Measuring performance status in pediatric patients with brain tumors--experience of the HIT-GBM-C protocol

Pediatric Blood & Cancer
Johannes E A WolffAstrid Gnekow

Abstract

Measuring the quality of life or performance status in pediatric neurooncology has proven a challenge. Here, we report in a treatment protocol for pediatric patients with high-grade glioma and diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma. The Fertigkeitenskala Münster-Heidelberg (FMH) is a 56-item quantitative measure of health status. The number of yes answers is transformed to age-dependent percentiles. Physicians were also asked the patients' health status by their own judgment on a 1-5 scale: normal, mild handicap, age-normal activity severely reduced but patient not in bed, in bed, and in ICU. Assessments were available from 50 of 97 eligible patients. For 22 patients both questionnaire and the physicians score obtained. At the beginning of the treatment, only 5 patients scored over 40 FMH%, and 4 of these survived. Of 16 patients who initially scored less than 40 FMH%, 15 died. During later assessments, most FMH measures became gradually worse. FMH scores improved in three patients. The physician's judgment was documented at diagnosis and during treatment (n = 50). Per physician, 22% of the patients were normal before chemotherapy, decreasing to 16% in the middle of the protocol. At diagnosis only 16% of patients had severely reduced...Continue Reading

References

Dec 6, 1997·Archives of Disease in Childhood·C Eiser
Dec 10, 1999·Annals of Neurology·R K MulhernA Gajjar
Feb 2, 2000·Journal of Clinical Oncology : Official Journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology·C A MeyersV A Levin
Feb 19, 2000·International Journal of Cancer. Supplement = Journal International Du Cancer. Supplement·C R Kennedy, K Leyland
Feb 19, 2000·International Journal of Cancer. Supplement = Journal International Du Cancer. Supplement·J M Landgraf
Aug 10, 2000·European Journal of Cancer : Official Journal for European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) [and] European Association for Cancer Research (EACR)·J A KramerR Paridaens
Mar 10, 2001·European Journal of Cancer : Official Journal for European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) [and] European Association for Cancer Research (EACR)·A de GraeffJ A Winnubst
Jul 13, 2002·Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy·J M Blazeby, C W Vickery
Nov 16, 2002·British Journal of Cancer·J E A WolffJ Kuehl
Aug 18, 2004·Journal of Clinical Oncology : Official Journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology·Fabio EfficaceAndrew Bottomley
May 13, 2005·Child's Nervous System : ChNS : Official Journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery·Hermann L MüllerNiels Sörensen
Jan 1, 1997·International Journal of Behavioral Medicine·C EiserJ R Eiser
Apr 7, 2006·Journal of Neuro-oncology·Sabine WagnerJohannes E A Wolff
Apr 29, 2006·Journal of Neuro-oncology·Johannes E A WolffStefaan W Van Gool
Sep 14, 2006·Annals of Oncology : Official Journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology·F EfficaceUNKNOWN EORTC Lung Cancer Group and Quality of Life Unit
Oct 13, 2006·Quality of Life Research : an International Journal of Quality of Life Aspects of Treatment, Care and Rehabilitation·Murali SundaramVirginia Ginger Scott
Jan 23, 2008·Journal of Neuro-oncology·Johannes E A WolffChristof M Kramm
Aug 6, 2008·Journal of Neuro-oncology·Johannes E A WolffPablo Hernáiz Driever

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Nov 23, 2019·Pediatric Research·Rebecca PötschkeCaspar D Kühnöl
Oct 4, 2011·Journal of Neuro-oncology·Birte WolffJohannes Ea Wolff

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.