1
|
Lu VM, Brun JD, Niazi TN, Brun JD. Pediatric neurosurgical medulloblastoma outcomes in La Paz, Bolivia: How a Lower Middle-Income Country (LMIC) institution in South America compares to the United States. J Neurooncol 2024; 168:275-282. [PMID: 38563852 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-024-04664-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND How pediatric medulloblastoma patients fare in Lower Middle-Income Country (LMICs) in South America is not well understood. Correspondingly, the aim of this study was to summarize the pediatric neurosurgical experience of an institution in La Paz, and compare outcomes to that of a generalized High Income Country (HIC) United States (US) experience. METHODS A retrospective review of all pediatric neurosurgical medulloblastoma patients at the Children's Hospital of La Paz, Bolivia (Hospital del Niño "Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uria") between 2014 and 2023 was conducted and compared to a generalized US experience abstracted from the US National Cancer Database (NCDB) and National Inpatient Sample (NIS) databases. Categorical, continuous and survival data were statistically summarized and compared. RESULTS A total of 24 pediatric medulloblastoma patients underwent neurosurgical treatment at the Hospital del Niño. In this La Paz cohort, there were 15 (63%) males and 9 (38%) females, with a mean age of 5.6 years old at diagnosis. The majority of patients underwent subtotal resection (STR, 79%), while the remaining patients underwent biopsy only. Ten (42%) patients expired during their hospitalization, and mean length of stay overall was 39 days. Only 8 (33%) patients received adjuvant treatment after surgery. Median overall survival from diagnosis in the La Paz cohort was 1.9 months. Compared to the US databases, the La Paz cohort experienced significantly more emergency room admissions for surgery, less gross total resection, more STR, more return to operating room for ventriculoperitoneal shunting, more bacteremia, more tracheostomy procedures, more percutaneous gastrostomy placements, longer lengths of stay, less adjuvant chemotherapy, less radiation therapy, shorter follow-up, and ultimately, significantly shorter overall survival (all P < 0.050). CONCLUSIONS Pediatric neurosurgical medulloblastoma outcomes at the Children's Hospital of La Paz, Bolivia are significantly inferior to that of a generalized US experience. Future research is required to identify institution- and country-specific initiatives to improve discrepancies between institutions in LMICs in South America compared to HICs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Victor M Lu
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Hospital del Niño "Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uria", La Paz, Bolivia.
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami, Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, FL, USA.
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Nicklaus Children's Hospital, Miami, FL, USA.
| | - Jorge Daniel Brun
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Hospital del Niño "Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uria", La Paz, Bolivia
| | - Toba N Niazi
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami, Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, FL, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Nicklaus Children's Hospital, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Jorge David Brun
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Hospital del Niño "Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uria", La Paz, Bolivia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Begagić E, Pugonja R, Bečulić H, Čeliković A, Tandir Lihić L, Kadić Vukas S, Čejvan L, Skomorac R, Selimović E, Jaganjac B, Juković-Bihorac F, Jusić A, Pojskić M. Molecular Targeted Therapies in Glioblastoma Multiforme: A Systematic Overview of Global Trends and Findings. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1602. [PMID: 38002561 PMCID: PMC10669565 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13111602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
This systematic review assesses current molecular targeted therapies for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a challenging condition with limited treatment options. Using PRISMA methodology, 166 eligible studies, involving 2526 patients (61.49% male, 38.51% female, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.59/1), were analyzed. In laboratory studies, 52.52% primarily used human glioblastoma cell cultures (HCC), and 43.17% employed animal samples (mainly mice). Clinical participants ranged from 18 to 100 years, with 60.2% using combined therapies and 39.8% monotherapies. Mechanistic categories included Protein Kinase Phosphorylation (41.6%), Cell Cycle-Related Mechanisms (18.1%), Microenvironmental Targets (19.9%), Immunological Targets (4.2%), and Other Mechanisms (16.3%). Key molecular targets included Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) (10.8%), Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) (7.2%), Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) (6.6%), and Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MEK) (5.4%). This review provides a comprehensive assessment of molecular therapies for GBM, highlighting their varied efficacy in clinical and laboratory settings, ultimately impacting overall and progression-free survival in GBM management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emir Begagić
- Department of General Medicine, School of Medicine, Unversity of Zenica, Travnička 1, 72000 Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina; (E.B.)
| | - Ragib Pugonja
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Zenica, Travnička 1, 72000 Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina;
- Department of General Medicine, Primary Health Care Center, Nikole Šubića Zrinjskog bb., 72260 Busovača, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Hakija Bečulić
- Department of General Medicine, Primary Health Care Center, Nikole Šubića Zrinjskog bb., 72260 Busovača, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cantonal Hospital Zenica, Crkvice 76, 72000 Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Amila Čeliković
- Department of General Medicine, School of Medicine, Unversity of Zenica, Travnička 1, 72000 Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina; (E.B.)
| | - Lejla Tandir Lihić
- Department of Neurology, Cantonal Hospital Zenica, Crkvice 76, 72000 Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Samra Kadić Vukas
- Department of Neurology, Cantonal Hospital Zenica, Crkvice 76, 72000 Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Lejla Čejvan
- Department of General Medicine, School of Medicine, Unversity of Zenica, Travnička 1, 72000 Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina; (E.B.)
| | - Rasim Skomorac
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cantonal Hospital Zenica, Crkvice 76, 72000 Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Zenica, Travnička 1, 72000 Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina;
| | - Edin Selimović
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Zenica, Travnička 1, 72000 Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina;
| | - Belma Jaganjac
- Department of Histology, School of Medicine, University of Zenica, Travnička 1, 72000 Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina; (B.J.)
| | - Fatima Juković-Bihorac
- Department of Histology, School of Medicine, University of Zenica, Travnička 1, 72000 Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina; (B.J.)
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Zenica, Travnička 1, 72000 Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Department of Pathology, Cantonal Hospital Zenica, Crkvice 76, 72000 Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Aldin Jusić
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cantonal Hospital Zenica, Crkvice 76, 72000 Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Mirza Pojskić
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Marburg, Baldingerstr., 35033 Marburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Darfaoui M, Tahiri Y, Elomrani A, Khouchani M. Challenges in the Management of Glioblastoma in a Developing Country: Experience From the Radiotherapy Oncology Department in Marrakech, Morocco. Cureus 2023; 15:e46258. [PMID: 37908961 PMCID: PMC10615119 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.46258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Managing glioblastoma (GBM) is challenging even for the most experienced centers in high-income countries due to its infiltrative nature, its unique tumor and immune microenvironment, and the negative effect of the blood-brain barrier on the penetration of systemic therapies. In developing countries, the difficulties are even greater, mostly in relation to the lack of adequate medical infrastructure and resources. This paper highlights the disparities in GBM management between developed and developing countries. Throughout this retrospective study conducted at the Radiation Oncology Department of Mohammed VI University Hospital in Marrakech, Morocco, we investigated the management outcomes of 48 GBM patients diagnosed between 2016 and 2021. Results showed a male predominance (65%) and a mean age of 53 years. Gross total resection was achieved in 16% of the patients and subtotal resection in 80%. Adjuvant radiotherapy was pursued, with a prescribed dose of 60 Gray in 30 fractions of 2 Gray for most patients. Concurrent temozolomide was administered to 32 patients (66.6%) with favorable tolerance. However, disease progression occurred in all cases, with a median time to progression of five months and a median survival of eight months. In conclusion, a comprehensive awareness of our limitations empowers us to implement measures that secure impartial access to standard-of-care treatments for every patient in Morocco, ultimately elevating the effectiveness of therapeutic outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mouna Darfaoui
- Radiation Oncology, Mohammed VI University Hospital, Marrakech, MAR
| | - Yassir Tahiri
- Radiation Oncology, Mohammed VI University Hospital, Marrakech, MAR
| | | | - Mouna Khouchani
- Radiation Oncology, Mohammed VI University Hospital, Marrakech, MAR
| |
Collapse
|