2. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
Contents
►Brief history of pediatric oncology
►Epidemiology and survival statistics
►Importance of Pathology of Childhood Tumors
►Genetics of cancer
►Chemotherapy Principles
►Biologic Targeted Therapy
►Local tumor control
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3. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
Introduction
►A number of milestones in the evolution of cancer therapy have come from the
field of pediatric oncology
» The first clear evidence of chemotherapy
» The first successful use of a multidisciplinary approach …Wilm’s tumor
Cooperative research groups
» The successful use of a combination of chemotherapeutic agents …HL and ALL
» Models for molecular genetic research individualized therapies
Diagnosis, risk stratification, and treatment planning…
►Carefully developed multimodality therapy and multidisciplinary approach leads
to 80% improvement in survival over the last 30years
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4. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
History of Pediatric Oncology
►ALL Aminopterin in 1948 by Farber and Diamond
►Methotrexate produced cures for choriocarcinoma
►Multidrug regimens improved response rates and response duration
» ALL Wilm’s tumor ↓
» ⟹ Model for the successful use of multimodality therapy
►Adjuvant chemotherapy to control micro-metastases substantial improvement
in survival
» Demonstrated in nonmetastatic osteosarcoma
↓
» Standard practice for most solid tumors
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5. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
History of Pediatric Oncology
►Multidisciplinary cooperative groups advanced care
» Children’s Cancer Group in 1955
» Children’s Oncology Group, COG in 2000
Coordinate large cooperative studies across institutions and countries
►Chemotherapy regimens with dose- intensive programs have developed with advanced
supportive care
►Non-cytotoxic biologic therapies have developed recently
►Improvement in DNA sequencing techniques personalized medicine
►Improvements in radiation therapies
►Dramatic improvements in survival and quality of life for children with solid tumors
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6. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
Epidemiology and Survival Statistics
►Childhood cancer accounts for only 2% of all reported cancer cases
►It accounts for 10% of all deaths among children
Mortality has declined by 66% since 1970s
5-year survival rates have improved by 25% since 1970s
►The incidence for specific cancers vary by age, gender, and race
►Bimodal age distribution before 2 years & during adolescence
< 2years CNS malignancies, neuroblastoma, AML, Wilms tumor, and
retinoblastoma
2-4yrs ALL
>9 years HL, osteosarcoma, and Ewing sarcoma
►Overall incidence = 16.2 per 100,000 children/year
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7. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
Tumor Biology-- Signal Transduction
►Signal transduction pathways regulate all aspects of cell function
►Extracellular signals
» Signaling mediators membrane-bound receptors, TKs⬇
» Effector cells second messengers—proteins ⬇
» Expression or silencing of genes encoding proteins involved in all aspects of cellular
physiology
►Integration of multiple extracellular and intracellular signals determines the
response of a cell to competing and complementary signals proliferation or
quiescence
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8. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
Tumor Biology
►During normal cellular development and renewal, cells evolve to perform highly
specialized functions
» Under strict checks and balances
TP53, RB proteins
►Cancer is a genetic disease
» Triggered by accumulating genetic and epigenetic changes influenced by hereditary
factors and the somatic environment
» Inactivation of the effectors of cell-cycle regulation or the bypassing of cell-cycle
checkpoints dysregulation of the cell cycle, a hallmark of malignancy
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9. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
Tumor Biology:
Understanding Childhood Cancer and Treatment Principles
►Genetic alterations
» Activation of an oncogene or loss of a tumor suppressor gene non-response to growth
regulators
►Advent of sophisticated gene sequencing techniques identification of very
specific genetic alterations
► Understanding the specific characteristics of an individual tumor
►Individualized Rx regimen vs generic standardized protocols
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10. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
Cancer Cytogenetics
►The association of a consistent chromosomal aberration with a specific cancer
was first made in 1960 with the discovery of the minute “Philadelphia
chromosome” in CML
» (9;22) (q34;q11)
►Identification of sub-chromosomal deletions, inversions, and translocations
identification of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes
►Consistent chromosomal aberration with specific tumor
» Diagnostic and prognostic information
E.g. Risk stratification of Wilm’s tumor based on tumor characteristics
E.g. The poor prognostic signs in neuroblastoma…
►Rapidly expanding array of genetic data on individual tumors personalized
Rx regimen
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11. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
Tumor Imaging
►Imaging has several important roles in the management of childhood cancer:
» Diagnosis
» Staging of disease
Assessing the local extent, possible resectability and identifying metastases
» Providing image guidance for biopsy
» Monitoring treatment and complications
» Surveillance imaging detecting recurrent disease
►Precautions in children
» Need for sedation or other distractions
» Concern for ionizing radiation exposure second malignancy
» Contrast related organ toxicities
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12. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
Importance of Pathology In Childhood Tumors
►Less than 10% of solid tumors are epithelial in children
►Exact diagnosis is more difficult in children because of :
» The prevalence of small round blue cell tumors
» Lack morphologically distinguishing characteristics
►Exact diagnosis is crucial in pediatric cancer
» To define the prognostic subgroups
» For dose intensive therapy intended for cure
►Diagnosis depends on
» An adequate quantity and quality of tissue?
Discussed with the surgeon, pathologist, and pediatric oncologist before the procedure
» Available pathologic tools, specimen handling
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13. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
Importance of Pathology In Childhood Tumors
►The role of the pathologist goes beyond providing histological diagnosis
►Pathological diagnosis is a clinical opinion based on the interpretation of
histological findings in the light of clinical details provided
» it is not just a result
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14. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
Chemotherapy Principles in Pediatric Oncology
►The goal To maximize tumor kill while maintaining acceptable side
effects
►Clinical trials Development of standard combination chemotherapy
regimens
» Remains the mainstay of the medical treatment of childhood cancer since 1960s*, ALL
►Development phases in clinical trials
» Phase I dose-escalation to determine the maximally tolerated dose
» Phase II To explore the efficacy and establish spectrum of activity
» Phase III Compare established effective chemotherapy combinations with new regimen
►Principle of designing combination chemotherapy
» Use agents with different mechanism of action and non-overlapping toxicities
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15. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
Principles of Adjuvant and Neoadjuvant
Chemotherapy
►Micro-metastatic disease exists at the time of presentation for clinically
nonmetastatic disease
»⬇Study on sarcomas, lymphoma.. only 20% were cured by resection/surgery alone
►Adjuvant chemotherapy
» The goal is to prevent the appearance of metastatic disease
» Should be given with in 2 weeks of initial surgery
►Neoadjuvant chemotherapy
» Started as soon as the diagnosis is established… Standard in EWS and osteosarcoma
Minimize the development of chemotherapy resistance???
» Delayed surgical resection allow more complete and less morbid resection
» Helpful in instituting individualized regimen
» Beneficial only for tumors for which a known highly effective combination chemotherapy
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16. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
Chemotherapy Dose Intensity
►Chemotherapy agents have a sigmoidal Dose- response curve.png
►Effective combination chemotherapy
» The correct combination + the correct dose of each agent
►Dose Intensity is the amount of drug delivered per unit time, mg/𝒎𝟐/week
►Dose intensity is increased with the goal of maximizing efficacy
» Administer the maximal tolerated dose in the shortest possible interval while
maintaining tolerable toxicity
» Agents with limited organ toxicity
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17. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
Chemotherapy Dose Intensity
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18. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
Chemotherapy Dose Intensity
►Dose intensity can be increased by increasing the doses and/or the
frequency
►Decreasing or increasing dose intensity has significant effect in relapse or DFS
rates
Demonstrated in animal studies as well as prospective clinical trials
• Cyclophosphamide
• ALL ---less than 94% of planned dose 5-fold increase risk of relapse
►Dose intensive trials in pediatrics with advances in supportive care for
toxicities
G-CSF, IL-11, PBPCs, …myeloablative chemotherapy +/- total body irradiation
Cardioprotective agents … Dexrazoxane
►Dose intensity depends on risk stratification of patients
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19. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
Chemotherapeutic Agents
►The rational design of combination chemotherapy programs requires
an understanding
» The mechanism of action
Non-selective interference with DNA or RNA synthesis,
transcription, or repair
» The site of metabolism
» Rate of drug clearance
» Toxicity profile for each drug
►Understanding the individual mechanisms of action helps in the design of drug
combinations with additive or synergistic antitumor effects
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►Base on their mechanism of action chemotherapeutic agents
are divided into different classes:
» Alkylating agents… (cisplatin and its analogs)
» Antimetabolites …(Methotrexate, 5-FU, Cytarabine…)
» Topoisomerase inhibitors …(Doxorubicin, Etoposide…)
» Anti-microtubule agents …(Vincristine, Paclitaxel…)
» Differentiation agents …(Tretinoin…)
» Miscellaneous non classified agents steroids (Prednisolone), bleomycin…
» Biologic agents …(Imatinib, sorafenib…)
20. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
Acute Chemotherapy Toxicity
►Most acute toxicities are reversible
►Toxicity is greatest in the normal cells with the highest rate of turnover
» Bone marrow cells, mucosal lining cells, liver cells, and hair cells
►The most common side effects of combination chemotherapy are:
» Nausea and vomiting, mucositis, diarrhea
» Myelosuppression, hair loss,, LFT abnormalities, and allergic reactions
►Myelosuppression
» An expected side effect of almost every treatment program for childhood solid tumors
» Require frequent transfusions
» Neutropenia life-threatening bacterial or fungal infections
In 75% of dose-intensive regimens 20% bacteremia
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21. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
Acute Chemotherapy Toxicity
►Agent specific side effects
» Vincristine and doxorubicin vesicants
severe skin and tissue necrosis if extravasate into the SC tissue
» Doxorubicin and related anthracyclines have cumulative cardiotoxic effects
» Cisplatin and ifosfamide each have toxic renal effects
Often combined for osteosarcoma and neuroblastoma
≈ Fanconi syndrome (renal electrolyte wasting)
» Cisplatin hearing loss (at high doses)
» Vincristine and vinblastine cumulative peripheral neuropathies
►Agents toxicities must be considered when designing therapeutic programs
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22. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
Acute Toxicity Supportive Care
►Some of the success in improving outcomes for children with cancer is attributable to
advances made in supportive care
►Routine use of hematopoietic growth factors
» G-CSF rapid granulocyte recovery and shorter hospitalizations for fever and
neutropenia
» IL-11 enhances platelet recovery, GI ‘rescue’
►Renal toxicity
» Renal tubular damage from cisplatin reversible
» Fanconi syndrome hyperhydration and forced diuresis
►Amifostine Show promise in preventing cisplatin-induced renal injury
» Have protective effects against neurologic and cumulative bone marrow
toxicities
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23. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
Long-term Side Effects of Cancer Therapy In
Children
►1 of every 900 adults is a survivor of childhood cancer
►Acute toxicities tissues with the highest cell-turnover rate
►Long –term effects Slow/non-regenerating tissues
» Growth, fertility, and neuropsychological development problems
» Radiation therapy
Inhibit further growth of bone, muscle, heart, and kidney within the radiation field
Affect fertility
►The effects are more pronounced with combined-modality treatment
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24. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
Long-term Side Effects of Cancer Therapy In
Children
►Growth retardation unique to children
» Depends on dose and the age at the time of therapy
» Cranial irradiation can lead to GH deficiency result in poor linear growth
unless GH replacement is given.
50% will have adult height < the fifth percentile
» Total-body or spinal irradiation Will not achieve their full height potential
even with GH stimulation
►Musculoskeletal problems:
» Scoliosis, avascular necrosis, osteoporosis
» Atrophy or hypoplasia of tissues (jaw, orbit, or neck)
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25. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
Long-term Side Effects of Cancer Therapy In
Children
►Cardiotoxicity cardiac muscle damage CHF
Increased CV late effects stroke, blood clots, and angina-like symptoms
» From anthracycline in the treatment of Ewing sarcoma, osteosarcoma, and lymphomas
» Prevention
Continuous-infusion anthracyclines
Cardio-protectant dexrazoxane
Limit the cumulative lifetime dose of anthracyclines to 450 mg/𝑴𝟐
►Pulmonary Fibrosis decreased Lung volume, compliance and diffusing capacity
» Nitrosoureas and bleomycin are known agents to cause pulmonary fibrosis
►Hypothyroidism after radiation in HL
►CRF (cisplatin), Chronic cystitis (cyclophosphamide )
►Prolonged hypogammaglobulinemia and T-lymphocyte dysfunction
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26. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
Long-term Side Effects of Cancer Therapy In
Children
►Secondary malignancy
» Over all ~5% at 25 years after diagnosis
» Highest in patients who received both chemotherapy and radiation therapy
HL survivors have the highest secondary malignancy rates 7% at
15years
≈ Even higher in recurrent HL cases
►The most common secondary malignancies are:
Breast cancer 35% at 40years
Leukemia, AML Etoposide with latency of 1-3years
NHL
Thyroid carcinoma
Secondary osteosarcoma within the radiation field for STS, RB, EWS
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27. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
Biologic Targeted Therapy
►Advances in understanding of key genetic events in carcinogenesis
development of new agents that act on biologic pathways
►Biologic agents vs cytotoxic agents
» Their optimal therapeutic dose is below the maximal tolerated dose
» The challenge
Optimal dose, how to combine with cytotoxic agents, clinical response validation yet
to be determined
►These agents include:
» Signal transduction inhibitors
Tissue GFR inhibitors, anti-angiogenesis agents, and biologic response modifiers
» Individual cytokines
» Tumor-targeted antibody therapies and
» Adoptive immunotherapy techniques
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28. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
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29. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
Biologic …Signal Transduction Inhibitors
►Cellular signaling is a basic biologic function of all cells,
controlling cellular proliferation, differentiation, death
» Extracellular (e.g., GFR tyrosine kinase) ---Imatinib
» Intracellular effector and survival pathways (e.g., RAS, RAF, FAS, BCL-2)
►STIs restore cell function by Blocking aberrant signal transduction pathways
that leads to development of tumor
►1. Anti-angiogenesis agents proposed in the 1970s
» Affect both intracellular and extracellular pathways
» E.g. Bevacizumab anti-VEGF antibody
Sensitize endothelial cells to cytotoxic cell death
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30. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
Biologic …Signal Transduction Inhibitors
►2. Biologic Response Modifiers ⇄ Immunotherapy
» The goal is to stimulate the immune system to help eradicate tumors
By improving the immunogenicity of a tumor
» Are malignant cells foreign cells?
» Cytotoxic T-lymphocytes
Directly cell lysis through cytotoxic granule release or
programmed cell death
Indirectly
≈ Helper T-cells Cytokines APCs
≈ Tumor selective effector cells ADCC
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31. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
Immunotherapy
►1. Adoptive Immunotherapy
» Use of tumor vaccines made from autologous or allogeneic tumor-associated
antigens
Specific purified tumor antigens can be made more immunogenic by attachment to carrier
proteins (adjuvants)… Melanoma trials
Stimulating tumor-specific T-cell immunity to modified tumor peptides generate
cytotoxic T-lymphocytes
≈ Neuroblastoma murine tumor cells enhanced tumor presentation potent in vivo tumor
response
» Genetically engineering tumor cells to overexpress cytokines
GM-CSF, IL-2, IL-12, IL-1α activate APCs and effector cells
» Use of cytokine infusions to stimulate immune reaction against tumor cells
INF-α, IL-2, and TNF
►2. Tumor-targeted Antibody Therapy
» Recombinant chimeric human/mouse antibodies
Anti-CD20 Rituximab (Genentech, Inc., San Francisco, CA)
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32. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
Local Tumor Control
►Control of local disease is critical to favorable outcomes in pediatric oncology
►Metastatic disease is more readily eradicated in young patients than in adults
when the primary lesion has been adequately treated
►Local control is achieved with surgical resection and/or radiation therapy
►Radiation therapy
» Use of ionizing radiation to control malignant cells
» Plays an important role in the treatment of numerous pediatric tumors
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33. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
Radiation Therapy
►Mechanisms of action
» 1. Direct impact on DNA impaired cell division
» 2. Indirectly by producing reactive free radicals major route
►How does radiation therapy works? causes sublethal damage to cells
» The difference lies in the ability to repair the damage b/n normal and malignant cells
►The effect ionizing radiation depends on
» The number of actively reproducing tumor cells at the time of exposure
» The length of the cell cycle delayed effect
» Dose fractionation
Allows normal cells to recover while having a cumulative effect on tumor cells
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34. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
Radiation Therapy Effects
►The goal in radiation therapy
» To deliver the highest effective dose with minimal exposure to surrounding normal
structures
►Acute reactions to ionizing radiation depend the balance between replication
and cell death
» Minimized by increasing intervals between dose fractions
Allow enhanced cellular repopulation and recovery
►Long-term effects of therapy
» Depend primarily on the total exposure dose and the size of each treatment
fraction
» Minimized by lowering the dose per fraction and increasing the number
of fractions
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35. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
Radiation Therapy
►Timing of radiation therapy
►Preoperative radiation therapy
» Smaller treatment area
» Reduce the tumor volume for complete resection
» Potential tumor seeding during operative removal may be reduced
» Delays surgical intervention
►Postoperative radiation therapy
» Many combined strategies use this approach STS
Treatment fields and doses are determined after surgical resection and histologic assessment
Higher doses can be delivered postoperatively when the target volumes have been more accurately
defined
Doses to the periphery of the tumor can be finetuned
Require a wider treatment area
►Intraoperative radiation therapy
►Definitive radiation therapy
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36. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
Radiation Therapy
►Radiation therapy in children
» Several aspects need to considered
Use of sedation to avoid inappropriate exposure of surrounding tissues
Developing organs
≈ Use lower treatment doses and accept a higher recurrence rate
Long-term effects of combined-modality therapy must be considered
►Different techniques of delivering safe, efficacious doses of radiation have
developed
» Brachytherapy
» Intraoperative Radiation therapy, IORT
» Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy, IMRT
» Proton therapy? Part of ongoing COG trials
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37. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
Innovative Adjunctive Techniques
►Cryosurgery
» In situ destruction of tissue by the freeze/thaw process
» The goal is to devitalize a neoplastic tissue by freezing rapid freezing, slow thawing
» Uses liquid nitrogen at the tip of the cryoprobe, at temperatures range of −160° to −180°C
►Radiofrequency Ablation, RFA
» Use of thermal energy to cause coagulation necrosis of the target tissue
» Use in pediatrics is anecdotal
►Chemoembolization
» Regional delivery of chemotherapy for hepatic tumors
Infusing the agent distal to a ligated hepatic artery
» Experience in pediatrics is limited
In persistent, unresectable, or recurrent hepatoblastoma
In nonmetastatic hepatocellular carcinoma
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38. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
Innovative Adjunctive Techniques
►Lymphatic Mapping
» Accurate staging of regional disease is critical in managing malignancies
» Mapping draining sentinel LNs uses:
radiolabeled sulfur, colorant dye and mapping with gamma robe
» Mainly for Melanoma and breast cancer in adults and for RMS in pediatrics
» For RMS Intergroup RMS Studies I, II, III
Lymphatic mapping detection of ~ 40% positive sentinel LNs (blue staining)
The technique :
≈ 0.2– 0.5 mL of 99Tc sulfur colloid is injected around the tumor a day before the surgery
≈ 0.5–1 mL of vital blue dye is injected immediately before surgery
≈ LN identification with a hand-held gamma probe
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39. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
References
►Holcomb and Ashcrafts pediatric surgery 7th,2019
►Principles and practice of pediatric oncology, 7th ed. philip. A. Pizzo
►Coran principles of pediatrics surgery 7th,2012
►Pediatric Cancer Diagnosis, Therapy, and Prognosis: M.A. Hayat 2015
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40. ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY,
PEDIATRIC SURGERY UNIT
Thank you
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Editor's Notes
The first demonstration that chemotherapy could be effective therapy for childhood malignancies occurred in 1948 when Farber and Diamond reported temporary remissions in children with ALL, when the folic acid antagonist aminopterin was given.
Nitrogen mustered gas used during World War II, were observed to cause bone marrow hypoplasia
The dramatic improvement in DNA sequencing techniques has brought the concept of personalized medicine closer to reality as individual tumors now can be analyzed for specific mutations that help predict responders and non-responders to specific agents.
When compared with the adult incidence rates of cancer, the incidence of cancer in children is very small- 2% of all reported cancer cases
The incidence of pediatric tumors has been relatively flat in the recent past, yet death rates have steadily declined.
Mortality has declined by 66% since 1970s
5-year survival rates have improved by 25% since 1970s, from 58% to 83%
Overall, the annual incidence rate for all types of childhood cancer is 16.2 per 100,000 children
White children generally have a 30% greater incidence of cancer than do black children
Extracellular signals include growth factors, cytokines, and hormones; the presence or absence of adequate nutrients and oxygen
Receptors with tyrosine kinase activity are EGFRs, FGRs, IGFRs, PDGFRs, transforming growth factor receptors, and neurotrophin receptors (TRKs)
Inactivation of the effectors of cell-cycle regulation or the bypassing of cell-cycle checkpoints can result in dysregulation of the cell cycle, a hallmark of malignancy
Cell survival
Abnormalities in the interaction of “death ligands, to their receptors inactivation of caspases
Telomerase activation
Malignant transformation may be characterized by cellular de-differentiation or failure to differentiate, cellular invasiveness and metastatic capacity, or decreased drug sensitivity
Malignant Transformation
↑cell survival, Alteration in inherent genomic instability by inheritance/ environmental factors , Abnormal DNA Content
Chromosomal Translocations, Proto-oncogene Activation by point mutations or gene amplification, Inactivation of Tumor Suppressor Genes
Metastasis
The hallmark of malignancy
The establishment of metastatic disease is a very inefficient process
It requires several events, including the entry of the neoplastic cells into the blood or lymphatic system, the survival of those cells in the circulation, their avoidance of immune surveillance, their invasion of foreign (heterotopic) tissues, and the establishment of a blood supply to permit expansion of the tumor at the distant site
The poor prognostic signs in neuroblastoma
Chromosome 1q deletion
Double minute chromatin bodies
homogeneous staining regions
Lack morphologically distinguishing characteristics
Ewing sarcoma, neuroblastoma, lymphoma, small cell osteosarcoma, and primitive neuroectodermal tumors appear similar on light microscopy
The amount of tissue required for diagnostic purposes should be discussed with the surgeon, pathologist, and pediatric oncologist before the procedure to ensure the proper handling of the specimen (e.g., the need for fresh tissue, frozen samples, and fixed specimens for histologic and biologic diagnostic use).
Whereas light microscopy remains the primary tool of pathologists, they can now rely also on immunohistology, electron microscopy, DNA content of tumor, cytogenetic abnormalities, and specific tumor gene expression to establish a diagnosis
The role of the pathologist goes beyond providing histological diagnosis and includes provision of prognostic information, facilitation of ancillary studies, audit and research
pathological diagnosis is a clinical opinion based on the interpretation of histological findings in the light of clinical details provided, and that it is not just a ‘result
Just like any informed opinion, its formulation is the product of integration of clinical information, imaging studies and other laboratory investigations, as well as gross and microscopic study.
Difficult to achieve this goal
In the 1960s the benefit of combining several drugs together was demonstrated first for ALL
Complete remission by using single agents could be expected in only about half of the patients, whereas the combination of four or five drugs produced remission rates of more than 95%
Diagnostic biopsy followed by neoadjuvant chemotherapy and delayed resection of the primary tumor for complex neuroblastoma reduces the operative complication rate without compromising survival
However, neoadjuvant chemotherapy is beneficial only for tumors for which a known highly effective combination chemotherapy program limits the risk of tumor progression at the primary site prior to surgery
Most chemotherapeutic agents have a sigmoidal dose-response curve with a steep linear phase followed by a plateau phase.
The principle of chemotherapy dose intensity is to administer the maximal tolerated dose of the agent that falls within the linear phase of the dose-response curve in the shortest possible interval while maintaining tolerable toxicity
Methods for maximizing dose intensity include:
Greater physician and patient willingness to tolerate drug toxicities,
More aggressive supportive care,
Selective rescue of the patient from toxicity
Use of regional chemotherapy (intra-arterial, intrathecal delivery) to achieve high drug concentrations at local tumor sites
The development of new treatment schedules such as long-term continuous infusions that may allow more drugs to be administered over a given period.
It has been demonstrated in animal systems that a 2-fold increase in administered cyclophosphamide dose can lead to a 10-fold increase in tumor cell kill, whereas a decrease in dose intensity of as little as 20% in an osteosarcoma animal model can decrease the cure rate by 50%.
Osteosarcoma
less than 80% of planned dose 3-fold increase risk of relapse
patients whose tumors show a more aggressive biological profile may require dose intensification to increase their chances of survival
Alkylating agents interfere with cell growth by covalently cross-linking DNA and are not cell-cycle specific
Antitumor antibiotics intercalate into the double helix of DNA and break the DNA strands
Antimetabolites are truly cell-cycle specific
Cisplatin causes renal tubular damage, leading to elevation of levels of BUN and creatinine often this is reversible
Both ifosfamide and cisplatin cause renal electrolyte wasting Fanconi syndrome, in which hypokalemia, hypocalcemia, hypophosphatemia, and hypomagnesemia can occur.
Renal injury from these agents can be improved by hyperhydration and forced diuresis
Leucovorin, a folate derivative, can be given to “rescue” normal mucosal and bone marrow cells from the effects of high-dose methotrexate
Amifostine is an organic thiophosphate compound
In light of the fact that 1 of every 900 adults will soon be a survivor of childhood cancer, emphasis on diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of late effects of childhood cancer therapy has become essential
The younger the child is at the time of the insult, the more severe is the sequelae.
More than 50% of childhood brain tumor patients treated with 3000 cGy or more to the whole brain will have severe growth retardation, with adult height being less than the fifth percentile
Osteoporosis occurs as a result of corticosteroid treatment from high-dose irradiation, as is used for sarcoma therapy
Anthracycline dose <450 mg/m2, a level at which fewer than 5% of patients experience clinical congestive heart failure
Many alkylating agents and radiation therapy contribute to pulmonary fibrosis, resulting in decreased lung volume, lung compliance, and diffusing capacity.
As the number of childhood cancer survivors increases, secondary malignancies have become a major concern
Targeted therapy was intended to overcome therapy resistance and toxicity of chemotherapy agents
Mutant forms of ras are associated with malignant transformation, and 30% of all human cancers express mutant ras genes
The human immune system is designed to identify and destroy foreign cells
The goal of Biologic Response Modifier therapy is to improve the immunogenicity of a tumor and allow it to be recognized and targeted for destruction by the immune system Immunotherapy
Studies in the mid-1990s indicated that some tumor cells may express a protein, Fas ligand, that conveys a “death signal” to T-lymphocytes, causing them to undergo apoptosis.
The tumor peptide is modified to stimulate antigen presentation to T-cells which is restricted to specific MHC alleles
Tumor-targeted Antibody Therapy
Passive immunity involves the use of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) or cytotoxic effector cells produced in vitro and infused into the patient.
mAbs have been tested in patients with neuroblastoma murine mAb therapy develop a human/ anti-mouse antibody
Recombinant chimeric human/mouse antibodies have been developed
Produced by linking the constant region of human antibodies to the variable combining region of a mouse mAb
Used for the treatment of neuroblastoma, leukemia, and lymphoma
Radiation therapy has cumulative effect on tumor cells
Because most of the damage is indirect and focused on reproduction, malignant lesions usually show a delayed effect to radiation therapy
Reactive free radicals that indirectly damage genetic material and interfere with the reproductive capacity of normal or malignant tissues
Fractionation implies daily doses of radiation delivered 5 days per week and amounting to the prescribed dose for a particular tumor type.
Historically, treatment-related effects have been classified as acute or late; an arbitrary time point of 90 days after the completion of treatment
Acute reactions
Skin erythema and desquamation, edema, mucositis, headache, conjunctivitis, pneumonitis, diarrhea, nausea, urinary frequency, urgency…
Definitive radiation therapy is an alternative local approach to surgical resection of primary solid tumors.
It is often the only local therapeutic approach for children and adolescents with leukemia or lymphoma, RMS
Chemotherapeutic Enhancement of Local Irradiation
Cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, mitomycin C, and gemcitabine, for example, are well-known radiation sensitizers.
Agents That Increase Radiation Toxicity
Doxorubicin and actinomycin both can induce significant skin and mucosal toxicity when delivered concurrently with radiation therapy
Brachytherapy is radiation treatment in which the ionizing source is in contact with the lesion, usually within the initial tumor volume
Catheters are placed in the tumor during surgery
Allow continuous-dose delivery over a much shorter time High rates of local control in pediatric soft tissue sarcomas
Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT)
Allows the radiation dose to be directly applied to the target area while shielding adjacent structures
When tumor remains in surgically inaccessible areas
In children unresectable disease, in re-look procedures, residual lesions, or local tumor recurrence
Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy, IMRT
An advanced form of three-dimensional conformal therapy that uses nonuniform radiation beam intensities that have been determined by using various computer-based optimization techniques
Benefits
Effective in reducing treatment-related morbidity and allow dose escalation to the target volume
Significant reductions in radiation exposure to critical structures has been shown for intracranial, cervical, and abdominopelvic lesions
Proton therapy still on COG trials
Has the theoretical advantage delivering precise high doses of energy to the tumor volume while reducing the exposure of surrounding tissues
Based o the principle that the proton particle deposits the peak amount of energy at the end of its path (the Bragg peak)
Cryosurgery
Successfully used for retinoblastoma, aneurysmal bone cysts, aggressive benign bone tumors, and low-grade malignancies
Minimal risk of venous air embolism which are usually self resolving
RFA have been used in adults for primary or metastatic hepatic lesions, renal lesions, and pulmonary lesions
In both cryosurgery and FRA, image guided (US) probe is placed at the center of the tumors
Chemoembolization
Possible because malignant hepatic lesions derive nearly all of their blood supply from hepatic artery
The technique of Lymphatic Mapping has been refined and validated as it has evolved.
In most cases, a combination of technetium labeled sulfur colloid and lymphazurin blue dye is used to localize the sentinel node