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Holly L Pacenta, Margaret E Macy Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA Abstract: RTK plays important roles in many cellular signaling processes involved in cancer growth and development. ALK, TRKA, TRKB, TRKC, and ROS1 are RTKs involved in several canonical pathways related to oncogenesis. These proteins can be genetically altered in malignancies, leading to receptor activation and constitutive signaling through their respective downstream pathways. Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial solid tumor in childhood, and despite intensive therapy, there is a high mortality rate in cases with a high-risk disease. Alterations of ALK and differential expression of TRK proteins are reported in a proportion of NB. Several inhibitors of ALK or TRKA/B/C have been evaluated both preclinically and clinically in the treatment of NB. These agents have had variable success and are not routinely used in the treatment of NB. Entrectinib (RXDX-101) is a pan-ALK, TRKA, TRKB, TRKC, and ROS1 inhibitor with activity against tumors with ALK, NTRK1, NTRK2, NTRK3, and ROS1 alterations in Phase I clinical trials in adults. Entrectinib’s activity against both ALK and TRK proteins suggests a possible role in NB treatment, and it is currently under investigation in both pediatric and adult oncology patients. Keywords: neuroblastoma, entrectinib, ALK, TRK, ROS1

Background: COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted tuberculosis (TB) services in many countries, but the impacts on sites of involvement, drug susceptibility, smear positivity and clinical outcomes, and clinical outcomes of co-infection with influenza and COVID-19 remain unclear. Methods: Descriptive epidemiological study using episode-based and patient unique data of tuberculosis from Hospital Authority’s territory-wide electronic medical record database, comparing baseline (January 2015-December 2019) and COVID-19 period (January 2020-December 2022), followed by univariate and multivariate analyses. Effects of co-infection with influenza and COVID-19 were investigated. Results: The study included 10,473 episodes of laboratory-confirmed TB, with 6818 in baseline period and 3655 during COVID-19 period. During COVID-19 period, TB patients had a lower proportion of smear positivity (49.2 % vs 54.7 %, P

Abstract Background The real‐world relationships between the demographic and clinical characteristics of asthma patients, their prehospitalization management and the frequency of hospitalization due to asthma exacerbation is poorly established. Objective To determine the risk factors of recurrent asthma exacerbations requiring hospitalizations and evaluate the standard of baseline asthma care. Methods A territory‐wide, multicentre retrospective study in Hong Kong was performed. Medical records of patients aged ≥18 years admitted to 11 acute general hospitals from January 1 to December 31, 2016 for asthma exacerbations were reviewed. Results There were 2280 patients with 3154 admissions (36.7% male, median age 66.0 [interquartile range: 48.0–81.0] years, 519 had ≥2 admissions). Among them, 1830 (80.3%) had at least one asthma‐associated comorbidity, 1060 (46.5%) and 885 (38.9%) of patients had Accident and Emergency Department (AED) attendance and hospitalization in the preceding year, respectively. Patients with advancing age (incidence rate ratio [IRR]: 1.003 for every year increment), a history of AED visits or hospitalization (IRR: 1.018 and 1.070 for every additional episode, respectively) for asthma exacerbation in the preceding year, the presence of neuropsychiatric (IRR: 1.142) and gastrointestinal (IRR: 1.154) comorbidities were risk factors for an increasing number of admissions for asthma exacerbation. For patients with ≥2 admissions, 17.1% were not prescribed inhaled corticosteroid and only 44.6% had spirometry checked before the index admission. Asthma phenotyping was often incomplete, as assessment of atopy (total serum immunoglobulin E level and senitization to aeroallergens) was only performed in 30 (5.8%) patients with ≥2 admissions. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance Improving asthma care, especially in elderly patients with a prior history of urgent healthcare utilization and comorbidities, may help reduce healthcare burden. Suboptimal management before the index admission was common in patients hospitalized for asthma exacerbations. Early identification of patients at risk and enhancement of baseline asthma management may help to prevent recurrent asthma exacerbation and subsequent hospitalization.

Objectives: To develop: (1) two validated risk prediction models for coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) positivity using readily available parameters in a general hospital setting; (2) nomograms and probabilities to allow clinical utilisation. Methods: Patients with and without COVID-19 were included from 4 Hong Kong hospitals. The database was randomly split into 2:1: for model development database (n = 895) and validation database (n = 435). Multivariable logistic regression was utilised for model creation and validated with the Hosmer–Lemeshow (H–L) test and calibration plot. Nomograms and probabilities set at 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 were calculated to determine sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV). Results: A total of 1330 patients (mean age 58.2 ± 24.5 years; 50.7% males; 296 COVID-19 positive) were recruited. The first prediction model developed had age, total white blood cell count, chest x-ray appearances and contact history as significant predictors (AUC = 0.911 [CI = 0.880−0.941]). The second model developed has the same variables except contact history (AUC = 0.880 [CI = 0.844−0.916]). Both were externally validated on the H–L test (p = 0.781 and 0.155, respectively) and calibration plot. Models were converted to nomograms. Lower probabilities give higher sensitivity and NPV; higher probabilities give higher specificity and PPV. Conclusion: Two simple-to-use validated nomograms were developed with excellent AUCs based on readily available parameters and can be considered for clinical utilisation.

We reported three cases of pulmonary embolism which presented acutely and was confirmed shortly after therapeutic drainage of malignant pleural effusion. The temporal association may suggest that massive pleural effusion can be a risk factor for pulmonary embolism arising from venous thrombosis of lower limbs in patients with malignancies. This association can be related to the intra-thoracic pressure changes related to therapeutic pleural drainage. In case patient developed paradoxical dysnoea and hypoxemia after drainage of malignant pleural effusion, alternate cause such as pulmonary embolism should be considered.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of immobility in the United States and is associated with older age, inflammation, and obesity. Prudent dietary patterns have been associated with disease prevention, yet little evidence exists describing diet quality (DQ) in older overweight or obese African American (AA) adults with OA and its relation to body composition. We conducted a secondary data analysis of a dataset containing alternate Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI-2010), body composition, OA severity, and serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) data from 126 AA females (aged 60–87 years) with OA to examine the relationships between these variables. Our sample had poor DQ and reported having higher OA severity as measured by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Interleukin-6 was negatively correlated with AHEI-2010, and AHEI-2010 and the WOMAC physical function subcategory (WOMACpf) were significant predictors of IL-6 (odds ratio (OR): 0.95, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.92–0.99 and 1.04, 95% CI 1.01–1.07, respectively, p < 0.05) but not body composition. In conclusion, AHEI-2010 and WOMACpf were significant predictors of inflammation (IL-6) and AHEI-2010 accounted for ~16% of the variation of IL-6 (inflammation) in this sample.

Purpose: Ewing Sarcoma (ES), a rare cancer with a pathognomonic translocation resulting in the Ewing sarcoma gene (EWS)::FLI1 oncoprotein, has a poor prognosis in the relapsed/refractory (R/R) setting. Tokalas (TK)216 was designed to bind EWS::FLI1 proteins directly, disrupt protein-protein interactions, and inhibit transcription factor function. TK216 plus vincristine showed synergistic activity in preclinical tumor models. To our knowledge, we report the results of a first-in-class, first-in-human phase I/II trial of TK216 in R/R ES., Patients and Methods: TK216 was administered intravenously as a continuous infusion to patients with R/R ES in 11 cohorts. The dosing duration of 7 days was later extended to 10, 14, and 28 days. Vincristine could be added on day 1 after cycle 2, per investigators' choice. The trial used a 3 + 3 design with an expansion cohort at the recommended phase II dose (RP2D)., Results: A total of 85 patients with a median age of 27 years (range, 11-77) were enrolled. The maximum tolerated dose for the 14-day infusion of TK216, 200 mg/m 2 once daily, was determined in cohort 9 and selected as the RP2D. The median previous number of systemic therapies regimens was three (range, 1-10). The most frequent-related adverse events in patients treated at the RP2D included neutropenia (44.7%), anemia (29.4%), leukopenia (29.4%), febrile neutropenia (15.3%), thrombocytopenia (11.8%), and infections (17.6%). In cohorts 9 and 10, two patients had a complete response, one had a partial response, and 14 had stable disease; the 6-month progression-free survival was 11.9%. There were no responses among the eight patients in cohort 11., Conclusion: TK216 administered as 14-day continuous infusion with or without vincristine was well tolerated and showed limited activity at the RP2D in R/R ES.

Purpose: The National Cancer Institute-Children's Oncology Group Pediatric Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice trial assigned patients age 1-21 years with relapsed or refractory solid tumors, lymphomas, and histiocytic disorders to phase II treatment arms of molecularly targeted therapies on the basis of genetic alterations detected in their tumor. Patients with tumors that harbored prespecified genomic alterations in the cyclinD-CDK4/6-INK4a-Rb pathway with intact Rb expression were assigned and treated with the cdk4/6 inhibitor palbociclib., Methods: Patients received palbociclib orally once daily for 21 days of 28-day cycles until disease progression, intolerable toxicity, or up to 2 years. The primary end point was objective response rate; secondary end points included safety/tolerability and progression-free survival., Results: Twenty-three patients (median age, 15 years; range, 8-21) were enrolled; 20 received protocol therapy and were evaluable for toxicity and response. Of the evaluable patients, the most common diagnoses were osteosarcoma (n = 9) and rhabdomyosarcoma (n = 6). A single actionable gene amplification was found in 19 tumors ( CDK4 , n = 11, CDK6 , n = 2, CCND3 , n = 6), with one tumor harboring two amplifications ( CDK4 and CCND2 ). Hematologic toxicities were the most common treatment-related events. No objective responses were seen. Two patients with tumors harboring CDK4 amplifications (neuroblastoma and sarcoma) had best response of stable disease for six and three cycles. Six-month progression was 10% (95% CI, 1.7 to 27.2)., Conclusion: The CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib at 75 mg/m 2 orally daily was tolerable in this heavily pretreated cohort. No objective responses were observed in this histology-agnostic biomarker-selected population with treatment-refractory solid tumors, demonstrating that pathway alteration alone is insufficient in pediatric cancers to generate a response to palbociclib monotherapy.

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) signalling pathway is a crucial path in cancer for cell survival and thus represents an intriguing target for new paediatric anti-cancer drugs. However, the unique clinical toxicities of targeting this pathway (resulting in hyperglycaemia) difficulties combining with chemotherapy, rarity of mutations in childhood tumours and concomitant mutations have resulted in major barriers to clinical translation of these inhibitors in treating both adults and children. Mutations in PIK3CA predict response to PI3-K inhibitors in adult cancers. The same mutations occur in children as in adults, but they are significantly less frequent in paediatrics. In children, high-grade gliomas, especially diffuse midline gliomas (DMG), have the highest incidence of PIK3CA mutations. New mutation-specific PI3-K inhibitors reduce toxicity from on-target PI3-Kα wild-type activity. The mTOR inhibitor everolimus is approved for subependymal giant cell astrocytomas. In paediatric cancers, mTOR inhibitors have been predominantly evaluated by academia, without an overall strategy, in empiric, mutation-agnostic clinical trials with very low response rates to monotherapy. Therefore, future trials of single agent or combination strategies of mTOR inhibitors in childhood cancer should be supported by very strong biological rationale and preclinical data. Further preclinical evaluation of glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta inhibitors is required. Similarly, even where there is an AKT mutation (∼0.1 %), the role of AKT inhibitors in paediatric cancers remains unclear. Patient advocates strongly urged analysing and conserving data from every child participating in a clinical trial. A priority is to evaluate mutation-specific, central nervous system-penetrant PI3-K inhibitors in children with DMG in a rational biological combination. The choice of combination, should be based on the genomic landscape e.g. PTEN loss and resistance mechanisms supported by preclinical data. However, in view of the very rare populations involved, innovative regulatory approaches are needed to generate data for an indication., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest RB is an employee of Genentech, A Member of the Roche Group, South San Francisco, CA USA. JC is an employee of Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, Whippany, NJ, USA. SGD has received consulting fees for advisory board participation from Amgen, Bayer, InhibRx, and Jazz and travel funding from Loxo, Roche, and Salarius. JF is an employee of Kazia Therapeutics. IG an employee of Celcuity. HK is an employee of Loxo Oncology at Lilly. DL is an employee of Merck Sharp & Dohme. AM is an employee of Actuate. MEM has receiving consulting fees for advisory board participation from Ymabs Therapeutics, Recordati and travel funding from Bayer. KN has received consulting fees for advisory board participation from Y-mAbs, EUSA Pharma and Bayer, fees for teaching from Bayer and serving on a data monitoring committee from Lilly. ADJP has consulted for Lilly, Norgine and Developmental Therapeutics Consortium Limited and been an advisor for Amgen. All remaining authors have declared no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Metastatic central nervous system (CNS) involvement is rare in pediatric primary extracranial Ewing sarcoma (ES). We describe the incidence and course of 6 patients with extracranial ES who developed metastatic CNS lesions treated at a single institution. The median time to CNS disease detection was 16.3 months (10.0-28.3 months). Event-free and overall survival after CNS disease detection were 1.9 months (0.4 to 10.3 months) and 4.6 months (1.1 to 50.9 months), respectively. One patient was alive at the time of analysis. Clinical status and ability to obtain disease control should be considered when making decisions regarding aggressive interventions in these patients with poor prognosis., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Copanlisib is an intravenously administered phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor which was investigated in pediatric patients with relapsed/refractory solid tumors. A model-informed approach was undertaken to support and confirm an empirically selected starting dose of 28 mg/m 2 for pediatric patients ≥1 year old, corresponding to 80% of the adult recommended dose adjusted for body surface area. An adult physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model was initially established using copanlisib physicochemical and disposition properties and clinical pharmacokinetics (PK) data and was shown to adequately capture clinical PK across a range of copanlisib doses in adult cancer patients. The adult PBPK model was then extended to the pediatric population through incorporation of age-dependent anatomical and physiological changes and used to simulate copanlisib exposures in pediatric cancer patient age groups. The pediatric PBPK model predicted that the copanlisib 28 mg/m 2 dose would achieve similar copanlisib exposures across pediatric ages when compared with historical adult exposures following the approved copanlisib 60 mg dose administered on Days 1, 8, and 15 of a 28-day cycle. Clinical PK were collected from a phase I study in pediatric patients with relapsed/refractory solid tumors (aged ≥4 years). An established adult population PK model was extended to incorporate an allometrically-scaled effect of body surface area and confirmed that the copanlisib maximum tolerated dose of 28 mg/m 2 was appropriate to achieve uniform copanlisib exposures across the investigated pediatric age range and consistent exposures to historical data in adult cancer patients. The model-informed approach successfully supported and confirmed the copanlisib pediatric dose recommendation., (© 2023 The Authors. Clinical and Translational Science published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics.)

Neuroblastomas harbor ALK aberrations clinically resistant to crizotinib yet sensitive pre-clinically to the third-generation ALK inhibitor lorlatinib. We conducted a first-in-child study evaluating lorlatinib with and without chemotherapy in children and adults with relapsed or refractory ALK-driven neuroblastoma. The trial is ongoing, and we report here on three cohorts that have met pre-specified primary endpoints: lorlatinib as a single agent in children (12 months to <18 years); lorlatinib as a single agent in adults (≥18 years); and lorlatinib in combination with topotecan/cyclophosphamide in children (<18 years). Primary endpoints were safety, pharmacokinetics and recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D). Secondary endpoints were response rate and 123 I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) response. Lorlatinib was evaluated at 45-115 mg/m 2 /dose in children and 100-150 mg in adults. Common adverse events (AEs) were hypertriglyceridemia (90%), hypercholesterolemia (79%) and weight gain (87%). Neurobehavioral AEs occurred mainly in adults and resolved with dose hold/reduction. The RP2D of lorlatinib with and without chemotherapy in children was 115 mg/m 2 . The single-agent adult RP2D was 150 mg. The single-agent response rate (complete/partial/minor) for <18 years was 30%; for ≥18 years, 67%; and for chemotherapy combination in <18 years, 63%; and 13 of 27 (48%) responders achieved MIBG complete responses, supporting lorlatinib's rapid translation into active phase 3 trials for patients with newly diagnosed high-risk, ALK-driven neuroblastoma. ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT03107988 ., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Purpose: Osteosarcoma risk stratification, on the basis of the presence of metastatic disease at diagnosis and histologic response to chemotherapy, has remained unchanged for four decades, does not include genomic features, and has not facilitated treatment advances. We report on the genomic features of advanced osteosarcoma and provide evidence that genomic alterations can be used for risk stratification., Materials and Methods: In a primary analytic patient cohort, 113 tumor and 69 normal samples from 92 patients with high-grade osteosarcoma were sequenced with OncoPanel, a targeted next-generation sequencing assay. In this primary cohort, we assessed the genomic landscape of advanced disease and evaluated the correlation between recurrent genomic events and outcome. We assessed whether prognostic associations identified in the primary cohort were maintained in a validation cohort of 86 patients with localized osteosarcoma tested with MSK-IMPACT., Results: In the primary cohort, 3-year overall survival (OS) was 65%. Metastatic disease, present in 33% of patients at diagnosis, was associated with poor OS ( P = .04). The most frequently altered genes in the primary cohort were TP 53, RB1, MYC, CCNE1, CCND3, CDKN2A/B, and ATRX . Mutational signature 3 was present in 28% of samples. MYC amplification was associated with a worse 3-year OS in both the primary cohort ( P = .015) and the validation cohort ( P = .012)., Conclusion: The most frequently occurring genomic events in advanced osteosarcoma were similar to those described in prior reports. MYC amplification, detected with clinical targeted next-generation sequencing panel tests, is associated with poorer outcomes in two independent cohorts.

Purpose: Although chemoimmunotherapy is widely used for treatment of children with relapsed high-risk neuroblastoma (HRNB), little is known about timing, duration, and evolution of response after irinotecan/temozolomide/dinutuximab/granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (I/T/DIN/GM-CSF) therapy., Patients and Methods: Patients eligible for this retrospective study were age < 30 years at diagnosis of HRNB and received ≥ 1 cycle of I/T/DIN/GM-CSF for relapsed or progressive disease. Patients with primary refractory disease who progressed through induction were excluded. Responses were evaluated using the International Neuroblastoma Response Criteria., Results: One hundred forty-six patients were included. Tumors were MYCN -amplified in 50 of 134 (37%). Seventy-one patients (49%) had an objective response to I/T/DIN/GM-CSF (objective response; 29% complete response, 14% partial response [PR], 5% minor response [MR], 21% stable disease [SD], and 30% progressive disease). Of patients with SD or better at first post-I/T/DIN/GM-CSF disease evaluation, 22% had an improved response per International Neuroblastoma Response Criteria on subsequent evaluation (13% of patients with initial SD, 33% with MR, and 41% with PR). Patients received a median of 4.5 (range, 1-31) cycles. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 13.1 months, and the 1-year PFS and 2-year PFS were 50% and 28%, respectively. The median duration of response was 15.9 months; the median PFS off all anticancer therapy was 10.4 months after discontinuation of I/T/DIN/GM-CSF., Conclusion: Approximately half of patients receiving I/T/DIN/GM-CSF for relapsed HRNB had objective responses. Patients with initial SD were unlikely to have an objective response, but > 1 of 3 patients with MR/PR on first evaluation ultimately had complete response. I/T/DIN/GM-CSF was associated with extended PFS in responders both during and after discontinuation of treatment. This study establishes a new comparator for response and survival in patients with relapsed HRNB.

Background: International standardized criteria for eligibility, evaluable disease sites, and disease response assessment in patients with refractory, progressive, or relapsed high-risk neuroblastoma enrolled in early-phase clinical trials are lacking., Methods: A National Cancer Institute-sponsored Clinical Trials Planning Meeting was convened to develop an international consensus to refine the tumor site eligibility criteria and evaluation of disease response for early-phase clinical trials in children with high-risk neuroblastoma., Results: Standardized data collection of patient and disease characteristics (including specified genomic data), eligibility criteria, a definition of evaluable disease, and response evaluations for primary and metastatic sites of disease were developed. Eligibility included two distinct patient groups: progressive disease and refractory disease. The refractory disease group was subdivided into responding persistent disease and stable persistent disease to better capture the clinical heterogeneity of refractory neuroblastoma. Requirements for defining disease evaluable for a response assessment were provided; they included requirements for biopsy to confirm viable neuroblastoma and/or ganglioneuroblastoma in those patients with soft tissue or bone disease not avid for iodine-123 meta-iodobenzylguanidine. Standardized evaluations for response components and time intervals for response evaluations were established., Conclusions: The use of international consensus eligibility, evaluability, and response criteria for early-phase clinical studies will facilitate the collection of comparable data across international trials and promote more rapid identification of effective treatment regimens for high-risk neuroblastoma., (© 2022 The Authors. Cancer published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Cancer Society.)

Purpose: Multiple FGFR inhibitors are currently in clinical trials enrolling adults with different solid tumors, while very few enroll pediatric patients. We determined the types and frequency of FGFR alterations ( FGFR1-4 ) in pediatric cancers to inform future clinical trial design., Methods: Tumors with FGFR alterations were identified from two large cohorts of pediatric solid tumors subjected to targeted DNA sequencing: The Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Profile Study (n = 888) and the multi-institution GAIN/iCAT2 (Genomic Assessment Improves Novel Therapy) Study (n = 571). Data from the combined patient population of 1,395 cases (64 patients were enrolled in both studies) were reviewed and cases in which an FGFR alteration was identified by OncoPanel sequencing were further assessed., Results: We identified 41 patients with tumors harboring an oncogenic FGFR alteration. Median age at diagnosis was 8 years (range, 6 months-26 years). Diagnoses included 11 rhabdomyosarcomas, nine low-grade gliomas, and 17 other tumor types. Alterations included gain-of-function sequence variants (n = 19), amplifications (n = 10), oncogenic fusions ( FGFR3 :: TACC3 [n = 3], FGFR1 :: TACC1 [n = 1], FGFR1 :: EBF2 [n = 1], FGFR1 :: CLIP2 [n = 1], and FGFR2 :: CTNNA3 [n = 1]), pathogenic-leaning variants of uncertain significance (n = 4), and amplification in combination with a pathogenic-leaning variant of uncertain significance (n = 1). Two novel FGFR1 fusions in two different patients were identified in this cohort, one of whom showed a response to an FGFR inhibitor., Conclusion: In summary, activating FGFR alterations were found in approximately 3% (41/1,395) of pediatric solid tumors, identifying a population of children with cancer who may be eligible and good candidates for trials evaluating FGFR-targeted therapy. Importantly, the genomic and clinical data from this study can help inform drug development in accordance with the Research to Accelerate Cures and Equity for Children Act.

Background: Entrectinib is a TRKA/B/C, ROS1, ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved for the treatment of adults and children aged ≥12 years with NTRK fusion-positive solid tumors and adults with ROS1 fusion-positive non-small-cell lung cancer. We report an analysis of the STARTRK-NG trial, investigating the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) and activity of entrectinib in pediatric patients with solid tumors including primary central nervous system tumors., Methods: STARTRK-NG (NCT02650401) is a phase 1/2 trial. Phase 1, dose-escalation of oral, once-daily entrectinib, enrolled patients aged <22 years with solid tumors with/without target NTRK1/2/3, ROS1, or ALK fusions. Phase 2, basket trial at the RP2D, enrolled patients with intracranial or extracranial solid tumors harboring target fusions or neuroblastoma. Primary endpoints: phase 1, RP2D based on toxicity; phase 2, objective response rate (ORR) in patients harboring target fusions. Safety-evaluable patients: ≥1 dose of entrectinib; response-evaluable patients: measurable/evaluable baseline disease and ≥1 dose at RP2D., Results: At data cutoff, 43 patients, median age of 7 years, were response-evaluable. In phase 1, 4 patients experienced dose-limiting toxicities. The most common treatment-related adverse event was weight gain (48.8%). Nine patients experienced bone fractures (20.9%). In patients with fusion-positive tumors, ORR was 57.7% (95% CI 36.9-76.7), median duration of response was not reached, and median (interquartile range) duration of treatment was 10.6 months (4.2-18.4)., Conclusions: Entrectinib resulted in rapid and durable responses in pediatric patients with solid tumors harboring NTRK1/2/3 or ROS1 fusions., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Neuro-Oncology.)

Background: We report dose-escalation results from an open-label, phase 1/2 trial evaluating avelumab (anti-PD-L1) in paediatric patients with refractory/relapsed solid tumours., Methods: In phase 1, patients aged < 18 years with solid (including central nervous system [CNS]) tumours for which standard therapy did not exist or had failed were enrolled in sequential cohorts of 3-6 patients. Patients received avelumab 10 or 20 mg/kg intravenously every 2 weeks. Primary endpoints were dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) and grade ≥ 3 treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs)., Results: At data cut-off (27 July 2021), 21 patients aged 3-17 years had received avelumab 10 mg/kg (n = 6) or 20 mg/kg (n = 15). One patient had three events that were classified as a DLT (fatigue with hemiparesis and muscular weakness associated with pseudoprogression; 20 mg/kg cohort). Grade ≥ 3 AEs occurred in five (83%) and 11 (73%) patients in the 10 and 20 mg/kg cohorts, respectively, and were treatment-related in one patient (7%; grade 3 [DLT]) in the 20 mg/kg cohort. Avelumab exposure in paediatric patients receiving 20 mg/kg dosing, but not 10 mg/kg, was comparable or higher compared with approved adult dosing (10 mg/kg or 800 mg flat dose). No objective responses were observed. Four patients with CNS tumours (20 mg/kg cohort) achieved stable disease, which was ongoing in two patients with astrocytoma at cut-off (for 24.7 and 30.3 months)., Conclusion: In paediatric patients with refractory/relapsed solid tumours, avelumab monotherapy showed a safety profile consistent with previous adult studies, but clinical benefits were limited., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

To evaluate the clinical impact of molecular tumor profiling (MTP) with targeted sequencing panel tests, pediatric patients with extracranial solid tumors were enrolled in a prospective observational cohort study at 12 institutions. In the 345-patient analytical population, median age at diagnosis was 12 years (range 0-27.5); 298 patients (86%) had 1 or more alterations with potential for impact on care. Genomic alterations with diagnostic, prognostic or therapeutic significance were present in 61, 16 and 65% of patients, respectively. After return of the results, impact on care included 17 patients with a clarified diagnostic classification and 240 patients with an MTP result that could be used to select molecularly targeted therapy matched to identified alterations (MTT). Of the 29 patients who received MTT, 24% had an objective response or experienced durable clinical benefit; all but 1 of these patients received targeted therapy matched to a gene fusion. Of the diagnostic variants identified in 209 patients, 77% were gene fusions. MTP with targeted panel tests that includes fusion detection has a substantial clinical impact for young patients with solid tumors., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature America, Inc.)

Approximately half of the patients diagnosed with neuroblastoma are classified as having high-risk disease. This group continues to have inadequate cure rates despite multiagent chemotherapy, surgery, high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell rescue, and immunotherapy directed against GD2. We review current efforts to try to improve outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed disease by integrating novel targeted therapies earlier in the course of the disease. We further examine a growing list of options available for patients with relapsed or refractory high-risk disease, with an eye toward graduating successful strategies from a relapsed/refractory setting to the frontline setting. Last, we review efforts to study and potentially mitigate the array of late effects faced by survivors of high-risk neuroblastoma.

Purpose: Molecular tumor profiling is becoming a routine part of clinical cancer care, typically involving tumor-only panel testing without matched germline. We hypothesized that integrated germline sequencing could improve clinical interpretation and enhance the identification of germline variants with significant hereditary risks., Materials and Methods: Tumors from pediatric patients with high-risk, extracranial solid malignancies were sequenced with a targeted panel of cancer-associated genes. Later, germline DNA was analyzed for a subset of these genes. We performed a post hoc analysis to identify how an integrated analysis of tumor and germline data would improve clinical interpretation., Results: One hundred sixty participants with both tumor-only and germline sequencing reports were eligible for this analysis. Germline sequencing identified 38 pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants among 35 (22%) patients. Twenty-five (66%) of these were included in the tumor sequencing report. The remaining germline pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants were single-nucleotide variants filtered out of tumor-only analysis because of population frequency or copy-number variation masked by additional copy-number changes in the tumor. In tumor-only sequencing, 308 of 434 (71%) single-nucleotide variants reported were present in the germline, including 31% with suggested clinical utility. Finally, we provide further evidence that the variant allele fraction from tumor-only sequencing is insufficient to differentiate somatic from germline events., Conclusion: A paired approach to analyzing tumor and germline sequencing data would be expected to improve the efficiency and accuracy of distinguishing somatic mutations and germline variants, thereby facilitating the process of variant curation and therapeutic interpretation for somatic reports, as well as the identification of variants associated with germline cancer predisposition., Competing Interests: Alanna J. Church Honoraria: The Jackson Laboratory Consulting or Advisory Role: AlphaSights, The Jackson Laboratory, Bayer Travel, Accommodations, Expenses: Bayer Laura B. Corson Employment: Sema4 Stock and Other Ownership Interests: Alnylam, Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Agios Consulting or Advisory Role: Biomatics Patents, Royalties, Other Intellectual Property: Patent from work done at H3 Biomedicine before 2016 Brennan Decker Employment: Foundation Medicine Stock and Other Ownership Interests: Avidea Technologies, Roche Consulting or Advisory Role: Foundation Medicine, Avidea Technologies Catherine M. Clinton Employment: Helix OpCo LLC Mark A. Applebaum Consulting or Advisory Role: Fennec Pharma Rochelle Bagatell Uncompensated Relationships: Ymabs Therapeutics Inc Steven G. DuBois Consulting or Advisory Role: Bayer, Amgen Research Funding: Merck (Inst), Roche/Genentech (Inst), Lilly (Inst), Curis (Inst), Loxo (Inst), BMS (Inst), Eisai (Inst), Pfizer (Inst), Turning Point Therapeutics (Inst), Bayer (Inst), Salarius Pharmaceuticals (Inst) Travel, Accommodations, Expenses: Roche/Genentech, Salarius Pharmaceuticals Uncompensated Relationships: Ymabs Therapeutics Inc Julia L. Glade-Bender Research Funding: Eisai (Inst), Lilly (Inst), Loxo (Inst), Roche/Genentech (Inst), Bayer (Inst) Patents, Royalties, Other Intellectual Property: Patent on a T lympboblastic lymphoma cell line, CUTLL1 Travel, Accommodations, Expenses: Amgen (Inst) Uncompensated Relationships: SpringWorks Therapeutics, Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck, Eisai Open Payments Link: https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov/physician/708514 AeRang Kim Research Funding: Esai (Inst); AstraZeneca (Inst); Oncternal (Inst); Ascentage (Inst); BioAlta (Inst). Theodore W. Laetsch Consulting or Advisory Role: Novartis, Bayer, Cellectis, Aptitude Health, Clinical Education Alliance, Deciphera, Jumo Health, Massive Bio, Med Learning Group, Medscape, Physicans' Education Resource, Y-mAbs Therapeutics Research Funding: Pfizer (Inst), Novartis (Inst), Bayer (Inst), AbbVie (Inst), Amgen (Inst), Atara Biotherapeutics (Inst), Bristol Myers Squibb (Inst), Lilly (Inst), Epizyme (Inst), GlaxoSmithKline (Inst), Janssen (Inst), Jubilant Pharmaceuticals (Inst), Novella Clinical (Inst), Servier (Inst), Foundation Medicine (Inst), Merck Sharp & Dohme (Inst) Margaret E. Macy Stock and Other Ownership Interests: Johnson & Johnson, GE Healthcare, Varian Medical Systems Consulting or Advisory Role: Ymabs Therapeutics Inc Research Funding: Bayer (Inst), Ignyta (Inst), Roche (Inst), Lilly (Inst), Merck (Inst), Oncternal Therapeutics Inc (Inst), AbbVie (Inst), Jubilant DraxImage (Inst), Actuate Therapeutics (Inst) Patents, Royalties, Other Intellectual Property: Patent for non-invasive methods of leukemia cell detection with MRI/MRS—Patent No. 8894975 Luke Maese Honoraria: Jazz Pharmaceuticals Consulting or Advisory Role: Jazz Pharmaceuticals Amit J. Sabnis Consulting or Advisory Role: Cardinal Health Joshua D. Schiffman Employment: PEEL Therapeutics Leadership: PEEL Therapeutics Stock and Other Ownership Interests: ItRunsInMyFamily.com, PEEL Therapeutics Honoraria: Affymetrix Consulting or Advisory Role: N-of-One, Fabric Genomics Samuel L. Volchenboum Stock and Other Ownership Interests: Litmus Health Consulting or Advisory Role: Accordant Travel, Accommodations, Expenses: Sanford Health Daniel A. Weiser Consulting or Advisory Role: Illumina Radiopharmaceuticals Jonathan A. Nowak Research Funding: NanoString Technologies, Illumina Katherine A. Janeway Honoraria: Foundation Medicine, Takeda Consulting or Advisory Role: Bayer, Ipsen Travel, Accommodations, Expenses: Bayer Brian D. Crompton Employment: Acceleron Pharma (I) Stock and Other Ownership Interests: Acceleron Pharma (I) Research Funding: Gradalis Junne Kamihara Stock and Other Ownership Interests: PanTher Therapeutics (I), ROME Therapeutics (I), TellBio (I) Honoraria: Pfizer (I), NanoString Technologies (I), Foundation Medicine (I), Ikena Oncology (I) Consulting or Advisory Role: ROME Therapeutics (I), Third Rock Ventures (I), Tekla Capital Management (I) Research Funding: PureTech (I), Ribon Therapeutics (I), ACD Biotechne (I) Patents, Royalties, Other Intellectual Property: Patent on drug delivery device licensed to PanTher Therapeutics (I), Patents on Repeat RNA biomarkers and therapeutics licensed to Rome Therapeutics (I), Patents on Circulating Tumor Cell Biomarkers Licensed to TellBio Inc (I) No other potential conflicts of interest were reported. Alanna J. Church Honoraria: The Jackson Laboratory Consulting or Advisory Role: AlphaSights, The Jackson Laboratory, Bayer Travel, Accommodations, Expenses: Bayer Laura B. Corson Employment: Sema4 Stock and Other Ownership Interests: Alnylam, Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Agios Consulting or Advisory Role: Biomatics Patents, Royalties, Other Intellectual Property: Patent from work done at H3 Biomedicine before 2016 Brennan Decker Employment: Foundation Medicine Stock and Other Ownership Interests: Avidea Technologies, Roche Consulting or Advisory Role: Foundation Medicine, Avidea Technologies Catherine M. Clinton Employment: Helix OpCo LLC Mark A. Applebaum Consulting or Advisory Role: Fennec Pharma Rochelle Bagatell Uncompensated Relationships: Ymabs Therapeutics Inc Steven G. DuBois Consulting or Advisory Role: Bayer, Amgen Research Funding: Merck (Inst), Roche/Genentech (Inst), Lilly (Inst), Curis (Inst), Loxo (Inst), BMS (Inst), Eisai (Inst), Pfizer (Inst), Turning Point Therapeutics (Inst), Bayer (Inst), Salarius Pharmaceuticals (Inst) Travel, Accommodations, Expenses: Roche/Genentech, Salarius Pharmaceuticals Uncompensated Relationships: Ymabs Therapeutics Inc Julia L. Glade-Bender Research Funding: Eisai (Inst), Lilly (Inst), Loxo (Inst), Roche/Genentech (Inst), Bayer (Inst) Patents, Royalties, Other Intellectual Property: Patent on a T lympboblastic lymphoma cell line, CUTLL1 Travel, Accommodations, Expenses: Amgen (Inst) Uncompensated Relationships: SpringWorks Therapeutics, Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck, Eisai Open Payments Link: https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov/physician/708514 AeRang Kim Research Funding: Esai (Inst); AstraZeneca (Inst); Oncternal (Inst); Ascentage (Inst); BioAlta (Inst). Theodore W. Laetsch Consulting or Advisory Role: Novartis, Bayer, Cellectis, Aptitude Health, Clinical Education Alliance, Deciphera, Jumo Health, Massive Bio, Med Learning Group, Medscape, Physicans' Education Resource, Y-mAbs Therapeutics Research Funding: Pfizer (Inst), Novartis (Inst), Bayer (Inst), AbbVie (Inst), Amgen (Inst), Atara Biotherapeutics (Inst), Bristol Myers Squibb (Inst), Lilly (Inst), Epizyme (Inst), GlaxoSmithKline (Inst), Janssen (Inst), Jubilant Pharmaceuticals (Inst), Novella Clinical (Inst), Servier (Inst), Foundation Medicine (Inst), Merck Sharp & Dohme (Inst) Margaret E. Macy Stock and Other Ownership Interests: Johnson & Johnson, GE Healthcare, Varian Medical Systems Consulting or Advisory Role: Ymabs Therapeutics Inc Research Funding: Bayer (Inst), Ignyta (Inst), Roche (Inst), Lilly (Inst), Merck (Inst), Oncternal Therapeutics Inc (Inst), AbbVie (Inst), Jubilant DraxImage (Inst), Actuate Therapeutics (Inst) Patents, Royalties, Other Intellectual Property: Patent for non-invasive methods of leukemia cell detection with MRI/MRS—Patent No. 8894975 Luke Maese Honoraria: Jazz Pharmaceuticals Consulting or Advisory Role: Jazz Pharmaceuticals Amit J. Sabnis Consulting or Advisory Role: Cardinal Health Joshua D. Schiffman Employment: PEEL Therapeutics Leadership: PEEL Therapeutics Stock and Other Ownership Interests: ItRunsInMyFamily.com, PEEL Therapeutics Honoraria: Affymetrix Consulting or Advisory Role: N-of-One, Fabric Genomics Samuel L. Volchenboum Stock and Other Ownership Interests: Litmus Health Consulting or Advisory Role: Accordant Travel, Accommodations, Expenses: Sanford Health Daniel A. Weiser Consulting or Advisory Role: Illumina Radiopharmaceuticals Jonathan A. Nowak Research Funding: NanoString Technologies, Illumina Katherine A. Janeway Honoraria: Foundation Medicine, Takeda Consulting or Advisory Role: Bayer, Ipsen Travel, Accommodations, Expenses: Bayer Brian D. Crompton Employment: Acceleron Pharma (I) Stock and Other Ownership Interests: Acceleron Pharma (I) Research Funding: Gradalis Junne Kamihara Stock and Other Ownership Interests: PanTher Therapeutics (I), ROME Therapeutics (I), TellBio (I) Honoraria: Pfizer (I), NanoString Technologies (I), Foundation Medicine (I), Ikena Oncology (I) Consulting or Advisory Role: ROME Therapeutics (I), Third Rock Ventures (I), Tekla Capital Management (I) Research Funding: PureTech (I), Ribon Therapeutics (I), ACD Biotechne (I) Patents, Royalties, Other Intellectual Property: Patent on drug delivery device licensed to PanTher Therapeutics (I), Patents on Repeat RNA biomarkers and therapeutics licensed to Rome Therapeutics (I), Patents on Circulating Tumor Cell Biomarkers Licensed to TellBio Inc (I) No other potential conflicts of interest were reported., (© 2021 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.)

Therapy for high-risk neuroblastoma (HR NBL) is comprised of multimodal therapy including chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy, myeloablative therapy followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant, and immunotherapy. GD2 is a disialoganglioside that is highly expressed on the surface of neuroblastoma cells, with limited expression on normal tissues, which makes it an attractive target for immunologic therapy. The combination of immunotherapy with murine and chimeric anti-GD2 antibody formulations has improved outcomes compared with standard therapy in HR NBL patients. Naxitamab (Danyelza), a fully humanized anti-GD2 antibody, was developed at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) to mitigate adverse reactions related to intolerance of foreign murine and chimeric antigens. Phase I and II studies demonstrating the tolerability and efficacy of naxitamab in patients with relapsed/refractory (r/r) HR NBL prompted its approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2020 for HR NBL with bone or bone marrow involvement. Initial outcomes with naxitamab are encouraging; however, future trials to maximize drug tolerance and elucidate its optimal role in neuroblastoma therapy in conjunction with other treatment strategies are needed. This review discusses the use of naxitamab in combination with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) for the treatment of r/r HR NBL., (Copyright 2021 Clarivate Analytics.)

The use of targeted small-molecule therapeutics and immunotherapeutics has been limited to date in pediatric oncology. Recently, the number of pediatric approvals has risen, and regulatory initiatives in the United States and Europe have aimed to increase the study of novel anticancer therapies in children. Challenges of drug development in children include the rarity of individual cancer diagnoses and the high prevalence of difficult-to-drug targets, including transcription factors and epigenetic regulators. Ongoing pediatric adaptation of biomarker-driven trial designs and further exploration of agents targeting non-kinase drivers constitute high-priority objectives for future pediatric oncology drug development. SIGNIFICANCE: Increasing attention to drug development for children with cancer by regulators and pharmaceutical companies holds the promise of accelerating the availability of new therapies for children with cancer, potentially improving survival and decreasing the acute and chronic toxicities of therapy. However, unique approaches are necessary to study novel therapies in children that take into account low patient numbers, the pediatric cancer genomic landscape and tumor microenvironment, and the need for pediatric formulations. It is also critical to evaluate the potential for unique toxicities in growing hosts without affecting the pace of discovery for children with these life-threatening diseases., (©2020 American Association for Cancer Research.)

Ponatinib has proven to be effective in adults with Philadelphia chromosome-positive leukaemias, but data in paediatrics are scarce. Among paediatric patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (n = 9) or acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (n = 12) treated with varying doses of ponatinib in 13 centres, 71% showed a decrease in disease burden after a median of three months. Ponatinib was well tolerated, with grade 3 toxicities occurring in 29% of patients. Toxicities were similar to those reported in adults, with the exception of arterial thrombotic events, which were not observed. Ponatinib has a favourable safety profile in this paediatric cohort, but dose-finding studies are needed., (© 2020 British Society for Haematology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Pembrolizumab is approved for the treatment of advanced cancer in adults; however, no information is available on safety and efficacy in paediatric patients. We aimed to establish the recommended phase 2 dose of pembrolizumab and its safety and antitumour activity in advanced paediatric cancer., Methods: KEYNOTE-051 is an ongoing phase 1-2 open-label trial. In this interim analysis, children aged 6 months to 17 years were recruited at 30 hospitals located in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, South Korea, Sweden, the UK, and the USA. Patients with melanoma or a centrally confirmed, PD-L1-positive, relapsed or refractory solid tumour or lymphoma, and a Lansky Play/Karnofsky Performance status score of 50 or higher, received intravenous pembrolizumab at an initial dose of 2 mg/kg every 3 weeks. Pharmacokinetics and dose-limiting toxicities were used to establish the recommended phase 2 dose, and the safety and antitumour activity of this dose were assessed. Primary endpoints were determination of dose-limiting toxicities at the maximum administered dose, safety and tolerability, and the proportion of patients with objective response to pembrolizumab for each tumour type according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours version 1.1 or the International Neuroblastoma Response Criteria. Safety and efficacy were assessed in all treated patients who received at least one dose of pembrolizumab. Separate reporting of the cohort of patients with relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma was a post-hoc decision. The data cutoff for this interim analysis was Sept 3, 2018. This trial is still enrolling patients and is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02332668., Findings: Of 863 patients screened between March 23, 2015, and Sept 3, 2018, 796 had tumours that were evaluable for PD-L1 expression (278 [35%] were PD-L1-positive); 155 eligible patients were enrolled and 154 had at least one dose of pembrolizumab. The median age of the enrolled patients was 13 years (IQR 8-15). Median follow-up was 8·6 months (IQR 2·5-16·4). No dose-limiting toxicities were reported in phase 1, and pembrolizumab plasma concentrations were consistent with those previously reported in adults; the recommended phase 2 dose was therefore established as 2 mg/kg every 3 weeks. Of the 154 patients treated, 69 (45%) experienced grade 3-5 adverse events, most commonly anaemia in 14 (9%) patients and decreased lymphocyte count in nine (6%) patients. 13 (8%) of the 154 patients had grade 3-5 treatment-related adverse events, most commonly decreased lymphocyte count in three (2%) patients and anaemia in two (1%) patients. 14 (9%) patients had serious treatment-related adverse events, most commonly pyrexia (four [3%]), and hypertension and pleural effusion (two [1%] each). Four patients (3%) discontinued treatment because of treatment-related adverse events, and two (1%) died (one due to pulmonary oedema and one due to pleural effusion and pneumonitis). Of 15 patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma, two had complete and seven had partial responses; thus, nine patients achieved an objective response (60·0%; 95% CI 32·3-83·7). Of 136 patients with solid tumours and other lymphomas, eight had partial responses (two patients each with adrenocortical carcinoma and mesothelioma, and one patient each with malignant ganglioglioma, epithelioid sarcoma, lymphoepithelial carcinoma, and malignant rhabdoid tumour); the proportion of patients with an objective response was 5·9% (95% CI 2·6-11·3)., Interpretation: Pembrolizumab was well tolerated and showed encouraging antitumour activity in paediatric patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma, consistent with experience in adult patients. Pembrolizumab had low antitumour activity in the majority of paediatric tumour types, and responses were observed in only a few rare PD-L1-positive tumour types, suggesting that PD-L1 expression alone is not sufficient as a biomarker for the selection of paediatric patients who are likely to respond to PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors. Final results of KEYNOTE-051, expected by September, 2022, with the possibility for extension, will report further on the activity of pembrolizumab in Hodgkin lymphoma, microsatellite instability-high tumours, and melanoma., Funding: Merck Sharp & Dohme, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Radiation-induced injury is a well-described toxicity in children receiving radiation therapy for tumors of the central nervous system. Standard therapy has historically consisted primarily of high-dose corticosteroids, which carry significant side effects. Preclinical models suggest that radiation necrosis may be mediated in part through vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) overexpression, providing the rationale for use of VEGF inhibitors in the treatment of CNS radiation necrosis. We present the first prospective experience examining the safety, feasibility, neurologic outcomes, and imaging characteristics of bevacizumab therapy for CNS radiation necrosis in children., Methods: Seven patients between 1 and 25 years of age with neurologic deterioration and MRI findings consistent with radiation injury or necrosis were enrolled on an IRB-approved pilot feasibility study. Patients received bevacizumab at a dose of 10 mg/kg intravenously every 2 weeks for up to 6 total doses., Results: Five patients (83%) were able to wean off corticosteroid therapy during the study period and 4 patients (57%) demonstrated improvement in serial neurologic exams. All patients demonstrated a decrease in T1-weighted post-gadolinium enhancement on MRI, while 5 (71%) showed a decrease in FLAIR signal. Four patients developed a progressive disease of their underlying tumor during bevacizumab therapy., Conclusions: Our experience lends support to the safety and feasibility of bevacizumab administration for the treatment of radiation necrosis for appropriately selected patients within the pediatric population.

The incidence of central nervous system (CNS) involvement in patients with rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is low, and the outcome is dismal. We present a single institution analysis of CNS involvement of pediatric RMS. In 59 patients, the prevalence of CNS involvement was 11.9% (7 patients), higher than prior reports. Of the 6 deaths from disease, all had rapid progression, with a median survival of 14 days. The higher incidence could be secondary to treatment modifications or more sensitive detection. These findings are useful for decisions at the time of CNS involvement and could lead to modifications for future RMS clinical trials.

Purpose: In phase I testing, alisertib tablets with irinotecan and temozolomide showed significant antitumor activity in patients with neuroblastoma. This study sought to confirm activity of this regimen; evaluate an alisertib oral solution; and evaluate biomarkers of clinical outcomes., Patients and Methods: We conducted a two-stage phase II trial of alisertib tablets (60 mg/m 2 /dose × 7 days), irinotecan (50 mg/m 2 /dose i.v. × 5 days), and temozolomide (100 mg/m 2 /dose orally × 5 days) in patients with relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma. The primary endpoint was best objective response. A separate cohort was treated with alisertib at 45 mg/m 2 using oral solution instead of tablets. Exploratory analyses sought to identify predictors of toxicity, response, and progression-free survival (PFS) using pooled data from phase I, phase II, and oral solution cohorts., Results: Twenty and 12 eligible patients were treated in the phase II and oral solution cohorts, respectively. Hematologic toxicities were the most common adverse events. In phase II, partial responses were observed in 19 evaluable patients (21%). The estimated PFS at 1 year was 34%. In the oral solution cohort, 3 patients (25%) had first cycle dose-limiting toxicity (DLT). Alisertib oral solution at 45 mg/m 2 had significantly higher median C max and exposure compared with tablets at 60 mg/m 2 . Higher alisertib trough concentration was associated with first cycle DLT, whereas MYCN amplification was associated with inferior PFS., Conclusions: This combination shows antitumor activity, particularly in patients with MYCN nonamplified tumors. Data on an alisertib oral solution expand the population able to be treated with this agent., (©2018 American Association for Cancer Research.)

Background: This phase 1/2 study (NCT01751308) evaluated cabazitaxel in pediatric patients. Phase 1 determined the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) in patients with recurrent/refractory solid tumors, including central nervous system (CNS) tumors. Phase 2 evaluated activity in pediatric recurrent high-grade glioma (HGG) or diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG)., Procedure: In phase 1, a 3 + 3 dose-escalation study design was followed. Cabazitaxel was administered at a starting dose of 20 mg/m 2 . Dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) during cycle 1 were assessed to determine the MTD. Tumor response and cabazitaxel pharmacokinetics were also assessed. In phase 2, patients received cabazitaxel at the MTD determined in phase 1. Tumor responses were assessed every 9 weeks (modified Response Assessment in Neuro-oncology criteria). Progression-free survival and cabazitaxel pharmacokinetics were evaluated, and overall survival was estimated., Results: In phase 1, 23 patients were treated, including 19 with CNS tumors. One patient had a partial response; five had stable disease for >3 cycles. Common adverse events included fatigue, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, febrile neutropenia, and hypersensitivity reactions. Two of three DLTs (febrile neutropenia) occurred with a dose of 35 mg/m 2 ; the MTD was 30 mg/m 2 . Slightly higher cabazitaxel clearance was observed compared with adult trials. In phase 2, 16 patients (eight HGG and eight DIPG) were enrolled; 11 were evaluable for response and five withdrew (three due to anaphylaxis). All 11 patients progressed within four cycles. No responses were observed; the study was stopped due to futility., Conclusions: The safety profile of cabazitaxel was consistent with previous studies. The MTD (30 mg/m 2 ) was higher than the adult MTD. Cabazitaxel did not demonstrate activity in recurrent/refractory HGG or DIPG., (© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Vorinostat combined with retinoids produces additive antitumor effects in preclinical studies of neuroblastoma. Higher systemic exposures of vorinostat than achieved in pediatric phase I trials with continuous daily dosing are necessary for in vivo increased histone acetylation and cytotoxic activity. We conducted a phase I trial in children with relapsed/refractory neuroblastoma to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of vorinostat on an interrupted schedule, escalating beyond the previously identified pediatric MTD., Methods: Isotretinoin (cis-13-retinoic acid) 80 mg/m 2 /dose was administered by mouth twice daily on days 1-14 in combination with escalating doses of daily vorinostat up to 430 mg/m 2 /dose (days 1-4; 8-11) in each 28-day cycle using the standard 3 + 3 design. Vorinostat pharmacokinetic testing and histone acetylation assays were performed., Results: Twenty-nine patients with refractory or relapsed neuroblastoma were enrolled and 28 were evaluable for dose escalation decisions. Median number of cycles completed was two (range 1-15); 11 patients received four or more cycles. Three patients experienced cycle 1 dose-limiting toxicities. A total of 18 patients experienced grade 3/4 toxicities related to study therapy. The maximum intended dose of vorinostat (430 mg/m 2 /day, days 1-4; 8-11) was tolerable and led to increased histone acetylation in surrogate tissues when compared to lower doses of vorinostat (P = 0.009). No objective responses were seen., Conclusions: Increased dose vorinostat (430 mg/m 2 /day) on an interrupted schedule is tolerable in combination with isotretinoin. This dose led to increased vorinostat exposures and demonstrated increased histone acetylation. Prolonged stable disease in patients with minimal residual disease warrants further investigation., (© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPGs) and high-grade astrocytomas (HGA) continue to have dismal prognoses. The combination of cetuximab and irinotecan was demonstrated to be safe and tolerable in a previous pediatric phase 1 combination study. We developed this phase 2 trial to investigate the safety and efficacy of cetuximab given with radiation therapy followed by adjuvant cetuximab and irinotecan., Methods: Eligible patients of age 3-21 years had newly diagnosed DIPG or HGA. Patients received radiation therapy (5,940 cGy) with concurrent cetuximab. Following radiation, patients received cetuximab weekly and irinotecan daily for 5 days per week for 2 weeks every 21 days for 30 weeks. Correlative studies were performed. The regimen was considered to be promising if the number of patients with 1-year progression-free survival (PFS) for DIPG and HGA was at least six of 25 and 14 of 26, respectively., Results: Forty-five evaluable patients were enrolled (25 DIPG and 20 HGA). Six patients with DIPG and five with HGA were progression free at 1 year from the start of therapy with 1-year PFS of 29.6% and 18%, respectively. Fatigue, gastrointestinal complaints, electrolyte abnormalities, and rash were the most common adverse events and generally of grade 1 and 2. Increased epidermal growth factor receptor copy number but no K-ras mutations were identified in available samples., Conclusions: The trial did not meet the predetermined endpoint to deem this regimen successful for HGA. While the trial met the predetermined endpoint for DIPG, overall survival was not markedly improved from historical controls, therefore does not merit further study in this population., (© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Decitabine is a deoxycytidine nucleoside derivative inhibitor of DNA-methyltransferases, which has been studied extensively and is approved for myelodysplastic syndrome in adults but with less focus in children. Accordingly, we conducted a phase 1 multicenter, randomized, open-label study to evaluate decitabine pre-treatment before standard induction therapy in children with newly diagnosed AML to assess safety and tolerability and explore a number of biologic endpoints., Results: Twenty-four patients were fully assessable for all study objectives per protocol (10 in Arm A = epigenetic priming induction, 14 in Arm B = standard induction). All patients experienced neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. The most common grade 3 and 4 non-hematologic adverse events observed were gastrointestinal toxicities and hypophosphatemia. Plasma decitabine PK were similar to previously reported adult data. Overall CR/CRi was similar for the two arms. MRD negativity at end-induction was 85% in Arm A versus 67% in Arm B patients. DNA methylation measured in peripheral blood over the course of treatment tracked with blast clearance and matched marrow aspirates at day 0 and day 21. Unlike end-induction marrow analyses, promoter methylation in blood identified an apparent reversal of response in the lone treatment failure, 1 week prior to the patient's marrow aspirate confirming non-response. Decitabine-induced effects on end-induction (day 35-43 following initiation of treatment) marrows in Arm A were reflected by changes in DNA methylation in matched paired marrow diagnostic aspirates., Conclusions: This first-in-pediatrics trial demonstrates that decitabine prior to standard combination chemotherapy is feasible and well tolerated in children with newly diagnosed AML. Pre-treatment with decitabine may represent a newer therapeutic option for pediatric AML, especially as it appears to induce important epigenetic alterations. The novel biological correlates studied in this trial offer a clinically relevant window into disease progression and remission. Additional studies are needed to definitively assess whether decitabine can enhance durability responses in children with AML., Trial Registration: NCT01177540.

Background: Plerixafor, a reversible CXCR4 antagonist, inhibits interactions between leukemic blasts and the bone marrow stromal microenvironment and may enhance chemosensitivity. A phase 1 trial of plerixafor in combination with intensive chemotherapy in children and young adults with relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) was performed to determine a tolerable and biologically active dose., Procedure: Plerixafor was administered daily for 5 days at four dose levels (6, 9, 12, and 15 mg/m 2 /dose) followed 4 hr later by high-dose cytarabine (every 12 hr) and etoposide (daily)., Results: Nineteen patients (13 with AML, 5 with ALL, 1 with MDS) were treated. The most common grade 3 or greater nonhematologic toxicities attributable to plerixafor were febrile neutropenia and hypokalemia. There were no dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs). Plerixafor exposure increased with increasing dose levels and clearance was similar on days 1 and 5. Eighteen patients were evaluable for response. Two patients achieved complete remission (CR) and one patient achieved CR with incomplete hematologic recovery (CRi): all three had AML. No responses were seen in patients with ALL or MDS. Plerixafor mobilized leukemic blasts into the peripheral blood in 14 of 16 evaluable patients (median 3.4-fold increase), and the degree of mobilization correlated with surface CXCR4 expression., Conclusions: Plerixafor, in combination with high-dose cytarabine and etoposide, was well tolerated in children and young adults with relapsed/refractory acute leukemias and MDS. While biologic responses were observed, clinical responses in this heavily pretreated cohort were modest., (© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Aim: Dalotuzumab is a highly specific, humanised immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody against insulin-like growth factor receptor 1. This multicenter phase 1 study (NCT01431547) explored the safety and pharmacokinetics of dalotuzumab monotherapy (part 1) and the combination of dalotuzumab with the mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor ridaforolimus (part 2) in paediatric patients with advanced solid tumours., Methods: Dalotuzumab was administered intravenously every 3 weeks starting at 900 mg/m(2) and escalating to 1200 and 1500 mg/m(2). Combination therapy included intravenous dalotuzumab at the defined single-agent recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) and oral ridaforolimus 28 mg/m(2) daily (days 1-5), repeated weekly. Pharmacokinetic studies were performed to evaluate the mean serum trough dalotuzumab concentration, which guided the RP2D., Results: Twenty-four patients were enrolled (part 1, n = 20; part 2, n = 4). No dose-limiting toxicities were observed in patients receiving dalotuzumab alone. One patient experienced dose-limiting stomatitis in the combination arm. Pharmacokinetic data showed dose-dependent increases in exposure (area under the curve from zero to infinity [AUC0-∞]) (87,900, 164,000, and 186,000 h*mg/ml for the 900, 1200, and 1500 mg/m(2) dose levels, respectively), maximum serum concentration (Cmax) (392, 643, and 870 mg/ml), and serum trough concentration (Ctrough) (67.1, 71.6, and 101 mg/ml). The mean half-life was 265, 394, and 310 h, respectively. Dalotuzumab pharmacokinetics were not affected by coadministration with ridaforolimus. One of six patients with Ewing sarcoma had confirmed partial response to dalotuzumab monotherapy at 900 mg/m(2). Time to response was 41 d, and progression occurred at 126 d., Conclusion: Dalotuzumab was well tolerated in paediatric patients with advanced solid malignancies. The RP2D of dalotuzumab is 900 mg/m(2) (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01431547, Protocol PN062)., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Non-rhabdomyosarcoma soft tissue sarcomas (NRSTS) are a heterogeneous group of sarcomas that encompass over 35 histologies. With an incidence of ∼500 cases per year in the United States in those <20 years of age, NRSTS are rare and therefore difficult to study in pediatric populations. We used the large Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database to validate the prognostic ability of the Children's Oncology Group (COG) risk classification system and to define patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics., Methods and Materials: From SEER data from 1988 to 2007, we identified patients ≤18 years of age with NRSTS. Data for age, sex, year of diagnosis, race, registry, histology, grade, primary size, primary site, stage, radiation therapy, and survival outcomes were analyzed. Patients with nonmetastatic grossly resected low-grade tumors of any size or high-grade tumors ≤5 cm were considered low risk. Cases of nonmetastatic tumors that were high grade, >5 cm, or unresectable were considered intermediate risk. Patients with nodal or distant metastases were considered high risk., Results: A total of 941 patients met the review criteria. On univariate analysis, black race, malignant peripheral nerve sheath (MPNST) histology, tumors >5 cm, nonextremity primary, lymph node involvement, radiation therapy, and higher risk group were associated with significantly worse overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). On multivariate analysis, MPNST histology, chemotherapy-resistant histology, and higher risk group were significantly poor prognostic factors for OS and CSS. Compared to low-risk patients, intermediate patients showed poorer OS (hazard ratio [HR]: 6.08, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.53-10.47, P<.001) and CSS (HR: 6.27; 95% CI: 3.44-11.43, P<.001), and high-risk patients had the worst OS (HR: 13.35, 95% CI: 8.18-21.76, P<.001) and CSS (HR: 14.65, 95% CI: 8.49-25.28, P<.001)., Conclusions: The current COG risk group stratification for children with NRSTS has been validated with a large number of children in the SEER database., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: EZN-2208 is a water-soluble PEGylated conjugate of the topoisomerase inhibitor SN38, the active metabolite of irinotecan. Compared to irinotecan, EZN-2208 has a prolonged half-life permitting extended exposure to SN38. EZN-2208 has demonstrated clinical tolerability and antitumor activity in adults with advanced solid tumors. This Phase 1 study evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary antitumor activity of EZN-2208 in children with relapsed or refractory solid tumors., Procedure: EZN-2208 was administered as a 1-hour intravenous infusion once every 21 days at five dose levels (12-30 mg/m(2) ). Filgrastim or pegfilgrastim was administered 24-48 hours after treatment with EZN-2208. The rolling-six design was used for dose determination., Results: Thirty eligible patients (15 females; median [range] age 11.5 years [2-21 years]) were treated with EZN-2208. Dose-limiting diarrhea occurred in one patient receiving 16 mg/m(2) and dose-limiting dehydration was seen in one patient receiving 24 mg/m(2) . At dose levels above 16 mg/m(2) , Grade ≥3 myelosuppression was demonstrated in the majority of patients. Additional adverse events included nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. The maximum tolerated dose was identified as 24 mg/m(2) due to dose-limiting thrombocytopenia in two patients receiving 30 mg/m(2) . Two of nine patients with neuroblastoma who were evaluable for response had partial responses. Five patients (four with neuroblastoma) remained on study for ≥8 cycles., Conclusions: EZN-2208 was generally well-tolerated and was associated with clinical benefit in patients with neuroblastoma., (© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Purpose: The aim of this work is to determine if a relationship exists between thyroid dose and incidence of primary hypothyroidism (PH) in children undergoing craniospinal irradiation (CSI)., Methods: A total of 22 patients received CSI with evaluable thyroid dose information. All patients received concurrent chemotherapy and 21 patients (95%) received adjuvant chemotherapy. Median follow-up was 42.9 months., Results: The incidence of PH in our cohort was 59% at a median time after radiotherapy of 3.5 years (range: 8 months to 7.5 years). Mean thyroid dose appeared to best predict for PH, with a median of 2080 cGy for patients with PH versus 1736 cGy for children without PH (p=0.057). There was no association between the rate of PH and sex, age, CSI dose, minimum thyroid dose and maximum thyroid dose., Conclusions: A relationship may exist between the mean thyroid dose and incidence of PH in patients undergoing CSI. Thus, new strategies to protect the thyroid gland may be warranted.

Purpose: Ridaforolimus (MK-8669, AP23573) is a potent and selective mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor. Preclinically, ridaforolimus displays antiproliferative activity against a variety of human tumors in vitro and tumor xenograft models in vivo, with additive or synergistic activity when combined with other anticancer agents. Antitumor activity has been confirmed in adults. This phase I study determined the safety, pharmacological, biologic, and toxicity profiles of ridaforolimus in pediatric patients with refractory malignancies., Experimental Design: Eligible children ages 1 to 18 years with advanced solid tumors were enrolled in a 3 + 3 dose escalation design, to determine the safety, tolerability, and maximum tolerated dose (MTD)/dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) of ridaforolimus. Toxicities, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics were characterized., Results: Fifteen patients were treated. No DLT was observed at any dose level tested; therefore, an MTD was not identified. Most adverse events were mild to moderate; the most common grades 3 and 4 adverse events were hematologic, including thrombocytopenia and anemia. Nonhematologic adverse events were mostly electrolyte disturbances. The observed pharmacokinetic profile of ridaforolimus in children was consistent with that previously showed in adults. Pharmacodynamic confirms that the dose range tested has pharmacological/pharmacodynamic activity. Forty percent of patients achieved stable disease including four of six with central nervous system tumors and two of eight with sarcomas., Conclusions: This first-in-pediatrics study shows that the second-generation mTOR inhibitor ridaforolimus is well tolerated in heavily pretreated children with refractory solid tumors. No DLTs were observed over the dose range tested. Ridaforolimus may represent a therapeutic option for use in pediatric malignancies., (©2013 AACR.)

Background: Arsenic trioxide (ATO) has demonstrated preclinical evidence of activity in the treatment of infiltrating astrocytomas., Methods: We conducted a phase I trial of ATO given concomitantly with radiation therapy in children with newly diagnosed anaplastic astrocytoma, glioblastoma, or diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma. Eligible patients received a fixed daily dose of 0.15 mg/kg of ATO once a week, with each subsequent cohort of patients receiving an additional dose per week up to a planned frequency of ATO administration 5 days per week as tolerated. Twenty-four children were enrolled and 21 children were evaluable., Results: ATO was well tolerated throughout the entire dose escalation, resulting in confirmation of safety when administered 5 days per week during irradiation., Conclusions: The recommended dose of ATO during conventional irradiation is 0.15 mg/kg given on a daily basis with each fraction of radiation therapy administered.

Background: Platinum agents have been used for a variety of cancers, including pivotal use in pediatric tumors for many years. Oxaliplatin, a third generation platinum, has a different side effect profile and may provide improved activity in pediatric cancers., Procedure: Patients 21 years or younger with progressive or refractory malignant solid tumors, including tumors of the central nervous system were enrolled on this multi-center open label, non-randomized Phase 1 dose escalation study. The study used a standard 3 + 3 dose escalation design with 2 dose levels (85 and 100 mg/m(2) ) with an expansion cohort of 15 additional patients at the recommended dose. Patients received oxaliplatin at the assigned dose level and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) bolus 400 mg/m(2) followed by a 46-hour 5-FU infusion of 2,400 mg/m(2) every 14 days. The leucovorin dose was fixed at 400 mg/m(2) for all cohorts., Results: Thirty-one evaluable patients were enrolled, 8 at 85 mg/m(2) and 23 at 100 mg/m(2) for a total of 121 courses. The median age was 12 years (range 2-19 years). The main toxicities were hematologic, primarily neutrophils and platelets. The most common non-hematologic toxicities were gastrointestinal. Stable disease was noted in 11 patients (54% of evaluable patients) and 1 confirmed partial response in a patient with osteosarcoma., Conclusions: The maximum planned dose of oxaliplatin at 100 mg/m(2) per dose in combination with 5-FU and leucovorin was safe and well tolerated and in this patient population. This combination demonstrated modest activity in patients with refractory or relapsed solid tumor and warrants further study. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2013;60:230-236. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., (Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Congenital glioblastoma (cGBM) is an uncommon tumor of infancy with a reported variable but often poor cure rate, even with intensive therapy. Five patients with cGBMs, arising de novo and not in familial tumor predisposition kindreds, were studied for histological and biological features, using Affymetrix microarray. Tumors were large, often associated with hemorrhage, extended into the thalamus, and often bulged into the ventricles. One patient died acutely from bleeding at the time of operation. The 4 surviving patients underwent surgery (1 gross total resection, 3 subtotal resections or biopsies) and moderate intensity chemotherapy without radiation, and remain progression-free at a median time of 36 months (range, 30-110 months). Affymetrix microarrays measured gene expression on the 3 cGBMs from which frozen tissue was available. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering of cGBMs versus 168 other central nervous system tumors demonstrated that cGBMs clustered most closely with other high-grade gliomas. Gene expression profiles of cGBMs were compared with non-congenital pediatric and adult GBMs. cGBMs demonstrated marked similarity to both pediatric and adult GBMs, with only 31 differentially expressed genes identified (false discovery rate, <0.05). Unique molecular features of cGBMs included over-expression of multiple genes involved in glucose metabolism and tissue hypoxia. cGBMs show histological and biological overlap with pediatric and adult GBMs but appear to have a more favorable outcome, with good response to moderate intensity chemotherapy with only subtotal resection or biopsy. Further study may determine whether identified gene expression differences contribute to the improved survival seen in these tumors.

Undifferentiated (embryonal) sarcoma of the liver is a rare malignant tumor, most commonly seen in children aged 6 to 10 years. Previously believed to carry a poor prognosis, more recent reports indicate that treatment regimens combining surgical resection and adjuvant chemotherapy can yield long-term, disease-free survival. In this study, we review 5 pediatric patients with undifferentiated sarcoma of the liver treated with a uniform approach of resection followed by adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation when indicated. All 5 patients are disease free in their first remission at a median of 53 months.

Vandetanib is an orally active small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) with activity against several pathways implicated in malignancy including the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor pathway, the epidermal growth factor receptor pathway, the platelet derived growth factor receptor β pathway, and REarranged during Transfection pathway. To determine if vandetanib-mediated inhibition of receptor tyrosine kinases is a potential therapeutic strategy for pediatric acute leukemia, these studies aimed to characterize the activity of vandetanib against acute leukemia in vitro. Treatment of leukemia cell lines with vandetanib resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in proliferation and survival. Vandetanib's anti-leukemic activity appeared mediated by multiple mechanisms including accumulation in G1 phase at lower concentrations and apoptosis at higher concentrations. Alterations in cell surface markers also occurred with vandetanib treatment, suggesting induction of differentiation. In combination with DNA damaging agents (etoposide and doxorubicin) vandetanib demonstrated synergistic induction of cell death. However in combination with the anti-metabolite methotrexate, vandetanib had an antagonistic effect on cell death. Although several targets of vandetanib are expressed on acute leukemia cell lines, expression of vandetanib targets did not predict vandetanib sensitivity and alone are therefore not likely candidate biomarkers in patients with acute leukemia. Interactions between vandetanib and standard chemotherapy agents in vitro may help guide choice of combination regimens for further evaluation in the clinical setting for patients with relapsed/refractory acute leukemia. Taken together, these preclinical data support clinical evaluation of vandetanib, in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy, for pediatric leukemia.

Purpose: Diffuse pontine gliomas are a pediatric brain tumor that is fatal in nearly all patients. Given the poor prognosis for patients with this tumor, their quality of life is very important. Radiation therapy provides some palliation, but can result in radiation necrosis and associated neurologic decline. The typical treatment for this necrosis is steroid therapy. Although the steroids are effective, they have numerous side effects that can often significantly compromise quality of life. Bevacizumab, an antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor, has been suggested as a treatment for radiation necrosis. We report on our initial experience with bevacizumab therapy for radiation necrosis in pediatric pontine gliomas., Materials and Methods: Four children with pontine gliomas treated at the Children's Hospital in Denver and the University of Colorado Denver developed evidence of radiation necrosis both clinically and on imaging. Those 4 children then received bevacizumab as a treatment for the radiation necrosis. We reviewed the clinical outcome and imaging findings., Results: After bevacizumab therapy, 3 children had significant clinical improvement and were able to discontinue steroid use. One child continued to decline, and, in retrospect, had disease progression, not radiation necrosis. In all cases, bevacizumab was well tolerated., Conclusions: In children with pontine gliomas, bevacizumab may provide both therapeutic benefit and diagnostic information. More formal evaluation of bevacizumab in these children is needed.

The current high cure rates for children diagnosed with cancer can be attributed in part to emphasis on large cooperative group clinical trials. The significant improvement in pediatric cancer survival over the past few decades is the result of optimized chemotherapy drug dosing, timing, and intensity; however, further alterations in traditional chemotherapy agents are unlikely to produce substantially better outcomes. Furthermore, there remains a subset of patients who have a very poor prognosis due to tumor type or stage at presentation, or who have a dismal prognosis with relapse or recurrence. As such, innovative approaches to therapy and new drugs are clearly needed for introduction into the current pediatric oncology arsenal. A variety of biologically targeted therapies that have shown promise in preclinical studies and early-phase adult clinical trials are now being explored in pediatric clinical trials. These novel agents hold the promise for continuing to drive forward improvements in patient survival, with potentially less toxicity than exists with traditional chemotherapy drugs.

Purpose: To define the clinical characteristics and determine the gene localization for a previously undescribed form of congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles (CFEOM), referred to as CFEOM type 3 (CFEOM3)., Methods: A large family with CFEOM was identified, and participating individuals underwent ophthalmologic examination and donated blood for genetic analysis. The family's disorder was tested for linkage to the known CFEOM loci, followed by a genome-wide search and linkage refinement using polymorphic DNA markers., Results: Thirty-eight members of this Canadian family participated in the study. Affected individuals are born with a nonprogressive eye movement disorder characterized by variable expression of ptosis and restrictive external ophthalmoplegia. Severely affected individuals have ptosis, primary gaze fixed in a hypo- and exotropic position, and marked restriction of eye movement bilaterally. Mildly affected individuals have normally positioned globes with a limitation of vertical gaze. Moderately affected individuals have asymmetrical involvement with one eye severely and one eye mildly affected. The disorder is autosomal dominant with variable expression and probable incomplete penetrance. Genetic analysis reveals linkage to markers on 16q24.2q24.3. A maximum lod score of 5.8 occurs at markers D16S3063 and D16S689, and the CFEOM3 disease gene is located within a 5.6-cM region flanked by D16S486 and D16S671., Conclusions: These data establish that CFEOM3 is a phenotypically variant and genotypically distinct form of CFEOM with linkage to chromosome 16qter. The authors have previously demonstrated that CFEOM1 results from a developmental absence of the superior division of the oculomotor nerve. The authors hypothesize that CFEOM3 results from a defect analogous to, but distinct from CFEOM1.

Hereditary isolated congenital ptosis is an autosomal dominant disorder with incomplete penetrance characterized by a variable degree of unilateral or bilateral drooping of the upper eyelids. We report linkage of this disorder in a large family to markers on chromosome 1p. In our sample of 37 meioses, nine informative markers did not recombine with the disease. D1S2677 gave a maximum two-point LOD score of 8.8 on the assumption of 90% penetrance (theta = 0). D1S447/2733 and D1S1616 flank the disease locus, with two-point LOD scores of 5.6/6.6 (theta = .04) and 4.9 (theta = .05), respectively, defining a region of 2.8 cM. FISH of YACs containing flanking recombinant markers localizes the gene to chromosome 1p32-p34.1. These data establish a map location for an isolated congenital ptosis gene and demonstrate that this disorder is genetically distinct from other extraocular muscle-specific disorders such as congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles and blepharophimosis.