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P Thiesse

Publications and source records attributed to P Thiesse.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Evaluation of core needle biopsy as a substitute to open biopsy in the diagnosis of soft-tissue masses.

Open biopsy is recommended for a soft-tissue sarcoma (s-t-S) diagnosis. Core needle biopsy (CNB) was recently associated with minimal morbidity, cost and time-consumption, but also potential inaccuracy. Its diagnostic utility was investigated retrospectively in 110 patients with soft-tissue masses (s-t-M) undergoing CNB between September 1994 and September 2000. Sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values were determined for malignancy (benign/malign), soft-tissue tumour (yes/no), and sarcoma diagnosis (yes/no), comparing CNB and the best standard test available; concordance was evaluated. 103/110 CNB were suitable for analysis. Final diagnosis was 23 benign tumours (19%), 65 s-t-S (59%), 9 lymphomas (8%), 6 fibromatoses (desmoid) (5%) and 7 carcinomas (6%). CNB Sp and PPV were 100%, Se was 95, 99 and 92%, and NPV 85, 95 and 88% for diagnosing malignancy, soft-tissue tumour and sarcoma. CNB Se and NPV were 100% for malignancy, connective tumour and sarcoma in lymphomas, high-grade sarcomas and desmoid tumours. In low grade sarcomas, Se was 94 and 85%, and NPV 84 and 77% for malignancy and sarcoma. Histological grade on CNB seems uneasy, except for grade-III tumours. CNB is accurate, not misleading for s-t-M diagnosis, avoids open biopsy complications, and allows one-surgery or neo-adjuvant chemotherapy planning when combined with appropriate imaging.

Adolescent↗

[Gastro-intestinal stromal tumors: news and comments].

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are rare tumors occuring at all levels of the gastrointestinal tract, whose estimated incidence may be close to 2 new cases per 100 000 persons per year. GIST derive from the interstital cells of Cajal (ICC) responsible for the motility of the GI tract, or from a common precursor of ICC and of the smooth muscle cells of the digestive tract. GIST cells express the c-kit protoconcogene under an activated form, either mutated or constitutively activated, as well as the CD34 Ag. Mutations of the KIT gene is an early event in the process of transformation in these tumors. Until recently, GIST were not recognized as a distinct entity among soft tissue sarcoma. It is now clear that conventional chemotherapy is generally inactive in this tumor, surgery being the only efficient therapeutic modality even in patients with advanced disease. Rapidly accruing phase I, II and III trials in the USA and Europe (EORTC) have demonstrated since 2000 that imatinib mesylate (STI571) is an active agent in GIST with an initial response rate of 70 % and 10 % only of primary refractory tumors, yelding an improved overall survival as compared to historical series. Resistance are now being observed however. GIST has become the first model of a solid tumor treated efficiently by a treatment targetting the initial genetic alteration of the disease. Numerous question regarding the integration of this treatment with surgery and the long term outcome of these patients still remain to be answered however.

Age Factors↗

Temozolomide in malignant gliomas of childhood: a United Kingdom Children's Cancer Study Group and French Society for Pediatric Oncology Intergroup Study.

PURPOSE: To determine the response rate of the malignant gliomas of childhood to an oral, daily schedule of temozolomide. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A multicenter, phase II evaluation of an oral, daily schedule of temozolomide (200 mg/m(2) on 5 consecutive days) was undertaken in children with relapsed or progressive, biopsy-proven, high-grade glioma (arm A) and progressive, diffuse, intrinsic brainstem glioma (arm B). Evidence of activity was defined by radiologic evidence of a sustained reduction in tumor size on serial magnetic resonance imaging scans. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients were recruited (34 to arm A and 21 to arm B) and received 215 cycles of chemotherapy. Grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia was the most frequent toxic event (7% of cycles). Prolonged myelosuppression resulted in significant treatment delays and dose reductions (17% and 22% of cycles, respectively). Two toxic deaths were documented and were related to myelosuppression and sepsis in one patient and pneumonia in a second. The overall (best) response rate was 12% for arm A (95% confidence interval [CI], 3 to 28 in the study cohort, and 2 to 31 for eligible patients) and 5% and 6%, respectively, for arm B (95% CI, 0 to 26 in the study cohort, and 0 to 27 for eligible patients). Stabilization of disease was also documented and was most noteworthy for brainstem gliomas, where two patients achieved both radiologic static disease and discontinued steroid medication. CONCLUSION: Despite moderate toxicity, objective response rates to temozolomide have been low, indicating that temozolomide has minimal activity in the high-grade gliomas of childhood.

Adolescent↗

Supratentorial embryonal tumors in children under 5 years of age: an SFOP study of treatment with postoperative chemotherapy alone.

BACKGROUND: To determine the effectiveness of multiagent chemotherapy as sole post-operative treatment of supratentorial central nervous system (CNS) embryonal tumors in young children. PROCEDURE: The data of 25 children under 5 years of age diagnosed with supratentorial embryonal tumors (17 primitive neuroectodermal tumors, four pinealoblastomas, and four medulloepitheliomas) treated exclusively by postoperative chemotherapy (CT) between 1990 and 1997 were reviewed. RESULTS: Fifteen tumors were hemispheric and 10 were deeply seated. Four children presented with disseminated leptomeningeal disease. Total resection was performed in nine patients, subtotal in 9, partial in 3, and a diagnostic biopsy only in 2. Two children did not undergo surgery. Twenty-four children relapsed with a median time of 5.5 months. The median overall survival was 12 months, and the 2-, and 5- year survivals were 30 and 14%, respectively. The 2- year disease-free survival was 4%. There was a significantly worse prognosis in patients undergoing incomplete resection and in the group with deeply situated tumors. Four relapses were treated by second surgery followed by high-dose chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Two of them remain in CR2, and all these children are free of late sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: CT alone failed to maintain disease-free survival in most of the children, although, disease progression was delayed to some extent. Children under 5 years with supratentorial embryonal tumors should undergo total surgical resection if possible.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Does nephroblastomatosis influence the natural history and relapse rate in Wilms' tumour? A single centre experience over 11 years.

The presence of multifocal or diffuse nephrogenic rests (NRs) in one or both kidneys is termed nephroblastomatosis (Nbm). Nbm may be a predisposing factor for Wilms' tumour (WT). The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the impact of Nbm on the outcome of WT in children. We assessed the outcome of 81 children with Wilms tumours and practical implications of Nbm in the treatment and follow-up. All the pathology slides have been reviewed in 1997. 63 had WT without Nbm (group A) and 18 had WT associated with Nbm (group B). There was no statistical difference between the two groups according to the age at diagnosis and histology. Clinical abnormalities were more frequent in group B (33 versus 8%). There was no statistical difference between the percentage of stage IV in both groups, but bilaterality (stage V) was present only in the group B. Relapse was observed in 20/81 patients (25%): 11 (17%) in group A and 9 (50%) in group B. Mean delay of relapse was longer (25 months) in group B than in group A (10 months). For the whole population, with a median follow-up of 9 years, the event-free survival (EFS) and the overall survival (OS) probabilities were respectively 74%+/-10 and 83%+/-9 at 120 months. The difference in EFS between groups A (82+/-9%) and B (38%+/-29) was significant (P=0.004). The discovery of Nbm in the non-tumoral part of the kidney with WT can be an adverse factor and in particular favours the subsequent development of a new Wilms tumour. It justifies separate follow-up guidelines.

Adolescent↗

Osteosarcoma.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Bone Neoplasms↗

[A protocol for imaging pediatric brain tumors].

Children with malignant brain tumors undergo multicentric clinical trials to improve standards of care. The considerable variations in imaging practice can serve as confounding variables in these studies. The purpose of this report is to propose a set of standard diagnostic imaging guidelines to improve the value of imaging when used to test the efficacy of treatments in pediatric neuro-oncology.

Brain Neoplasms↗

Assessment of percutaneous fine needle aspiration cytology as a technique to provide diagnostic and prognostic information in neuroblastoma.

The International Neuroblastoma Staging System (INSS) criteria for diagnosis requires an unequivocal pathological diagnosis and favours the identification of prognostic markers in the samples. Surgical biopsies of the primary tumour and bone marrow (BM) sampling in metastatic disease constitute the major sources of tumour material for the laboratory. We analysed the possibility of percutaneous fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) constituting an alternative procedure to the conventional technique of sampling of the primary tumour in children with advanced neuroblastoma. From July 1987 through July 1998, 64 consecutive children suspected of having advanced neuroblastoma and referred to our institution underwent percutaneous FNAC of deeply located tumours. FNAC was performed using 22-gauge needles under ultrasound guidance, before any chemotherapy and within the first days following admission. No complication occurred after FNAC. The median number of the extracted tumour cells was 2.3x10(6) (range: 0-40.6x10(6)). Cytology analysis was possible in 59/64 cases (92%) and immunocytochemistry in 56/64 (88%) allowing confirmation of the diagnosis. N-Myc analysis was available in 46/64 (72%). In addition, the presence of a partial deletion of chromosome 1p (del 1p) was assessed, since 1992, in 24/47 cases (51%), where enough cells were available. FNAC of deeply located advanced neuroblastoma is safe and information is available in a few hours after admission. The provided material is reliable for confirmation of diagnosis and analysis of biological prognostic markers in the majority of cases. More invasive tumour sampling procedures are required only in selected cases.

Adolescent↗

Primary cerebral lymphomas: unsolved issues regarding first-line treatment, follow-up, late neurological toxicity and treatment of relapses. The FNCLCC. French Fédération Nationale des Centres de Lutte contre le Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Primary cerebral non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) in immunocompetent patients (PCL) are located exclusively in the central nervous system, the eye, or meninges. Clinical management of these patients remains controversial. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Clinical characteristics of the patients and parameters influencing their outcome as of December 1998 were investigated and registered in a database of 226 patients treated in the French Federation of Cancer Centers between 1980 and 1995. RESULTS: Most PCL are diffuse large-cell NHL with a B phenotype. The incidence of PCL has been steadily increasing over the past 20 years in some but not all countries. The overall survival of primary cerebral lymphoma (PCL) patients in the published series, a median of 12-16 months and a five-year survival of 5%-20%, is poor. Several series have now reported long-term survivals of more than 10 years and PCL may therefore be a curable tumor in some patients. The optimal treatment of PCL is not known. Complete resection of the tumor does not improve outcome and multidisciplinary approaches combining chemotherapy and radiotherapy are now commonly used, although the superiority of combination over radiotherapy- or chemotherapy-alone has never been demonstrated in a phase III trial. The optimal chemotherapy regimen, the dose and even the usefulness of brain radiotherapy after chemotherapy are therefore still matters of debate. Recently, several authors have reported a relatively high incidence of late neurological sequelae after PCL treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The optimal treatment of PCL patients remains to be defined. Large cooperative international phase III trials are now required to define and improve the optimal treatment of PCL and reduce its sequelae.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

[Reliability of the response rate in oncology: analysis of the causes for variation].

We evaluated the impact of an evaluation committee (EC) on patients' overall response status in a large multicenter trial in oncology. We identified reasons for disagreements between investigators and the EC. The Cancer Renal Cytokine (CRECY) study was a French multicenter trial that tested cytokine therapy in 489 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Objective response (OR) evaluation included medical imaging and was studied according to international guidelines. A blinded peer review of all responders and litigious cases was performed by an EC. Major disagreements occurred in 43% and minor disagreements in 10.5% of the reviewed files. The number of significant tumor responses was reduced by 23.2% after review by the EC. Reasons for disagreements included errors in tumor measurements, errors in selection of measurable targets, intercurrent diseases, and radiologic technical problems. These reasons for disagreements are analyzed and discussed. We conclude that all therapeutic trial results should be reviewed by peer analysis of all presumed responders by an EC. International guidelines for response evaluation should be updated by including more reliable methods of measurements and definition of minimal imaging procedures.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Assessment of osteosarcoma response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy: comparative usefulness of dynamic gadolinium-enhanced spin-echo magnetic resonance imaging and technetium-99m skeletal angioscintigraphy.

The aim of this work was to study and compare the usefulness of dynamic contrast-enhanced spin-echo MR imaging with high temporal resolution hydroxymethylene diphosphonate technetium-99 m skeletal angioscintigraphy in predicting the osteosarcoma histological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Twelve patients with resectable osteosarcoma were prospectively monitored with dynamic MR imaging and skeletal scintigraphy before start of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, after two cycles of therapy and before surgery. Neoplasm signal intensity and activity intensity were plotted against time, and slopes were calculated for percentage increase over baseline values in the first minute. Stability and increase in slope values during or after chemotherapy were defined as a "radiological non-response". Changes in slopes were compared with the "histological response" (Huvos grading). At midpoint of the chemotherapy, these two imaging modalities failed in predicting final histological response. After the completion of the chemotherapy, these imaging modalities allowed the prediction of histological response with the same accuracy (91 %). In this series, dynamic MR imaging and technetium skeletal scintigraphy provide similar results regarding the prediction of final histological response during neoadjuvant chemotherapy; these results cannot be used to modify the therapeutic protocol at midpoint of chemotherapy; these imaging tools predict accurately the histological response at the end of chemotherapy. These latter results may permit anticipation of the adjuvant chemotherapy strategy during decalcification procedures in resected osteosarcoma and thus to monitor chemotherapy in non-surgical osteosarcoma.

Adolescent↗

High-dose methotrexate and HELP [Holoxan (ifosfamide), eldesine (vindesine), platinum]--doxorubicin in non-metastatic osteosarcoma of the extremity: a French multicentre pilot study. Fédération Nationale des Centres de Lutte contre le Cancer and Société Française d'Oncologie Pédiatrique.

UNLABELLED: This study evaluates histological response, long-term outcome, and toxicity in an intensive chemotherapy program given before surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-two patients (39 males, 23 females: median age 14) with biopsy, chest computerised-tomography, technetium bone-scan and magnetic resonance imaging, were enrolled. Primary localisations were femur (44%) and tibia (26%). Induction chemotherapy involved seven courses of high-dose methotrexate and two courses of HELP (ifosfamide, eldesine (vindesine), cisplatin (platinum)-doxorubicin. After surgery, patients received six courses of high-dose methotrexate and two courses of HELP-doxorubicin. RESULTS: Pre- and postoperative toxicities were similar. Fifty-nine patients underwent surgery; histological response was good in thirty-eight patients (64%) and poor in twenty-one (36%). Median follow-up is 57 months (range 30-80), with 77% overall survival and 59% progression-free survival. In a multivariate analysis, age under 10 years is the only prognostic factor that significantly correlates with outcome. CONCLUSIONS: This regimen appears to increase histological necrosis, but associates with severe toxicity. Results for patients with less necrosis at surgery are encouraging. Future trials should determine the minimum effective doses to reduce toxicity. New drugs should be added.

Adolescent↗

[Standards, options and recommendations (SOR) for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of osteosarcoma. Groupe de travail SOR].

CONTEXT: The "Standards, Options and Recommendations" (SOR) project, started in 1993, is a collaboration between the Federation of the French Cancer Centres (FNCLCC), the 20 French Cancer Centres and specialists from French Public Universities, General Hospitals and Private Clinics. For pediatric issues, this project is a collaboration between the FNCLCC and the French Society of Pediatric Oncology (SFOP). The main objective is the development of clinical practice guidelines to improve the quality of health care and outcome for cancer patients. The methodology is based on literature review and critical appraisal by a multidisciplinary group of experts, with feedback from specialists in cancer care delivery. OBJECTIVES: To develop clinical practice guidelines according to the definitions of Standards, Options and Recommendations for the clinical care of osteosarcoma in children and adult. METHODS: Data have been identified by literature search using Medline (1985-december 1998) and the expert groups personal reference lists. The main criteria considered were incidence, risk factors, prognostic factors and efficacy of treatment. Once the guidelines were defined, the document was submitted for review to 27 national and international independent reviewers, and to the medical committees of the 20 French Cancer Centres and, in particular, the 4 which have particular expertise in pediatric cancer management. RESULTS: The main recommendations for osteosarcoma management are that: 1) the clinical diagnosis is based on appropriate clinical and radiological findings; 2) the final diagnosis is pathological and the biopsy should be performed by the surgeon who will subsequently perform the definitive surgery; 3) surgical biopsy must be of adequate size and performed by an experienced surgeon; 4) the therapeutic strategy for osteosarcoma is based on surgery with neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy given in experienced centres. Inclusion of high dose methotrexate is recommended for children, and the dose of methotrexate must be adapted for adults. Inclusion of children in SFOP protocols and adults in EORTC and FNCLCC clinical trials is recommended; 5) treatment of metastatic osteosarcoma is based on chemotherapy and surgery to lung metastases which may be curative. Amputation is rarely appropriate. Inclusion of children in SFOP and of adult in EORTC and FNCLCC clinical trials for metastatic osteosarcoma is recommended; 6) at the present time, there are no clear data on which to base guidelines for timing and duration of follow-up studies in this condition.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Rhabdoid tumor of the kidney associated with a tumor of the posterior fossa.

We report a case of a malignant rhabdoid tumor of the kidney (MRTK) associated with a cerebellar tumor. Diagnosis was confirmed before neoadjuvant chemotherapy by a percutaneous fine-needle biopsy of the abdominal tumor. The clinical and radiologic features of this rare association of childhood neoplasms are reviewed.

Biopsy, Needle↗

[Unusual presentation of nephroblastomatosis].

BACKGROUND: Nephrogenic rests generally constitute precursor lesions of Wilms' tumor. We report a case of right nephroblastomatosis with dysmorphic features. CASE REPORT: An enlargement of the right kidney was incidentally discovered in a 1-year-old girl with dysmorphic features but normal psychomotor development. Combined ultrasonography and computerized tomography (CT) scan showed right cortical nephroblastomatosis. Chemotherapy using actinomycin D and vincristin was successful; however, an hyperechogenic nodule was subsequently found, necessitating a right nephrectomy. CONCLUSION: The relationship between nephroblastomatosis and Wilms' tumor is discussed. This case report reminds us of the importance of a long-term follow-up including echography and CT scan in cases of nephroblastomatosis.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Chemotherapy for aggressive or anaplastic high grade oligodendrogliomas and oligoastrocytomas: better than a salvage treatment.

This series reports a pilot study of chemotherapy conducted for newly diagnosed and relapsing patients with oligodendrogliomas and oligoastrocytomas. Twenty-three patients with clinically or histologically aggressive tumours were eligible to receive procarbazine CCNU and vincristine (PCV) chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy in previously non irradiated patients. Sixteen (69%) responded to chemotherapy with complete responses in two patients and partial responses in 14. Previously irradiated patients were as likely to respond to PCV as those previously non irradiated. An over 1-year history of seizures was the main clinical prognostic factor of response. All toxicities were manageable and no treatment related deaths occurred. Chemotherapy is an effective treatment in aggressive oligodendrogliomas. Further studies must assess the role of chemotherapy in the multidisciplinary management of oligodendroglioma.

Adolescent↗