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Low grade gliomas treated at the University of Cape Town Academic Hospital complex: 2001-2017

Background: The majority of central nervous system tumours in children are low grade gliomas (LGG). Long-term survival rates are high with a slow, progressive course. Tumour location and extent of resection affect outcome. Adjuvant therapy has an important role. Rationale: This study evaluated the...

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Main Author: Kahl, Gisela
Other Authors: Davidson, Alan
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Department of Paediatrics and Child Health 2021
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access_status_str Open Access
author Kahl, Gisela
author2 Davidson, Alan
author_browse Davidson, Alan
Kahl, Gisela
author_facet Davidson, Alan
Kahl, Gisela
author_sort Kahl, Gisela
collection Thesis
description Background: The majority of central nervous system tumours in children are low grade gliomas (LGG). Long-term survival rates are high with a slow, progressive course. Tumour location and extent of resection affect outcome. Adjuvant therapy has an important role. Rationale: This study evaluated the demographic data of our patient population, the characteristics of LGGs in our setting, the time to presentation, and the role of adjuvant therapy including more targeted, novel biologic therapy such as BRAF/MEK inhibitors. The outcome of children with LGGs in our institution was assessed. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on all children < 15 years of age diagnosed with a LGG at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital (RCWMCH) between 2001 and 2017. Data were collected from patient hospital folders, as well as paediatric oncology records and Groote Schuur Hospital radiotherapy records. Results: Eighty-six children aged 0.10-13.76 years (median 4.74 years) were diagnosed with LGGs between 2001 and 2017 at RCWMCH. Median time to presentation was 60 days. Sixtyfive patients (76%) were classified as having a WHO Grade I and 21 patients WHO Grade II (24%) tumours. Five patients (6%) had metastatic disease at presentation. The most common sites involved were the cerebellum (27%), hypothalamus (17%) and cerebrum (14%). The most common histology was juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma (JPA) (n=62; 73%). Gross total resection (GTR) was achieved in 21 patients (24%). Twenty-four patients (27%) received chemotherapy of which 11 patients progressed. Twenty-two patients received radiotherapy (26%), of which 3 patients progressed. The estimated 5-year overall survival (OS) was 86.8% and the estimated 5-year progression free survival (PFS) was 42.8%. The presence of a BRAFV600E mutation was checked in 4 patients since 2013, all had JPA histology, and all were negative. Discussion: Our patient demographic differed from published data with respect to younger age at presentation and female predominance. Time to presentation was relatively short. The majority of LGGs were cerebellar, with JPA histology being the most common. GTR was achieved in almost a quarter of patients. WHO Grade II histology did not significantly impact PFS and OS. Children < 3 years had a lower PFS compared to children > 3 years, but OS was similar. OS in this study was comparable to published data in developed countries, however PFS was slightly lower. Conclusion: Our outcomes are similar to those achieved in developed countries. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are valuable adjuncts to treatment. The presence of a BRAF alterations should be tested in recurrent/progressive disease, to guide use of novel treatments.
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language eng
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license_str Not specified — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
publishDate 2021
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spelling oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/33823 Low grade gliomas treated at the University of Cape Town Academic Hospital complex: 2001-2017 Kahl, Gisela Davidson, Alan Paediatric Oncology Background: The majority of central nervous system tumours in children are low grade gliomas (LGG). Long-term survival rates are high with a slow, progressive course. Tumour location and extent of resection affect outcome. Adjuvant therapy has an important role. Rationale: This study evaluated the demographic data of our patient population, the characteristics of LGGs in our setting, the time to presentation, and the role of adjuvant therapy including more targeted, novel biologic therapy such as BRAF/MEK inhibitors. The outcome of children with LGGs in our institution was assessed. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on all children < 15 years of age diagnosed with a LGG at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital (RCWMCH) between 2001 and 2017. Data were collected from patient hospital folders, as well as paediatric oncology records and Groote Schuur Hospital radiotherapy records. Results: Eighty-six children aged 0.10-13.76 years (median 4.74 years) were diagnosed with LGGs between 2001 and 2017 at RCWMCH. Median time to presentation was 60 days. Sixtyfive patients (76%) were classified as having a WHO Grade I and 21 patients WHO Grade II (24%) tumours. Five patients (6%) had metastatic disease at presentation. The most common sites involved were the cerebellum (27%), hypothalamus (17%) and cerebrum (14%). The most common histology was juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma (JPA) (n=62; 73%). Gross total resection (GTR) was achieved in 21 patients (24%). Twenty-four patients (27%) received chemotherapy of which 11 patients progressed. Twenty-two patients received radiotherapy (26%), of which 3 patients progressed. The estimated 5-year overall survival (OS) was 86.8% and the estimated 5-year progression free survival (PFS) was 42.8%. The presence of a BRAFV600E mutation was checked in 4 patients since 2013, all had JPA histology, and all were negative. Discussion: Our patient demographic differed from published data with respect to younger age at presentation and female predominance. Time to presentation was relatively short. The majority of LGGs were cerebellar, with JPA histology being the most common. GTR was achieved in almost a quarter of patients. WHO Grade II histology did not significantly impact PFS and OS. Children < 3 years had a lower PFS compared to children > 3 years, but OS was similar. OS in this study was comparable to published data in developed countries, however PFS was slightly lower. Conclusion: Our outcomes are similar to those achieved in developed countries. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are valuable adjuncts to treatment. The presence of a BRAF alterations should be tested in recurrent/progressive disease, to guide use of novel treatments. 2021-08-24T01:55:55Z 2021-08-24T01:55:55Z 2021 2021-08-24T00:25:20Z Master Thesis Masters MPhil http://hdl.handle.net/11427/33823 eng application/pdf Department of Paediatrics and Child Health Faculty of Health Sciences
spellingShingle Paediatric Oncology
Kahl, Gisela
Low grade gliomas treated at the University of Cape Town Academic Hospital complex: 2001-2017
thesis_degree_str Master's
title Low grade gliomas treated at the University of Cape Town Academic Hospital complex: 2001-2017
title_full Low grade gliomas treated at the University of Cape Town Academic Hospital complex: 2001-2017
title_fullStr Low grade gliomas treated at the University of Cape Town Academic Hospital complex: 2001-2017
title_full_unstemmed Low grade gliomas treated at the University of Cape Town Academic Hospital complex: 2001-2017
title_short Low grade gliomas treated at the University of Cape Town Academic Hospital complex: 2001-2017
title_sort low grade gliomas treated at the university of cape town academic hospital complex 2001 2017
topic Paediatric Oncology
url http://hdl.handle.net/11427/33823
work_keys_str_mv AT kahlgisela lowgradegliomastreatedattheuniversityofcapetownacademichospitalcomplex20012017