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Conferences

Reports from professional meetings about brain tumors, their diagnosis and treatment.

Brain Tumor

New Chemotherapy Combination Causes Brain Tumors to Regress
Researchers have found that a chemotherapy regimen, including procarbazine, CCNU and Vincristine (PVC), given before radiation therapy to patients with low-grade oligodendroglioma or oligoastrocytoma brain tumors, causes tumors to regress in 28 percent of patients. Jan Buckner, MD, medical oncologist at Mayo Clinic and colleagues entered 31

Preliminary Results from a Phase II Trial of Conformal Radiation Therapy for Localized Pediatric Brain Tumors
Presenter: TE Merchant, MD Affiliation: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN Background: Use of Conformal Radiation Therapy (CRT) for treatment of pediatric brain tumors has the potential for reducing toxicity and improving the therapeutic ratio.Ê The results of such treatment, and the relationships between dose,

7th National Brain Tumor Conference
Conference Dates: September 20-21, 2002 Conference Location: San Francisco Bay Area, Denver, Phoenix Sponsoring Group: National Brain Tumor Foundation Conference Web Page URL: http://www.braintumor.org/pservices/wnnewsletter.asp Topics Covered: Symptom management, new treatments, understanding diagnostics, long term issues, research

Brain Tumor Action Week Symposium
Conference Dates: May 8, 2003 Conference Location: Medical Alumni Hall, Philadelphia, PA Sponsoring Group: Division of Neuro-Oncology Topics Covered: Presentation(s) from Department(s) of Neurosurgery, Neuro-Oncology, Radiation-Oncology, and Rehabilitation from UPHS. Further, panel members will represent Children's Hospital of

Brain Tumors: Confronting the Challenge Together
A day-long Conference providing information and support for patients, survivors and caregivers. Date: Saturday June 17, 2006 Time : 8:30-4:30 Location: Biomedical Research Building II/III Ground Floor Auditorium, Curie Boulevard and Osler Way Philadelphia, PA Presented by: The Brain Tumor Society and Penn's Division of Neuro-Oncology

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Glioma

Extent of Surgical Resection Predicts a Favorable Outcome for Children with Malignant Gliomas
Presenter: M. BucciPresenter's Affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital of the University of PennsylvaniaType of Session: PosterBackground Pediatric patients with high-grade gliomas have been reported to have a better prognosis than their adult counterparts. There is however, relatively very little published data available that

P53, EGFR, and PTEN as markers of diagnosis and prognosis in patients with anaplastic glioma enrolled in NCCTG clinical trials
Presenter: J.C. BucknerPresenter's Affiliation: NCCTGType of Session: ScientificBackground The NCCTG has previously reported survival differences in patients with high grade gliomas. Median survival times were 52 mo, 19 mo, 16 mo, and 11 mo for grade 3 oligoastrocytomas (OA3), anaplastic astrocytomas (AA), grade 4 oligoastrocytomas (OA4), and

A Phase I Clinical Trial Assessing Temozolamide and Tamoxifen with Concomitant Radiotherapy for the Treatment of High-Grade Gliomas
Presenter: T.W. FlanneryPresenter's Affiliation: Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MDType of Session: ScientificBackground One of the many recent advances in the management of high grade gliomas includes the slight survival advantage seen with the use of concurrent temozolamide and radiation for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).

ASTRO Patient Summary: A Phase I Clinical Trial Assessing Temozolamide and Tamoxifen with Concomitant Radiotherapy for the Treatment of High-Grade Gliomas
A Phase I Clinical Trial Assessing Temozolamide and Tamoxifen with Concomitant Radiotherapy for the Treatment of High-Grade Gliomas There are limited therapies available for patients with high-grade gliomas. One particular problem is finding medications that are able to cross the blood-brain barrier in amounts significant enough to treat the

The Role of AGT in Guiding Therapy of Malignant Glioma
AGT is a human protein that modifies DNA in both normal and tumor cells in order to protect it from damage by certain chemotherapy drugs. In both petri dishes and animal studies, AGT has been observed to prevent the death of cancer cells that are in the presence of cancer cell-killing chemotherapy.

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GBM

Phase III Trial of BCNU Plus Cisplatin (CDDP) Versus BCNU Alone, and Standard Radiation Therapy (SRT) Versus Accelerated Radiation Therapy (ART) in Glioblastoma (GBM) Patients: NCCTG/SWOG Results
Presenter: J.C. Buckner Affiliation: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN Background: The adjuvant treatment for GBM is radiation therapy plus or minus BCNU. With this therapy, the median survival is about 10 months and the 5- year overall survival is about 1%. With such poor outcomes, new therapeutic approaches are needed. This study was designed

A Multicenter, Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo (PB) Controlled Trial of Marimastat (MT) In Patients with Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) or Gliosarcoma (GS) Following Completion of Conventional, First-Line Treatment
Presenter: S. Phuphanich Affiliation: The Marimastat Glioblastoma Study Group Background: The standard adjuvant therapy for GBM is radiation therapy with or without BCNU. The outcomes of therapy for GBM or GS are poor. There is clearly a need for novel treatment approaches. This study looks a Marimastat administration as an attempt to

Randomized Prospective Comparison of Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) Followed by Conventional Radiotherapy (RT) with BCNU to RT with BCNU Alone for Selected Patients with Supratentorial Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM): Report of RTOG 93-05 Protocol.
Presenter: L. SouhamiPresenter's Affiliation: McGill University, Montreal, QC, CanadaType of Session: ScientificBackground GBM continues to prove a most challenging tumor to treat. In spite of aggressive therapy local recurrence remains a significant problem. RTOG 9305 is a prospective randomized trial designed to evaluate upfront SRS followed by

Concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide (TMZ) and radiotherapy (RT) for newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).  Conclusive results of a radomized phase III trial by the EORTC Brain & RT Groups and NCIC Clinical Trials Group.
Presenter: R. StuppPresenter's Affiliation: University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, SwitzerlandType of Session: PlenaryBackground Glioblastoma multiforme is the most malignant and most common primary brain tumor, with a dismal median overall survival of less than one year. Radiation treatment has long been the standard of care in treating GBM.

Glioblastoma (GBM) in elderly patients: A randomized phase III trial comparing survival in patients treated with 6-week radiotherapy (RT) versus hypofractionated RT over 2 weeks versus temozolomide single-agent chemotherapy (TMZ)
Presentor: A. Malmstrom Affiliation: Unit of Advanced Palliative Home Care, Linköping, Sweden Background Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is the most common primary malignant brain tumor, accounting for 40% of primary CNS Malignancies The incidence of GBM increases with age and approximately 50% of patients diagnosed with GBM are > 65

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Glioblastoma

Phase III Trial of BCNU Plus Cisplatin (CDDP) Versus BCNU Alone, and Standard Radiation Therapy (SRT) Versus Accelerated Radiation Therapy (ART) in Glioblastoma (GBM) Patients: NCCTG/SWOG Results
Presenter: J.C. Buckner Affiliation: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN Background: The adjuvant treatment for GBM is radiation therapy plus or minus BCNU. With this therapy, the median survival is about 10 months and the 5- year overall survival is about 1%. With such poor outcomes, new therapeutic approaches are needed. This study was designed

A Multicenter, Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo (PB) Controlled Trial of Marimastat (MT) In Patients with Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) or Gliosarcoma (GS) Following Completion of Conventional, First-Line Treatment
Presenter: S. Phuphanich Affiliation: The Marimastat Glioblastoma Study Group Background: The standard adjuvant therapy for GBM is radiation therapy with or without BCNU. The outcomes of therapy for GBM or GS are poor. There is clearly a need for novel treatment approaches. This study looks a Marimastat administration as an attempt to

Randomized Prospective Comparison of Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) Followed by Conventional Radiotherapy (RT) with BCNU to RT with BCNU Alone for Selected Patients with Supratentorial Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM): Report of RTOG 93-05 Protocol.
Presenter: L. SouhamiPresenter's Affiliation: McGill University, Montreal, QC, CanadaType of Session: ScientificBackground GBM continues to prove a most challenging tumor to treat. In spite of aggressive therapy local recurrence remains a significant problem. RTOG 9305 is a prospective randomized trial designed to evaluate upfront SRS followed by

Temozolomide Concomitant and Sequential to Radiotherapy as First Line of Treatment in Glioblastoma Multiforme: An Ongoing Multicentric Phase 2 Trial
Presenter: L. FatigantePresenter's Affiliation: Department of Oncology, Radiotherapy, Pisa, ITType of Session: ScientificBackground Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is associated with a high rate of local recurrence after primary therapy and a high mortality rate. In spite of aggressive treatment with surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, median

Concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide (TMZ) and radiotherapy (RT) for newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).  Conclusive results of a radomized phase III trial by the EORTC Brain & RT Groups and NCIC Clinical Trials Group.
Presenter: R. StuppPresenter's Affiliation: University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, SwitzerlandType of Session: PlenaryBackground Glioblastoma multiforme is the most malignant and most common primary brain tumor, with a dismal median overall survival of less than one year. Radiation treatment has long been the standard of care in treating GBM.

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Astrocytoma

MGMT promoter methylation as a predictive biomarker for response to radiotherapy versus chemotherapy in malignant astrocytomas in the elderly: The NOA-08 trial
Presenter: Wolfgang Wick Presenter's Affiliation: University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany Background The incidence of glioblastoma has increased in elderly adults, and more than half of patients are more than 65-years-old. Increasing age is a strong predictor for poor prognosis with a median survival of 4-5 months in patients

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Ependymoma

Results from a phase II trial of conformal radiation therapy (CRT)for pediatric patients with localized ependymoma and quantification of radiation-related CNS effects
Presenter: T.E. MerchantPresenter's Affiliation: St. Jude Children's Research HospitalType of Session: ScientificBackground Radiation therapy (RT) following maximal resection is the standard treatment for localized ependymoma in children. In very young children, avoiding or delaying RT with systemic chemotherapy has been justified by the

Spot-Scanning based proton radiation therapy for pediatric ependymoma: clinical outcome of 25 patients treated at Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI)
Presenter: Ares, C. Presenter's Affiliation: Center for Proton Therapy, Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), Switzerland Background Ependymomas are rare brain tumors that occur in young children. They arise from ependymal cells which form the lining of the ventricular system and the central spinal canal. United States: <150

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Meningioma

Neuropsychological effects of fractionated, stereotactic radiation therapy (FSRT) in patients with meningiomas
Presenter: G. Welzel Affiliation: University of Heidelberg Summary: Meningiomas are benign, slow growing tumors with a good survival rate after radiotherapy. Neurotoxicity after irradiation of the central nervous system is widely discussed and of special interest in patients with meningiomas. The purpose of this study was

15 years of Proton Radiosurgery Experience at the Ithemba Labs, Long Term Results for AVM’s, Meningiomas, and Acoustic Neuromas
Presenter: Frederick Vernimmen Presenter's Affiliation: Stellenbosch University Type of Session: Scientific Background There are a number of benign diseases which can be treated with radiation and the present study is a review of the long term outcomes in patients treated with protons for AVM, meningiomas and acoustic neuromas at Ithemba

Spot-Scanning based proton radiation therapy for complex benign, atypical, and anaplastic meningiomas: 5 year results from the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI)
Presenter/Author:Ralf Schneider, MD Presenter's Affiliation:Center for Proton Therapy, Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), Switzerland Background Meningiomas are the most common non-glial brain tumors, which are slow growing and extra-axial. They arise from the arachnoid cap cells of the central nervous system. The WHO classification system

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Medulloblastoma

Advantage of protons compared to IMRT in the treatment of medulloblastoma
Presenter: W. H. St. Clair Affiliation: Massachusetts General Hospital Background: There is continued interest in finding ways to reduce the radiation related toxicity associated with the treatment of medulloblastoma. Both proton radiotherapy and intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) have been shown to

A Multi-Institution Prospective Trial of Reduced-Dose Craniospinal Irradiation (23.4 Gy) Followed by Conformal Posterior Fossa (36 Gy) and Primary Site Irradiation (55.8 Gy) and Dose-Intensive Chemotherapy for Average-Risk Medulloblastoma
Presenter: Thomas Merchant, MDPresenter's Affiliation: St. Jude Children's Research HospitalType of Session: ScientificBackground Neurocognitive, endocrine, and otic toxicity are of primary concern in treating pediatric patients with radiation therapy (RT). Previous efforts to decrease the dose and volume of RT for patients with average-risk

Outcomes using IMRT Tumor-bed Boost for Medulloblastoma
Presenter: W.R. PolkingtonPresenter's Affiliation: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NYType of Session: ScientificBackground Medulloblastoma, a primary neuroendocrine tumor arising in the posterior fossa, represents the second most common pediatric central nervous system (CNS) tumor, and accounts for 20% of pediatric CNS tumor

A phase II trial of proton radiotherapy for medulloblastoma: Preliminary results
Presenter: T. I. Yock, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA; Children's Hospital Medical Center, Boston, MA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA Background Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant brain tumor occurring in children, accounting for 20% of all pediatric CNS tumors. It commonly arises in the posterior fossa, and has

Proton Radiotherapy for Pediatric Medulloblastoma: Improved Early Ototoxicity
Authors: B. J. Moeller, M. Chintagumpala, J. J. Philip, S. Y. Woo, J. E. Wolff, A. Mahajan Institution: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX; University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY Background Medulloblastoma represents approximately 1 in 5 pediatric central nervous system

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Craniopharyngioma

Role of Radiation Therapy in the Management of Craniopharyngiomas in Children and Young Adults
Presenter: D.C. Hsiung StrippPresenter's Affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital of the University of PennsylvaniaType of Session: PosterBackground Treatment of craniopharyngioma has as its goal the reduction of the mass, restoration of neurologic function, prevention of recurrence, and prolongation of survival. Surgical resection,

Craniopharyngioma in Childhood: Proton Radiotherapy and Treatment Planning With Special Attention to the Cyst Size
Presenter: Claudia Linsenmeier Affiliation: Massachusetts General Hospital Introduction Craniopharyngioma accounts for 5-8% of central nervous system tumors in children. It classically has a bimodal age distribution of 5-14 years and > 65 years. Endocrine deficits are common at both presentation and at the completion of treatment for this

Craniopharyngioma: Early Response Evaluation of Patients Treated with Protons at the Midwest Proton Radiotherapy Institute in Bloomington, Indiana.
Presenter: Markus Fitzek, MDPresenter's Affiliation: Midwest Proton Radiotherapy Institute, Bloomington, IN and Department of Radiation Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, INType of Session: ScientificBackground Craniopharyngioma is a benign tumor that represents the most common pituitary tumor in children.

Proton Therapy for Craniopharyngioma
Presenter: Andrew Chang, MD Presenter's Affiliation: Indiana University, Bloomington Proton Center Background Cranipharyngiomas are benign intracranial tumors arising from Rathke’s pouch in the sellar region. They often have a solid and cystic component. Although these tumors do not have potential for malignant spread, they

Proton Therapy for Craniopharyngioma in Children: the Orsay Proton Centre Experience
Presenting Author/Institution: Claire Alapetite, Proton Center of Orsay, Institut Curie, France Background Craniopharyngiomas are benign intracranial tumors arising from Rathke's pouch in the sellar region. While they do not have the potential for malignant spread, they can become very large, creating mass effect in an eloquent area of the