M R Gilbert

..Recent advances in molecular characterization, imaging, and treatment of these tumors underscore this current focus of investigations...

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..Finally, investigators have increased interest in determining the impact of treatment on other measures, such as symptom burden, functional status, and quality of life as survival has improved...

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..However, these results demonstrating drug delivery to tumor do support continued investigation of this agent as preliminary results from recent studies combining cilengitide with cytotoxic therapies are promising...

..Ongoing laboratory studies have uncovered important signal transduction pathways that may be better therapeutic targets, leading to the development of clinical trials using targeted agents...

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..Multiple cytostatic agents can be safely combined with dose-dense temozolomide. The factorial-based phase II portion of this study is currently ongoing...

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..Primary brain tumor (PBT) patients are unique in the occurrence of neurologic symptoms. Currently, no instrument exists that measures both neurologic and cancer-related symptoms...

..We chose to measure these molecules in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of melanoma, breast, and lung cancer patients being evaluated for neoplastic meningitis (NM)...

..EGFRvIII-targeted vaccination induces patient immune responses despite therapeutic TMZ-induced lymphopenia and eliminates EGFRvIII-expressing tumor cells without autoimmunity...

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..Laboratory and clinical data suggest that the anti-angiogenic agent, thalidomide, if combined with cytotoxic agents, may be effective against recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (GBM)...

..This article reviews the most recent data regarding the treatment of LGG, emphasizing evidenced based approaches from current clinical trials...

..This paper reviews these three approaches and discusses their potential use in evaluation of therapies for patients with primary brain tumors...

..Third, we need to optimize the design of preclinical and clinical trials to obtain the maximum amount of information in the shortest period of time...

..The results also provide support for similar strategies using combination therapies with newer targeted antiangiogenic agents to generate effective therapies against malignant gliomas...

..EGFR amplification was not associated with erlotinib activity. Given the large CIs and nonrandomized nature of the study, results should be interpreted cautiously...

..Our results lend additional support for an important but unknown link between malignant brain tumors and immune mediators...

..The profile has potential clinical application both for optimization of therapy in GBM and for the identification of novel therapies targeting tumors refractory to standard therapy...

..IVent topotecan is well tolerated, but provides no added benefit over other IVent therapies. Because of its modest side effect profile, combining IVent topotecan with other IVent or systemic interventions should be considered...

..To review the literature documenting the scope, treatment, and prevention of chemotherapy-induced neuropathy...

..Fenretinide induces apoptosis in malignant gliomas in vitro. This two-stage phase II trial was conducted to determine the efficacy of fenretinide in adults with recurrent malignant gliomas...

..Oncology nurses must be aware of the potential seriousness of this complication and implement appropriate strategies to assist patients in maintaining safety and quality of life...

..Agents designed to target specific processes and structures involved in tumor cell division and innovative combinations of cytotoxic and cytostatic therapies offer future hope for the efficacious treatment of gliomas...

..To review neuroimaging techniques used in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with brain tumors as well as promising new technology...

..Carboplatin plus erlotinib is well tolerated but has modest activity in unselected patients. Future trials should be stratified based on optimal molecular or clinical characteristics...

..Since this biomarker has also been shown to predict response to alkylating agents, perhaps MGMT promoter methylation represents a general, favorable prognostic factor in GBM...

..Reclassification of ependymoma by neuropathologists is common. Results of this study have lead to a multicenter study to further define important diagnostic and prognostic variables for adults with ependymoma...

..Malignant gliomas are the most common type of primary brain tumor in adults, however, few prognostic factors have been identified...

..0001). Our study indicates that polymorphisms in inflammation genes are associated with glioma susceptibility, especially when a history of asthma/allergies is absent...

..The purpose of this review is to provide an update on the identification of novel molecular targets in neurooncology and their translation into clinical practice...

..Specifically, the authors recommend brain-applicable phase I and II clinical trial strategies that take advantage of the targeted nature of new agents to maximize information about their efficacy, toxicity, and molecular effects...

..Loss of 1p and 19q appeared to be a prognostic marker only in the subset of patients who had AO tumors with classic histologic features...

..Therefore, careful evaluation and treatment planning is warranted in order to avoid treatment-associated toxicities and to maximise the impact of the treatment on the disease process...

..The final patient required an increased dose of levetiracetam. As has been described with generic substitution of other anticonvulsants, patients switched to generic levetiracetam may be at risk for breakthrough seizure activity...

..Future treatment advances will require a multidisciplinary approach integrating surgical, radiation, and chemotherapeutic options to improve neurological function and quality of life, rather than just focusing on survival endpoints...

..Temozolomide was safe and effective in treating newly diagnosed GBM and AA before radiotherapy. This pre-irradiation treatment approach appears promising, but will require additional evaluation in comparative studies...

..Further developments in the understanding of the biology of these tumors will permit specific interventions in selected patients that ultimately will improve outcomes...

..Prompt recognition of these problems and their causes will have an impact on patient care in all areas of oncology...

..The current study was performed to investigate the role of GST enzyme polymorphisms in predicting the survival of patients with AG...

..However, polymorphisms in DNA strand break repair genes that may determine mutagen sensitivity are not well studied in cancer risk, especially in gliomas...

..Further studies are needed to evaluate the impact of CAM on symptom control or tumor growth in this vulnerable patient population...

..We investigated whether hTERT MNS16A variant genotype predicted survival in GBM patients...

..Other factors have not been explored. The aim of this study was to identify demographic and clinical factors that predict fatigue severity and to evaluate the association of fatigue with other symptoms throughout the disease trajectory...

..The development of treatment modalities has been slower, but is nonetheless promising...

..The objective of this study was to develop a reliable and valid self-reporting instrument for patients with spine tumors...

..The MDASI-BT demonstrated validity and reliability in brain metastases patients and can be used to identify and monitor symptom occurrence in relation to treatment course and survival...

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..CONCLUSIONS: As our understanding of the biology of gliomas increases and new drugs targeting specific molecular pathways enter well-designed cooperative trials, the control and prognosis of these tumors should improve...

..Herein we review the data supporting MGMT as a major mechanism of chemotherapy resistance in malignant gliomas and describe ongoing studies that are testing resistance-modulating strategies...

..Because tipifarnib undergoes extensive hepatic metabolism, MTD is doubled in patients on EIAEDs. The population included 67 patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and an exploratory group of 22 patients with anaplastic glioma (AG)...

..In this study, we investigated the mechanisms by which temozolomide enhances radiation response in glioblastoma cells...

..The pharmacology of PB appears to be affected by concomitant administration of P450-inducing anticonvulsants...

..Ongoing clinical research investigations are also summarized, reflecting advances in our knowledge of the molecular pathogenesis of these tumors and providing hope for significant improvements in patient outcomes...

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..Irinotecan had minimal efficacy in this cohort of 18 patients with recurrent malignant glioma. Toxicity was significant but similar to that reported in other patient populations...

..However, overall survival is not significantly improved when compared with the New Approaches to Brain Tumor Therapy GBM database or other comparable patient populations...

..Earlier assessments of progression status also predicted survival and may be incorporated in the design of future clinical trials...

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..YKL-40 serum levels were substantially elevated in many of the GBM patients. Statistical analysis of these data indicates that in patients with glioma, serum YKL-40 levels correlate with tumor grade and potentially tumor burden in GBM...

..The patient had an unexpectedly dramatic resolution of the neurologic dysfunction after receiving antineoplastic treatment. Symptom improvement paralleled a progressive decline of serum ANNA-2 antibody titers to undetectable levels...

..This review discusses direct involvement of the peripheral nervous system by lymphoma and paraneoplastic disease and briefly addresses some nervous system infections in lymphoma patients...

..This review article summarises the recent developments and approaches in the use of chemotherapy to treat adult patients with astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas...

..It would also include a combined phase 0/I pharmacokinetic study to determine the safety and biologically optimal dose of the agent and to verify successful modulation of the target prior to initiating a larger, phase II efficacy study...

..The NABTC continues with the long-term goal of developing more effective treatments for patients with primary brain tumors, particularly malignant gliomas, combining longevity with the quality of survival. ..