exudates and Central-Nervous-System-Neoplasms

Pediatric central nervous system tumor survivors (CNSTS) experience late effects that may affect their health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The study aims: i) compare HRQOL among Malaysian CNSTS with acute lymphoblastic leukemia survivors (ALLS) and healthy children, and ii) explore factors associated with low HRQOL. We performed a comparative cross-sectional HRQOL study of 46 CNSTS aged 5-18 years and 90 ALLS (age and gender-matched) who completed treatment for >1 year, and a published cohort of healthy children. Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) was used for all groups and PedsQL Cancer Module for CNSTS and ALLS. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine factors associated with low HRQOL. Mean PedsQL total scale score, physical health score and psychosocial health score of CNSTS were 69.0 (SD 20.3), 68.7 (SD 27.9) and 69.2 (SD 19.2) respectively. These scores were significantly lower in all domains particularly in teenagers compared with healthy children and ALLS. The median PedsQL Cancer Module score of CNSTS was significantly lower than ALLS in total scale, cognitive problems and communication. Physical impairment was associated with lower PedsQL scores in all 3 domains; special education placement was associated with lower PedsQL total scale and physical health scores and clinically significant internalizing behavioral difficulties score was associated with lower PedsQL psychosocial health scores. CNSTS reported lower PedsQL scores in all domains than ALLS and healthy children. Clinicians need to be vigilant of HRQOL needs among CNSTS, especially those with risk factors of special education needs, physical impairment, and internalizing behavioral difficulties.

Topics: Adolescent; Cancer Survivors; Central Nervous System Neoplasms; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Quality of Life; Surveys and Questionnaires

To determine the mitochondrial microsatellite instability (mtMSI) status in a series of Malaysian patients with brain tumors. Furthermore, we analyzed whether the mtMSI status is associated with the clinicopathological features of the patients.. Forty fresh frozen tumor tissues along with blood samples of brain tumor patients were analyzed for mtMSI by PCR amplification of genomic DNAs, and the amplicons were directly sequenced in both directions using Sanger sequencing.. Microsatellite analysis revealed that 20% (8 out of 40) of the tumors were mtMSI positive with a total of 8 mtMSI changes. All mtMSI markers were detected in D310 and D16184 of the D-loop region. Additionally, no significant association was observed between mtMSI status and clinicopathological features.. The variations, specifically the mtMSI, suggest that the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) can be targeted for genomic alteration in brain tumors. Therefore, the specific role of mtDNA alteration in brain tumor development and prognosis requires further investigation.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Brain Neoplasms; Central Nervous System Neoplasms; Child; Child, Preschool; DNA, Mitochondrial; Female; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Microsatellite Instability; Microsatellite Repeats; Middle Aged; Mitochondria; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Young Adult

Telomerase, the enzyme that stabilizes telomere length is reactivated with almost all cancer types, and may be a useful diagnostic marker for malignancy. Telomerase activity has been detected in germ line cells and most cancer cells, whereas most normal somatic cells have no clearly detectable telomerase activity. In our study, we aim to detect telomerase activity in 20 human central nervous system tumors from Malaysian patients. Telomerase activity was detected based on a highly sensitive procedure consisting of a CHAPS detergent-based extraction from frozen tissues and a PCR-based telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) using a TRAPEZE Telomerase Detection Kit (Intergen, Co). Telomerase activity was considered positive when a ladder of products was observed starting at 50bp, with 6bp increments. The activity was detected in 30% of the samples analysed, included glioblastoma multiforme, meduloblastoma, paraganglioma and oligodendroglioma. The result of Fisher's exact test indicated that there was a significant association between telomerase activity status with tumor grade (p=0.003). These results suggest that telomerase activity may be an important marker for tumor malignancy.

Topics: Adult; Biomarkers, Tumor; Central Nervous System Neoplasms; Female; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques; Sensitivity and Specificity; Telomerase