Andrea Ferrari

..The high proportion of resectable tumors accounts for the excellent survival of the patients in this study. The role of both adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy is uncertain and awaits multicentric cooperative prospective studies...

..We report on a series of 28 pediatric patients treated from 1980 to 2000 by the Soft Tissue Sarcoma Italian Cooperative Group and the German Cooperative Group...

..We report on a series of 18 children who had malignant vascular tumors, treated from 1980 to 2000 by the Italian and German Soft Tissue Sarcoma Cooperative Group...

..We report the experience of the German-Italian Cooperative Group with 216 pediatric patients with paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma treated over 20 years...

..We report on a series of 27 pediatric patients treated from 1978 to 1999 by the Italian and German Soft Tissue Sarcoma Cooperative Group...

..To contribute additional information on the management of this rare tumor, we report on a series of 16 pediatric patients treated from 1982 to 1998 by the Soft Tissue Sarcoma Italian Cooperative Group...

..In the literature, a few cases of fragile X syndrome associated with malignancies are described. Although this association seems more than coincidental, the molecular correlation between this syndrome and cancer is yet unclear...

..With a view to improving the prognosis for patients with metastatic medulloblastoma, we tested the efficacy and toxicity of a hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy (HART) regimen delivered after intensive sequential chemotherapy...

..Myeloablative regimens were frequently used for medulloblastoma relapsing after craniospinal irradiation (CSI): in 1997-2002, we used repeated surgery, standard-dose and myeloablative chemotherapy, and reirradiation...

..Supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors (S-PNET) are rare and have a grim prognosis, frequently taking an aggressive course with local relapse and metastatic spread. We report the results of a mono-institutional therapeutic trial...

..The location of the pediatric unit within a cancer referral center and the cooperation with divisions dedicated to adults have played an important role in the project's creation...

....

..Studies addressing the psychological aspects of limb amputation in childhood cancer are still relatively limited, and the results have sometimes been contradictory...

..To ascertain whether alveolar histology retains its adverse prognostic role in the subset of paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) patients, generally characterized by a very good outcome...

..The current retrospective analysis examined a large group of patients of all ages who were treated at a single institution over a 30-year period...

..The objective of this study was to investigate prognostic factors and clinical outcome of myxoid/round cell and pleomorphic liposarcoma...

..Since pediatric PTCs proved highly responsive to hormone manipulation, it is worth considering a different therapeutic approach from adult cases...

..Aggressive fibromatosis (AF) is a rare tumor of intermediate malignancy that has a strong potential for local invasiveness and recurrence. To date, there are no general recommendations for the clinical management of pediatric AF...

....

..Previous studies have reported a poor outcome for synovial sarcoma patients whose tumours relapse...

..The situation in Italy is described, along with action taken in an effort to bridge the gap and implement specific programs tailored to these patients...

..Further studies are needed to better define the clinical behavior and biology of the proximal-type variant of ES...

..Thanks to improvements in radiotherapy techniques and chemotherapy efficacy, meningeal prophylaxis is no longer necessary. Although more evidence is needed to confirm our data, the results obtained with twice-daily HART seem promising...

..We report on a large group of 182 patients younger than 18 years old treated at a single institution over a 25-year period...

..As neuroblastoma is rare in adolescents and exceedingly rare in adults, few series are reported in the literature. In the present study, we analyzed the outcomes and clinical characteristics of a mono-institutional series...

..The Italian and German Cooperative Groups reviewed their data-bases, analyzing patients classified as group I-II, with high-grade tumor (G3) larger than 5 cm in size...

..The outcome of patients with non-extremity synovial sarcoma (SS) is generally worse than that of patients with limb tumours...

..To assess the psychological needs of parents after the death of their child from cancer...

....

..This study aims to describe the clinical features and outcome of pediatric patients with head and neck rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), which can be divided into parameningeal, orbital, or nonorbital, nonparameningeal...

..This study aims to determine the rate of initial metastases in paediatric SS based on specific clinical characteristics, thereby investigating whether these diagnostic procedures are really necessary in all patients...

..A conservative approach is the best option in children, while adolescent NSGCTT behaves like the adult disease and management must include similar treatment strategies...

..The clinical findings and outcome in 43 children and adolescents with NF1 treated for STS in the Italian protocols between 1988 and 2004 are reported...

..After the delivery of a healthy female, we adopted a more intensive chemotherapy regimen plus irradiation. Despite an initially good response, the disease unfortunately progressed and the patient died of her disease...

..EPE chemotherapy seems to be effective in the treatment of childhood malignant liver tumors. Etoposide could be suggested as part of intensive multidrug regimens for HCC and high-risk HB...

..We report on the Italian Cooperative Group's 20-year study of 50 children with RMS who were age < 1 year at diagnosis...

....

..Extremities are peculiar sites of origin for rhabdomyosarcomas (RMS) and are usually associated with an unfavorable outcome...

....

..The study compares the outcome of paediatric patients with adult-type soft tissue sarcomas with that reported for adults, taking into account the effect of established prognostic factors...

..The authors reviewed their institutional experience regarding adult patients with Wilms' tumor (WT) to assess their clinical characteristics and compliance with respect to children's treatment guidelines...

..This study retrospectively reports on a group of 27 patients <30 years of age, and particularly on 7 cases <18 years old, treated at the Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy, between 1985 and 2005...

..It is hoped that the combination of vinorelbine and low-dose cyclophosphamide can be used as a maintenance regimen in an upcoming European trial involving high-risk patients with rhabdomyosarcoma...

..Sequential and high-dose chemotherapy can be afforded in front-line therapy of childhood malignant glioma without excessive morbidity and rather encouraging results...

..To improve the 63% event-free survival (EFS) achieved before 1986 in Murphy's stage III to IV Burkitt's lymphoma (BL), both chemotherapy and supportive care were intensified...

..The risk of long-term treatment-related toxicity also may be a more important issue in younger individuals...

..Neonates with rhabdomyosarcoma seem to have a worse prognosis than in older age groups. This may be a result of inappropriate dosing of chemotherapeutic agents and decreased use of radiation therapy among other factors...

....

..Despite improved diagnostic, therapeutic, and supportive tools in pediatric neuro-oncology, little has been achieved for patients with diffuse pontine tumors...

..Ifosfamide is currently used to treat pediatric sarcomas and increasing its dosage may be associated with a better response rate. Prolonged continuous infusion seems an attractive administration modality...

..Coping with end-stage pediatric cancer patients and the related bereavement is a challenge for all the caregivers involved...

..At variance with adults, presence of the tall cell morphology did not carry a worst prognostic significance...

..These results are presented in conjunction with a literature review of salivary tumors with a view to providing an up-to-date overview of the clinical course, prognosis, and treatment options for this rare tumor...

..Experience drawn from pediatric oncology might suggest an approach based on a physician-patient relationship that could provide the means for identifying patients' psychological needs and problems...

..The presence of NF-1 syndrome per se did not affect survival, but patients with NF-1 were more likely to have larger tumors. Therefore, such patients should be followed carefully to detect disease as early as possible...

..Published series have reported definitively worse results for adults with RMS compared with children with RMS. This finding casts doubt on whether RMS is the same disease in adults as it is in children...

..Vinca alkaloids have proved active against a number of pediatric malignancies. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of using vinorelbine in previously treated pediatric patients with advanced sarcomas...

..This study investigates the psychological status in a population of female patients who received chest irradiation for a childhood cancer and were screened for second primary breast cancer...

....

....

..An additional aim was to assess whether any correlation between the immune modifications and the clinical outcome could be found...

..Various international research groups pooled their data in a joint study in order to investigate prognostic variables and treatment modalities...

....

..The aim of this study was to avoid radiotherapy and to induce an objective response in children with low-grade glioma (LGG) using a simple chemotherapy regimen based on cisplatin and etoposide...

..Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are a heterogeneous group of mesenchymal malignancies that occur throughout the lifespan. The impact of age on disease features and outcome is unclear...

..This regimen is usually well tolerated and may be considered as the treatment of choice for cases of unresectable advanced IMT...

..As a consequence, less resources of development aids are allocated to control NCDs including cancer...

....

..The aim of this study is to outline the possibility of a conservative approach (hemithyroidectomy plus selective neck dissection of clinically involved nodes, followed by TSH-suppressive therapy) in a selected group of patients...

..This article describes a few such tumors and points to the need for forms of international cooperation with a view to gaining a better understanding of these particular conditions and improving patient management...

..Future challenges include identifying novel targeted therapies and optimizing treatment protocols for customized patient care...

..This experience demonstrates the feasibility of a national multidisciplinary cooperation on rare paediatric malignancies and suggests that international studies could be realised...

..This might be partly explained by the relative lack of participation of adolescents in cooperative clinical protocols...

....

..Recommendations for adult patients with rhabdomyosarcoma are also discussed, suggesting that these patients should be treated according to pediatric guidelines...

..Peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor is an exceedingly uncommon tumor in this age group and is characterized by very aggressive behavior and poor prognosis...

..Regardless of whether there is a causal relationship, the impact of low clinical trial activity on furthering our scientific knowledge and management of cancer during adolescence and early adulthood is detrimental...

..While awaiting these developments, however, a better use of standard chemotherapy may prove important in improving the cure rate for these patients...

..Myogenin (Myf4), a specific molecular RMS marker, was also investigated in the same samples. Since neuroblastoma (NB) metastasizes to the BM, the potential application of cytometry in differential diagnosis was explored...

..The ultimate challenge is the development of a new discipline, adolescent/teenage and young adult oncology, devoted to the care of these patients...

..The authors objective was to evaluate clinical features and treatment results observed in a series of Italian patients over a 24-year period...

....

..To assess the value of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in children with malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) and to identify risk factors associated with outcome...

..Undifferentiated (embryonal) sarcoma of the liver (UESL) is a rare childhood hepatic tumor, and it is generally considered an aggressive neoplasm with an unfavorable prognosis...

..To evaluate the prognostic factors in a series of children affected by pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB)...

..To evaluate the feasibility of combining Doxo with the well established ifosfamide, vincristine, and actinomycin D (IVA) regimen, the Italian STS Committee performed a pilot study on a series of children with metastatic STS...

..To identify the prognostic factors, treatment, and outcome of children affected by renal cell carcinoma (RCC)...

..To identify prognostic factors related to outcome in 219 children and adolescents with synovial sarcoma...

....

..Parameningeal rhabdomyosarcoma (PM-RMS) is a rare, highly malignant pediatric tumor arising from locations adjacent to the meninges, from where it can spread intracranially...

..A small proportion of SMNs are soft tissue sarcomas (STS), whose prognosis is generally thought to be poor, though publications on such patients' treatment and outcome is limited...

..The authors compared patients who underwent this procedure, according to the protocol guidelines, with those who did not...

..To evaluate the effect of radiotherapy (RT) in association with complete second look operation, histologically confirmed, on outcome of patients with IRS Gr.III non-alveolar RMS...

..In the current study, the authors aim to evaluate clinical features and treatment results observed in patients from the German and Italian studies who had nonmetastatic abdominal rhabdomyosarcomas (RMS)...