The role of chemotherapy in newly diagnosed ependymoma of childhood Journal Article


Authors: Souweidane, M. M.; Bouffet, E.; Finlay, J.
Article Title: The role of chemotherapy in newly diagnosed ependymoma of childhood
Abstract: The use of chemotherapy in treating children with newly diagnosed ependymoma is currently being investigated, both clinically and experimentally. Assessment of the true efficacy of this modality is hampered by a lack of prospective randomized trials comparing conventional treatment schemes of aggressive surgical excision followed by radiation therapy with or without addition of chemotherapy. Although with current regimens, the role of chemotherapy in newly diagnosed disease appears limited, measurable disease responses have been recognized. Preliminary studies support the potential use of chemotherapy in infants in an effort to delay radiation therapy or even avoid radiation therapy, although with conventional chemotherapy, a delay exceeding 12 months is inadvisable. Additionally, preliminary data suggest that in children with incompletely resected tumors, chemotherapy may be of benefit as an adjunct to second-look surgery. Experimental work investigating chemotherapeutic sensitivity, molecular genetics, or mechanisms to overcome drug resistance may offer some benefit in utilizing chemotherapy for ependymoma of childhood.
Keywords: cancer chemotherapy; child; child, preschool; cancer surgery; prednisone; cisplatin; drug efficacy; multimodality cancer therapy; antineoplastic agents; cancer radiotherapy; chemotherapy; methotrexate; recurrent cancer; brain neoplasms; carboplatin; neoplasm recurrence, local; etoposide; vincristine; chlormethine; ifosfamide; lomustine; procarbazine; infant; ependymoma; nitrosourea; second look surgery; drug sensitivity; teniposide; drug indication; second-look surgery; humans; priority journal; article; aziridinylbenzoquinone
Journal Title: Pediatric Neurosurgery
Volume: 28
Issue: 5
ISSN: 1016-2291
Publisher: Karger  
Date Published: 1998-05-01
Start Page: 273
End Page: 278
Language: English
DOI: 10.1159/000028664
PUBMED: 9732262
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 12 December 2016 -- Source: Scopus
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