Methods Survivors of childhood BT (mean age = 28.1 years, SD = 6.8, n = 60) underwent clinical examination and neurocognitive examination, and completed self-rating questionnaires assessing HRQL (RAND-36) and depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory-II). Socio-demographic information was gathered via a questionnaire. Tumor- and treatment-related information was collected from medical records. Control group data were collected from age-matched controls (n = 146) without a history of cancer, randomly selected from the local population registry. Multiple linear regression models were used to investigate predictors of HRQL; separate models were fitted for each domain of the RAND-36.Results Male survivors (mean age = 27.0, SD = 6.0, n = 39) reported significantly lower HRQL than male controls in the domains of physical functioning, general health, vitality, social functioning, and role limitations-emotional. Female survivors (mean age = 30.2 years, SD = 7.6, n = 21) reported comparable levels as female controls in all domains except physical functioning. A higher burden of late effects, not working/studying, being diagnosed with BT during adolescence, and reporting current depressive symptoms were significant predictors of lower HRQL.Conclusion Our results highlight that male survivors of childhood BT are at particular risk of impaired HRQL. Also, results point to the close relation between symptoms of depression and impaired HRQL in survivors of childhood BT which should be acknowledged by long-term follow-up care.
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2. |
- Remes, Tiina M., et al.
(author)
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Neurocognitive impairment, employment, and social status in radiotherapy-treated adult survivors of childhood brain tumors
- 2021
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In: Neuro-Oncology Practice. - : Oxford University Press. - 2054-2577 .- 2054-2585. ; 8:3, s. 266-277
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BackgroundLittle is known of the cognitive functions, employment, and social status in adult survivors of childhood brain tumor (BT). We aimed to determine the long-term neurocognitive profile of radiotherapy-treated adult survivors of childhood BT and the relationship between cognitive functions and employment and social status.MethodsNeurocognitive profiles of survivors were assessed in a Finnish national cohort of 71 radiotherapy-treated survivors of childhood BT (median follow-up time: 21 years [range: 5-33 years]) using a cross-sectional design. Neurocognitive outcomes were compared to control (n = 45) and normative values. Tumor- and treatment-related data were collected from the patient files. Information on employment and social status was gathered.ResultsSurvivors’ (median age: 27 years [range: 16-43 years]) median verbal and performance intelligence quotient (IQ) was 90 (range: 49-121) and 87 (range: 43-119), respectively. The cognitive domains with the greatest impairment were executive functions (median z score, −3.5 SD [range: −25.0 to 1.3 SD]), and processing speed and attention (median z score, −2.5 SD [range: −24.9 to 0.5 SD]). Executive functions were associated with employment, educational level, living independently, having an intimate relationship, and having a driving license. Processing speed and attention were related to educational level, living independently, having an intimate relationship, and having a driving license. Performance IQ was associated with educational level and employment status. Working memory was associated with educational level and living independently.ConclusionsRadiotherapy-treated adult survivors of childhood BT experience significant neurocognitive impairment, which is associated with difficulties related to employment and social status.
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3. |
- Remes, Tiina Maria, et al.
(author)
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Radiotherapy-induced vascular cognitive impairment 20 years after childhood brain tumor
- 2024
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In: Neuro-Oncology. - : Oxford University Press. - 1522-8517 .- 1523-5866. ; 26:2, s. 362-373
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Studies have established that radiotherapy for childhood brain tumors (BTs) increases the risk of cerebrovascular disease (CVD); however, it is unclear how this will affect cognitive function. This study aimed to investigate the associations between radiotherapy-induced CVD, white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), and neurocognitive outcomes in adult survivors of childhood BTs.Methods: In a cross-sectional setting, we conducted a national cohort that included 68 radiotherapy-treated survivors of childhood BTs after a median follow-up of 20 years. Markers of CVD and WMHs were evaluated using brain MRI, and the sum of CVD-related findings was calculated. Additionally, the associations among CVD findings, WMHs, and neuropsychological test results were analyzed.Results: Of the 68 childhood BT survivors, 54 (79%) were diagnosed with CVD and/or WMHs at a median age of 27 years. CVD and/or WMHs were associated with lower scores for verbal intelligence quotient, performance intelligence quotient (PIQ), executive function, memory, and visuospatial ability (P < .05). Additionally, survivors with microbleeds had greater impairments in the PIQ, processing speed, executive function, and visuospatial ability (P < .05). WMHs and CVD burden were associated with greater difficulties in memory function and visuospatial ability (P < .05). Small-vessel disease burden was associated with PIQ scores, processing speed, working memory, and visuospatial ability.Conclusions: The study results suggest that markers of radiotherapy-induced CVD, the additive effect of CVD markers, and risk factors of dementia are associated with cognitive impairment, which may suggest that the survivors are at a high risk of developing early-onset dementia.
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4. |
- Aarnivala, Henri, et al.
(author)
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Radiological follow-up of osteonecrosis lesions in children and adolescents with Hodgkin lymphoma
- 2024
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In: British Journal of Haematology. - : WILEY. - 0007-1048 .- 1365-2141.
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Osteonecrosis (ON) is a common complication of glucocorticoid-based Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) treatment, but the natural evolution and prognosis of ON lesions remain poorly understood. We describe the radiological evolution of ON lesions identified in a Nordic population-based cohort of paediatric HL patients. Magnetic resonance images of suspected ON lesions were centrally reviewed to confirm ON diagnosis and grade the ON lesions according to the Niinim & auml;ki classification. The study included 202 ON lesions in 46 patients, of which 77 were joint lesions. Follow-up images were available for 146/202 lesions, with a mean follow-up time of 28 months. During follow-up, 71% of the lesions remained stable, 26% improved or resolved, and 3% progressed. A higher ON grade at diagnosis was associated with a lower likelihood of spontaneous resolution. The likelihood for resolution of ON decreased by 50% for each year of added patient age, when adjusted for sex, ON location, and symptoms. Hip ON showed less spontaneous improvement compared with other joints, and the risk for surgery was 13-fold in hip ON. Grades 3-4 joint ON has the potential to either progress or resolve, warranting follow-up in patients with severe symptoms. Research on secondary prevention should be directed at grade 3-4 joint ON. Osteonecrosis (ON) is a recognised complication of glucocorticoid-based treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). In a Nordic cohort of 489 paediatric HL patients, a magnetic resonance imaging follow-up study using the Niinim & auml;ki radiological classification system was carried out. Forty-six patients had been diagnosed with ON. A total of 202 ON were identified, of which 77 were joint lesions. Follow-up images were available for 146/202 lesions, with a mean follow-up time of 28 months. During follow-up, 3% of the lesions progressed to joint collapse, whilst 26% improved or resolved. A higher ON grade at diagnosis was associated with a lower likelihood for spontaneous resolution, as was higher patient age. Hip ON showed less spontaneous improvement compared with other joints, and the risk for surgery was 13-fold in hip ON.image
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5. |
- Aarnivala, Henri, et al.
(author)
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Reply to Ian J. Cohen
- 2022
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In: Supportive Care in Cancer. - : Springer Nature. - 0941-4355 .- 1433-7339. ; 30:3, s. 1901-1902
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Journal article (other academic/artistic)
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6. |
- Aarnivala, Henri, et al.
(author)
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Trends in age- and sex-adjusted body mass index and the prevalence of malnutrition in children with cancer over 42 months after diagnosis : a single-center cohort study
- 2020
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In: European Journal of Pediatrics. - : SPRINGER. - 0340-6199 .- 1432-1076. ; 179:1, s. 91-98
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The adequate nutritional status of pediatric cancer patients is particularly important to enable them to cope with the demands of the disease and its treatment and to maintain normal growth. Malnutrition and obesity have both been associated with reduced survival and increased drug toxicity. We investigated trends in the age- and sex-adjusted body mass index (ISO-BMI) and the prevalence of malnutrition in a Finnish cohort of 139 consecutive children receiving chemotherapy for cancer, with a follow-up period of 42 months after diagnosis. In total, 28% (39/139) of the patients experienced malnutrition (ISO-BMI < 17 or > 10% weight loss), and 12% (16/139) had a nasogastric tube or underwent gastrostomy. Patients with acute or chronic myeloid leukemia (5/10), central nervous system (CNS) tumors (5/13), or solid tumors (13/31) most frequently suffered from malnutrition. There was a significant increase in the ISO-BMI of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) (+ 2.1 kg/m(2)) and lymphomas (+ 2.4 kg/m(2)) during the first 6 months, and the ISO-BMI of patients with ALL remained higher at 42 months compared to baseline (+ 1.9 kg/m(2)). Conclusion: The cumulative incidence of malnutrition in Finnish pediatric cancer patients is comparable to that reported in other populations. The nutritional status of patients with acute myeloid leukemia, CNS tumors, or solid tumors should be monitored with extra care to facilitate early intervention in the case of impending malnutrition.
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7. |
- Albertsen, Birgitte Klug, et al.
(author)
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Asparaginase treatment in infants with acute lymphoblastic leukemia; pharmacokinetics and asparaginase hypersensitivity in Interfant-06
- 2019
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In: Leukemia and Lymphoma. - : TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD. - 1042-8194 .- 1029-2403. ; 60:6, s. 1469-1475
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a rare disease in infants. Asparaginase is an essential part of the treatment, and there Acute is a need to evaluate the efficiency and safety of this drug in this age group. We evaluated the pharmacokinetics of intramuscularly administered native E. coli asparaginase (Asparaginase Medac((R))) and PEG-asparaginase (Oncaspar((R))) as well as hypersensitivity reactions during treatment in Interfant-06 (www.clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01025804). All patients without hypersensitivity had sufficiently high enzyme activity levels during treatment with both preparations. Patients with hypersensitivity reactions during treatment, characterized by the presence of either or not of clinical symptoms and no measurable enzyme activity, received ineffective therapy. For optimization of the bad prognosis in infant ALL, therapeutic drug monitoring should be performed for identification of patients who should be switched to a different asparaginase preparation because of inactivation of the drug.
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8. |
- Anastasopoulou, Stavroula, et al.
(author)
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Acute central nervous system toxicity during treatment of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia : phenotypes, risk factors and genotypes
- 2020
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In: Haematologica. - : Ferrata Storti Foundation. - 0390-6078 .- 1592-8721. ; 107:10, s. 2318-2328
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Central nervous system (CNS) toxicity is common at diagnosis and during treatment of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We studied CNS toxicity in 1,464 children aged 1.0-17.9 years, diagnosed with ALL and treated according to the Nordic Society of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology ALL2008 protocol. Genome-wide association studies, and a candidate single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP; n=19) study were performed in 1,166 patients. Findings were validated in an independent Australian cohort of children with ALL (n=797) in whom two phenotypes were evaluated: diverse CNS toxicities (n=103) and methotrexate-related CNS toxicity (n=48). In total, 135/1,464 (9.2%) patients experienced CNS toxicity for a cumulative incidence of 8.7% (95% confidence interval: 7.31-10.20) at 12 months from diagnosis. Patients aged >= 10 years had a higher risk of CNS toxicity than had younger patients (16.3% vs. 7.4%; P < 0.001). The most common CNS toxicities were posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (n=52, 43 with seizures), sinus venous thrombosis (n=28, 9 with seizures), and isolated seizures (n=16). The most significant SNP identified by the genome-wide association studies did not reach genomic significance (lowest P-value: 1.11x10(-6)), but several were annotated in genes regulating neuronal functions. In candidate SNP analysis, ATXN1 rs68082256, related to epilepsy, was associated with seizures in patients < 10 years (P=0.01). ATXN1 rs68082256 was validated in the Australian cohort with diverse CNS toxicities (P=0.04). The role of ATXN1 as well as the novel SNP in neurotoxicity in pediatric ALL should be further explored.
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9. |
- Anastasopoulou, Stavroula, et al.
(author)
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Does minimal central nervous system involvement in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia increase the risk for central nervous system toxicity?
- 2022
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In: Pediatric Blood & Cancer. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1545-5009 .- 1545-5017. ; 69:7
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Central nervous system (CNS) involvement in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) implicates enhanced intrathecal chemotherapy, which is related to CNS toxicity. Whether CNS involvement alone contributes to CNS toxicity remains unclear. We studied the occurrence of all CNS toxicities, seizures, and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) in children with ALL without enhanced intrathecal chemotherapy with CNS involvement (n = 64) or without CNS involvement (n = 256) by flow cytometry. CNS involvement increased the risk for all CNS toxicities, seizures, and PRES in univariate analysis and, after adjusting for induction therapy, for seizures (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.33; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.26-8.82; p = 0.016) and PRES (HR = 4.85; 95% CI: 1.71-13.75; p = 0.003).
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10. |
- Anastasopoulou, Stavroula, et al.
(author)
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Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia : Clinical characteristics, risk factors, course, and outcome of disease
- 2019
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In: Pediatric Blood & Cancer. - : WILEY. - 1545-5009 .- 1545-5017. ; 66:5
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a distinct entity with incompletely known predisposing factors. The aim of this study is to describe the incidence, risk factors, clinical course, and outcome of PRES in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).Procedure: Patients aged 1.0 to 17.9 years diagnosed with ALL from July 2008 to December 2015 and treated according to the Nordic Society of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology (NOPHO) ALL2008 protocol were included. Patients with PRES were identified in the prospective NOPHO leukemia toxicity registry, and clinical data were collected from the medical records.Results: The study group included 1378 patients, of whom 52 met the criteria for PRES. The cumulative incidence of PRES at one month was 1.7% (95% CI, 1.1-2.5) and at one year 3.7% (95% CI, 2.9-4.9). Older age (hazard ratios [HR] for each one-year increase in age 1.1; 95% CI, 1.0-1.2, P = 0.001) and T-cell immunophenotype (HR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.6-5.3, P = 0.0005) were associated with PRES. Central nervous system (CNS) involvement (odds ratios [OR] = 2.8; 95% CI, 1.2-6.5, P = 0.015) was associated with early PRES and high-risk block treatment (HR = 2.63; 95% CI, 1.1-6.4, P = 0.033) with late PRES. At follow-up of the PRES patients, seven patients had epilepsy and seven had neurocognitive difficulties.Conclusion: PRES is a neurotoxicity in the treatment of childhood ALL with both acute and long-term morbidity. Older age, T-cell leukemia, CNS involvement and high-risk block treatment are risk factors for PRES.
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