Cancers

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Semi B. Harrabi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Center (HIT), Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Interests: pediatric oncology; pediatric brain tumors; neuro-oncology; proton beam therapy; ion beam therapy; high-precision radiotherapy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Adilia Hormigo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Oncology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Einstein Cancer Center, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
Interests: neuro-oncology; primary brain tumors; cancer immunology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Pediatric brain tumors present a unique set of challenges in terms of diagnosis, treatment and long-term outcome. The broad range of different tumor types is complex and heterogenous with regard to genetic mutations and biological behavior, making it difficult to identify optimal treatment strategies that are both safe and effective across all subtypes. Advances in personalized medicine, such as targeted therapy, immunotherapy or high-precision ion beam therapy, have increased the therapeutic window in these patients. This Special Issue aims to highlight the recent advances in the interdisciplinary management of pediatric brain tumor patients to further improve the outcomes of pediatric brain tumor patients, whilst minimizing the risk for long-term side effects.

We welcome Reviews and Original Articles on any aspect related to this topic.

Dr. Semi B. Harrabi
Prof. Dr. Adilia Hormigo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cancers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

low-grade glioma
high-grade glioma
ependymoma
medulloblastoma
craniopharyngioma
germinoma
molecular pathways
radiotherapy
targeted therapy
immunotherapy
neuroradiology
neurosurgery
new treatment strategies
long-term outcome

Published Papers (2 papers)

Download All Papers

Research

Jump to: Review

21 pages, 1415 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Proton Therapy for Advanced Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma

by Line Hoeltgen, Thomas Tessonnier, Eva Meixner, Philipp Hoegen, Ji-Young Kim, Maximilian Deng, Katharina Seidensaal, Thomas Held, Klaus Herfarth, Juergen Debus and Semi Harrabi

Cancers 2023, 15(20), 5022; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15205022 - 17 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1443

Abstract

Purpose: To provide the first report on proton radiotherapy (PRT) in the management of advanced nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) and evaluate potential benefits compared to conformal photon therapy (XRT). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 10 consecutive patients undergoing PRT for advanced JNA in a definitive or postoperative setting with a relative biological effectiveness weighted dose of 45 Gy in 25 fractions between 2012 and 2022 at the Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Center. Furthermore, dosimetric comparisons and risk estimations for short- and long-term radiation-induced complications between PRT plans and helical XRT plans were conducted. Results: PRT was well tolerated, with only low-grade acute toxicities (CTCAE I–II) being reported. The local control rate was 100% after a median follow-up of 27.0 (interquartile range 13.3–58.0) months. PRT resulted in considerable tumor shrinkage, leading to complete remission in five patients and bearing the potential to provide partial or complete symptom relief. Favorable dosimetric outcomes in critical brain substructures by the use of PRT translated into reduced estimated risks for neurocognitive impairment and radiation-induced CNS malignancies compared to XRT. Conclusions: PRT is an effective treatment option for advanced JNA with minimal acute morbidity and the potential for reduced radiation-induced long-term complications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges and New Strategies in the Management of Pediatric Brain Tumors)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

14 pages, 2264 KiB

Open AccessReview

Diffuse Midline Gliomas: Challenges and New Strategies in a Changing Clinical Landscape

by Umberto Tosi and Mark Souweidane

Cancers 2024, 16(1), 219; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16010219 - 2 Jan 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1616

Abstract

Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) was first described by Harvey Cushing, the father of modern neurosurgery, a century ago. Since then, the classification of this tumor changed significantly, as it is now part of the broader family of diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs), a heterogeneous group of tumors of midline structures encompassing the entire rostro-caudal space, from the thalamus to the spinal cord. DMGs are characterized by various epigenetic events that lead to chromatin remodeling similarities, as two decades of studies made possible by increased tissue availability showed. This new understanding of tumor (epi)biology is now driving novel clinical trials that rely on targeted agents, with finally real hopes for a change in an otherwise unforgiving prognosis. This biological discovery is being paralleled with equally exciting work in therapeutic drug delivery. Invasive and noninvasive platforms have been central to early phase clinical trials with a promising safety track record and anecdotal benefits in outcome. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges and New Strategies in the Management of Pediatric Brain Tumors)

► Show Figures