Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0027819 (neuroblastoma)
 27,800 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We investigated the long-term pulmonary sequelae of 38 children surviving 3 to 11.5 years (median 7 years) after high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) and autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) without TBI. This cross-sectional study included patients with neuroblastoma (21), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (7), Ewing's sarcoma (5), rhabdomyosarcoma (3), medulloblastoma (1) and ALL (1). They were asked and examined for clinical signs and underwent a physical examination with chest X-ray; 33/38 had pulmonary function tests (PFT) performed. No obstructive disease was found. Fifteen out of 32 evaluable PFT (47%) were abnormal with a pulmonary restrictive syndrome in 10, and borderline values in five patients. Four of these 15 patients were symptomatic with exertional dyspnea and two of four had abnormal chest X-rays. The etiology was mainly multifactorial, associating HDC with thoracic radiotherapy +/- scoliosis/kyphosis +/- previous thoracotomy +/- post-ABMT interstitial pneumonitis. Only 3/10 patients with a restrictive syndrome had HDC containing BCNU or busulfan as the only risk factor for lung disease. We conclude that the prevalence of late pulmonary sequelae after ABMT without TBI is moderate and rarely due to HDC alone, since most abnormal PFT can be explained by heavy pretreatment prior to ABMT. As symptoms are scarce even in advanced disease, repeated testing and very long-term follow-up are needed.
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PMID:Long-term pulmonary sequelae after autologous bone marrow transplantation in children without total body irradiation. 875 Feb 68

The use of RT in pediatric cancer has been virtually eliminated in certain diseases (NHL); greatly reduced in some (Wilms' tumor, ALL, neuroblastoma); and refined and modified in others (rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma). At present, however, it seems clear that RT will continue to be an important modality (particularly in brain tumors) and a much greater understanding of its effects has been achieved and utilized. The knowledge of the occurrence of late effects and SMN in a child cured of cancer is continuing to modify initial treatment strategies: A classic example of such an effort is the common use of lower RT doses and nonalkylator-based chemotherapy in Hodgkin's disease. Further, the use of DNA testing in children may be able to identify the presence of germline RB and p53 mutations, which may identify a child at high risk for SMN, so that appropriate therapeutic modifications may be made. In addition, knowledge of these late consequences in children mandates that they be carefully monitored and closely followed, so that prompt and effective treatment can be administered to give them a better chance for a long and healthy life.
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PMID:Pediatric radiotherapy. An overview. 937 90

The resting energy expenditure (REE) and the respiratory quotient (RQ) were measured longitudinally using indirect calorimetry to examine the effects of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) on energy metabolism in children undergoing autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT). There were six children (two males and four females) and the age ranged from five to 13 years (median, eight yrs). The diagnosis included acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL; 4), neuroblastoma (NBL; 1) and primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET; 1). TPN was started after the patients were stabilized following PBSCT (group A; n = 3) or before the initiation of high-dose cytoreductive chemotherapy (HCC) (group B; n = 3). Duration of HCC before PBSCT was identical between the two groups (six to eight days). Average total calorie and protein intake during HCC was significantly higher for group B than for group A. The %REE, the percentage of REE to the predicted basal energy expenditure (BEE), in group A showed 133 +/- 19%, 129 +/- 14% and 146 +/- 11% during three periods of HCC (days -8 to -1 of PBSCT), bone marrow suppression (days 0 to 11 of PBSCT) and bone marrow recovery (days 12 to 22 of PBSCT), respectively. In contrast, those in group B were 10% to 20% lower than those in group A at all periods. Carbohydrate oxidation rates during HCC in group A were significantly lower than those in group B, and those were not different between both groups during post-PBSCT periods. Fat oxidation rates in both groups were similar at all stages of periods. In contrast, protein degradation rates in group A were significantly higher than those in group B at all stages of the period. From these results, we concluded that commencement of TPN administration prior to HCC in the patients undergoing PBSCT provides beneficial effects to maintain better energy metabolic and nutritional status.
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PMID:Total parenteral nutrition on energy metabolism in children undergoing autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. 959 9

The curability of pediatric cancer has been improved to nearly seventy percent. This change has been achieved by refinements in treatment strategy and supportive care. More than seventy percent of patients with ALL can be cured by modern chemo-radiotherapy with reduced late effects. The stratification of the patients by risk factor, introduction of CNS prophylaxis, shortening of the duration of chemotherapy and intensification of the chemotherapy with agents such as HD-MTX have contributed to this remarkable success. Burkitt's lymphoma is a tumor for which the curability has improved from almost zero to ninety percent. With Wilms' tumor, clinical trials have been used to optimally refine the treatment strategy. The NWTS first compared the efficacy of combined VCR and Act-D with the single use of each drug. The difference was significant. The results of the systematic trials were then used to improve the survival rate of patients with Wilms' tumor from twenty to ninety percent and shorten the duration of chemotherapy to six months. On the other hand, tumors remain with which less than half of patients can survive for long. Advanced neuroblastoma and AML are typical such tumors. With these diseases, refinements in the treatment based on evidence derived from clinical trials have been insufficient. Further intensification of the treatment or novel approaches to control tumor growth are warranted for these diseases. In this article, I would like to describe the "standard" therapy for each tumor and the evidence on which improvements in those strategies have been based.
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PMID:[Evidence based chemotherapy for pediatric cancers]. 1070 Aug 90

AC133, a newly discovered antigen on human progenitor cells, demonstrating 5-transmembranous domains is expressed by 30-60% out of all CD34+ cells. Our aim therefore was to investigate the extent of human stem-/progenitor cells expressing AC133 antigen in umbilical cord blood, peripheral blood without or following an application of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF). The main task was the investigation of bone marrow aspirates derived from children suffering from newly diagnosed acute leukemias, as well as from patients with a relapse or during a complete remission. The determination of antigen expression was done by application of flow cytometry (FACScan analysis) and the usage of newly developed monoclonal antibodies (AC133/1 and AC133/2; Miltenyi Biotec GmbH) in combination with monoclonal antibody directed against CD34-antigens (HPCA-2; BD). Our studies till now show average percentages in umbilical cord blood derived from 43 newborns about 0.294 +/- 0.165% AC133+ vs. 0.327 +/- 0.156% CD34+ hematopoietic stem-/progenitor cells (HSPC). In peripheral blood from 11 healthy donors we verified up to 0.15% CD34+ as well as AC133+ HSPC's. The concentration of progenitor cells was found to be obviously higher in peripheral blood from children with various diseases (neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, ALL/AML) and undergoing application with rhG-CSF in order to be prepared for PBSC-transplantation. In those cases we found up to 3.51% AC133+ cells as well as slightly higher values (3.94%) for CD34 antigens. Additionally we quantified 128 bone marrow (BM) samples for AC133+ and CD34+ cells. In 10 BM samples, derived from patients without any neoplasia, the CD34+ cells were about 0.03% and 1.49%, whereas AC133 values were up to 0.64%. Bone marrow aspirates from 53 children with acute leukemias at time of diagnosis (ALL: n = 41/AML: n = 12) have been immunophenotyped and leukemic blast cells have been proved for AC133- and CD34 antigen expression. 32/41 (78%) of lymphoblastic leukemic cells showed to be positive for CD34 antigen and 24/41 (58%) demonstrated AC133 antigens. Interestingly there were 2 ALL-patients with pathological blast cells positive for AC133 but lacking of any CD34 antigens. 42% (5/12) of investigated AML patients showed CD34+ phenotype, on the other hand there were only 25% (3/12) with AC133+ phenotype. Similar values were found in relapsed patients (n = 18). In BM samples from patients during complete remission (n = 47) we could detect percentages up to 5.55% for CD34 and up to 1.25% for AC133 positive stem-/progenitor cells. Such quite high data may be explained by occasionally application of rhG-CSF therapy. Our results till now lead to the conclusion, that it seems to be useful, to recruit quantification of CD34+ HPSC by additionally detecting AC133 antigens. This new stem cell marker (AC133) may be of great value in case of autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) because it could be an alternative to the usual CD34+ MACS selection system.
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PMID:[Expression of AC133 vs. CD34 in acute childhood leukemias]. 1091 77

Rb-1 is a tumor suppressor gene encoding for a nuclear phosphoprotein acting as a cell cycle regulator, normally expressed in hematopoietic cells and more often inactivated by point mutations with predominance for exons 20-24. The aim of this study is to correlate the retinoblastoma-1 (Rb-1) gene mutations with the prognosis and progression of childhood acute leukemia and neuroblastoma. Bone marrow slides from 26 children with leukemia (18 acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL] and 8 acute myeloid leukemia [AML]) and 4 children with neuroblastoma were studied. Exons 20, 21, and 22 were amplified using the polymerase chain reaction technique. Single strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) and heterodoublex analysis were performed to detect mutations. In ALL cases, two samples in exon 20 (11.11%), one in exon 21 (5.56%), and four in exon 22 (22.22%) had altered conformation. All but one of these cases were classified as high-risk leukemia patients who either relapsed or never achieved remission. Two of the AML cases who did not achieve remission and one of the neuroblastoma cases with concomitant bone marrow infiltration had altered conformation as well. The SSCP and heterodoublex analysis showed that all but one who did not belong to the high-risk group had the same altered conformation. These data suggest that Rb-1 gene could possibly be used as an independent prognostic factor for the acute leukemia of childhood and result in the intensification of chemotherapy. In solid tumors with bone marrow involvement it could play a role as a marker of aggressive disease.
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PMID:Mutations of retinoblastoma gene (Rb-1) as a prognostic factor in children with acute leukemia and neuroblastoma. 1125 27

The link between exposure to environmental mutagens and the development of cancer is well established. Yet there is a paucity of data on the relationship between gene-environment interactions and the mechanisms associated with the somatic mutational events involved with malignant transformation, especially in children. To gain insight into somatic mutational mechanisms in children who develop cancer, we determined the background mutant frequency (Mf) in the hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT) reporter gene of peripheral blood lymphocytes from pediatric cancer patients at the time of diagnosis and prior to therapeutic intervention. We studied 23 children with hematologic malignancies and 31 children with solid tumors prior to initial therapeutic intervention. Children with solid tumors, specifically sarcomas, and Hodgkin's disease were significantly older and had elevated HPRT Mfs (6.1 x 10(-6) and 3.7 x 10(-6), respectively) at the time of diagnosis, compared to normal controls (2.3 x 10(-6)) and other pediatric tumor groups including children with acute lymphocytic leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (ALL/NHL, 1.7 x 10(-6)), central nervous system tumors (CNS, 3.6 x 10(-6)), and neuroblastoma (1.9 x 10(-6)). Of importance is that the significant differences observed in HPRT Mfs between these groups no longer existed after correcting for the effects of age. These data demonstrate that in children who develop cancer there appears to be no significant increase in background HPRT Mf that would indicate significant exposure to genotoxic chemicals or an underlying DNA repair defect resulting in genomic instability. In addition, these data demonstrate the importance of correcting for the effect of age when comparing the frequency of somatic mutations in children and should provide baseline data for future longitudinal biomonitoring studies on the genetic effects of chemotherapy in children treated for cancer.
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PMID:Comparative analysis of HPRT mutant frequency in children with cancer. 1287 12

Consorcial projects focused on 5 cancer types, breast-, colorectal-, head and neck- and pediatric cancers, and malignant melanoma. Breast cancer studies revealed unique splicing mechanisms concerning BRCA1. In sporadic breast cancers the involvement of DNA-repair genes was proved to be dependent on the histological type. Bone-metastatic tumors have been characterized by decreased NM23 and increased c-met and p53 expressions. C-erbB2 genotype of the primary tumor was not maintained frequently in bone metastases. Application of DNA-microarray and quantitative PCR technologies improved the prediction of therapeutic sensitivity of breast cancers. Colorectal cancer studies revealed regional inhomogenities (clusters) in various geographical regions of Hungary, which were distinct in the case of colonic and rectal cancers. To increase the sensitivity of fecal blood test of colorectal cancer screening, a new double-antibody test was developed and tested in a large cohort of patients. Genetic analysis revealed that hypermethylation is a significant factor in microsatellite instability which, and plays a role in silencing of APC and E-cadherin genes as well. The Hungarian pattern of TS polymorphism was also determined and was correlated not only with the efficacy of 5-FU treatment but with the progression of the disease as well. Population-based studies have been carried out in head and neck cancer patients (HNC) and smokers as well to reveal the genetic background of increasing tumor incidence. These studies revealed polymorphism in XRCC1/3 methylation enzyme gene which has preventive role. Other studies found frequent local immunosuppression in HNC patients. Studies indicated that the success of irradiation in this cancer type is dependent on the anti-vascular effects. Pediatric cancer studies determined the parameters of neuroblastoma screening based on VMA measurements. New splice variants of the WT1 gene involved in the monitoring of MRD of ALL patients was also described this year. We also obtained positive experimental data for the retinoic acid therapy of ALL. Melanoma studies extensively used DNA-microarray technology which identified 4 melanoma-specific and 2 melanoma progression-specific genes. In experimental human melanoma xenograft models we have identified 3 anti-metastatic agents: low molecular weight heparin, 2-methoxyestradiol and erythropoietin-alpha, where the later was characterized by specific effects on tumor vasculature.
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PMID:[Report of the National Oncology Research and Developement Consortium, 2003]. 1510

Cancer susceptibility was examined in first-degree relatives of 293 testicular tumor patients (TTPs) and 586 age-matched healthy males. Significantly increased risk was found in the families of TTPs (OR: 1.4; CI: 1.08-1.79), however, except for testicular cancer of 7 brothers (OR: 11.7; CI: 1.42-256.5), and 6 various childhood tumors (bilateral Wilms' tumor, neuroblastoma, medulloblastoma, ALL, histiocytosis-X, testicular tumor) of 200 offspring (OR: 12.9; CI: 1.54-286.2), no association with other malignancies was observed. No differences were seen between the fertility of patients and controls when occupational or socio-economic status of the families was taken into account. However, the majority of the controls (85%) fathered the first child between 20-30 years of age, while only 61% of TTPs had the first child in the same age group. TTPs fathered more girls than boys (P=0.009), and the lower male - higher female ratio of index children was also identical, irrespective of the conception taking place before or after the father's treatment. Occupations did not, but smoking might have influenced cancer susceptibility of the patients. Aggregation of fraternal testicular tumors, and both dramatically increased cancer risk and altered sex ratio of the offspring indicate a remarkable role of hereditary factors in tumorigenesis and later consequences of a certain portion of testicular malignancies, which must be refined by molecular studies.
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PMID:Increased predisposition to cancer in brothers and offspring of testicular tumor patients. 1561 39

The MLL gene, located within band 11q23, has been shown to be involved in translocations with a large variety of reciprocal sites in both lymphoid and myeloid leukemia and has also been shown to undergo submicroscopic self-fusion/partial duplication. We report 29 patients with cytogenetic evidence of 11q23 alteration, all of which demonstrate molecular cytogenetic evidence of amplification of the MLL gene by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). In all MLL cases, the patients were clinically classified as having transforming myelodysplasia (RAEB/RAEBT) or AML. An additional patient with AML was found by 24-color and gene-specific FISH to have AML1 oncogene amplification. Four patients had been previously diagnosed with cancer and had received topoisomerase II targeted drug therapy which is known to be associated with fusion transcripts involving the MLL and AML1 genes. MLL amplification appeared in various forms: an atypical banded region that bridges from 11q23 into a dicentric chromosome, expanded regions emanating from band 11q23, chromosome 11 paint-positive rings with "spoke-like" MLL amplification, and expansion at sites other than chromosome 11 (including extra markers) in the absence of one of the 11 homologues. The fluorescence pattern in most cases suggests palindromic duplication with neighboring sequences in the long arm of chromosome 11. As opposed to MYCN amplification in hsrs (homogeneously staining regions) and double minutes in neuroblastoma, amplification of MLL in most cases occurred at the site of the gene. All of our patients rapidly developed refractory AML. The frequency and clinical correlations of MLL gene amplification in leukemia will need careful follow-up, since the frequently cryptic amplification described in these cases may not generally provoke confirmatory FISH studies. The reported MLL cases represented about 1% of the total abnormal MDS/AML cases over 8 years. A common cytogenetic profile of 5 q-, -17/17 p-, -18/18 q-, and a missing or abnormal chromosome 11, may help direct appropriate follow-up studies. The MLL and the AML1 oncogenes appear to be the only oncogenes amplified at the natural site of the gene. Both genes also show a high degree of diversity of pathogenic mechanisms of leukemia evolution, including numerous reciprocal fusion genes in transformation to either AML or ALL and gain of function amplification.
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PMID:Oncogene amplification in transforming myelodysplasia. 1602 82


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