Annette Weiser - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Annette Weiser

Research paper thumbnail of Treatment of NF1-associated Optic Pathway/Hypothalamic Gliomas in Patients With Diencephalic Syndrome

Journal of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Oct 20, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Correction to: Central nervous system tumors in children under 5 years of age: a report on treatment burden, survival and long-term outcomes

Journal of Neuro-oncology, Feb 28, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Central nervous system tumors in children under 5 years of age: a report on treatment burden, survival and long-term outcomes

Journal of Neuro-oncology, Feb 11, 2022

Purpose The challenges of treating central nervous system (CNS) tumors in young children are many... more Purpose The challenges of treating central nervous system (CNS) tumors in young children are many. These include agespecific tumor characteristics, limited treatment options, and susceptibility of the developing CNS to cytotoxic therapy. The aim of this study was to analyze the long-term survival, health-related, and educational/occupational outcomes of this vulnerable patient population. Methods Retrospective study of 128 children diagnosed with a CNS tumor under 5 years of age at a single center in Switzerland between 1990 and 2019. Results Median age at diagnosis was 1.81 years [IQR, 0.98-3.17]. Median follow-up time of surviving patients was 8.39 years [range, 0.74-23.65]. The main tumor subtypes were pediatric low-grade glioma (36%), pediatric high-grade glioma (11%), ependymoma (16%), medulloblastoma (11%), other embryonal tumors (7%), germ cell tumors (3%), choroid plexus tumors (6%), and others (9%). The 5-year overall survival (OS) was 78.8% (95% CI, 71.8-86.4%) for the whole cohort. Eightyseven percent of survivors > 5 years had any tumor-or treatment-related sequelae with 61% neurological complications, 30% endocrine sequelae, 17% hearing impairment, and 56% visual impairment at last follow-up. Most patients (72%) attended regular school or worked in a skilled job at last follow-up. Conclusion Young children diagnosed with a CNS tumor experience a range of complications after treatment, many of which are long-lasting and potentially debilitating. Our findings highlight the vulnerabilities of this population, the need for long-term support and strategies for rehabilitation, specifically tailored for young children.

Research paper thumbnail of Bridging the age gap: a review of molecularly informed treatments for glioma in adolescents and young adults

Frontiers in Oncology

Gliomas are the most common primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors and a major cause of canc... more Gliomas are the most common primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors and a major cause of cancer-related mortality in children (age <15 years), adolescents and young adults (AYA, ages 15–39 years), and adults (age >39 years). Molecular pathology has helped enhance the characterization of these tumors, revealing a heterogeneous and ever more complex group of malignancies. Recent molecular analyses have led to an increased appreciation of common genomic alterations prevalent across all ages. The 2021 World Health Organization (WHO) CNS tumor classification, 5th edition (WHO CNS5) brings forward a nomenclature distinguishing “pediatric-type” and “adult-type” gliomas. The spectrum of gliomas in AYA comprises both “pediatric-like” and “adult-like” tumor entities but remains ill-defined. With fragmentation of clinical management between pediatric and adult centers, AYAs face challenges related to gaps in medical care, lower rates of enrollment in clinical trials and additional ps...

Research paper thumbnail of Treatment of NF1-associated Optic Pathway/Hypothalamic Gliomas in Patients With Diencephalic Syndrome

Journal of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Oct 20, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Correction to: Central nervous system tumors in children under 5 years of age: a report on treatment burden, survival and long-term outcomes

Journal of Neuro-oncology, Feb 28, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Central nervous system tumors in children under 5 years of age: a report on treatment burden, survival and long-term outcomes

Journal of Neuro-oncology, Feb 11, 2022

Purpose The challenges of treating central nervous system (CNS) tumors in young children are many... more Purpose The challenges of treating central nervous system (CNS) tumors in young children are many. These include agespecific tumor characteristics, limited treatment options, and susceptibility of the developing CNS to cytotoxic therapy. The aim of this study was to analyze the long-term survival, health-related, and educational/occupational outcomes of this vulnerable patient population. Methods Retrospective study of 128 children diagnosed with a CNS tumor under 5 years of age at a single center in Switzerland between 1990 and 2019. Results Median age at diagnosis was 1.81 years [IQR, 0.98-3.17]. Median follow-up time of surviving patients was 8.39 years [range, 0.74-23.65]. The main tumor subtypes were pediatric low-grade glioma (36%), pediatric high-grade glioma (11%), ependymoma (16%), medulloblastoma (11%), other embryonal tumors (7%), germ cell tumors (3%), choroid plexus tumors (6%), and others (9%). The 5-year overall survival (OS) was 78.8% (95% CI, 71.8-86.4%) for the whole cohort. Eightyseven percent of survivors > 5 years had any tumor-or treatment-related sequelae with 61% neurological complications, 30% endocrine sequelae, 17% hearing impairment, and 56% visual impairment at last follow-up. Most patients (72%) attended regular school or worked in a skilled job at last follow-up. Conclusion Young children diagnosed with a CNS tumor experience a range of complications after treatment, many of which are long-lasting and potentially debilitating. Our findings highlight the vulnerabilities of this population, the need for long-term support and strategies for rehabilitation, specifically tailored for young children.

Research paper thumbnail of Bridging the age gap: a review of molecularly informed treatments for glioma in adolescents and young adults

Frontiers in Oncology

Gliomas are the most common primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors and a major cause of canc... more Gliomas are the most common primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors and a major cause of cancer-related mortality in children (age <15 years), adolescents and young adults (AYA, ages 15–39 years), and adults (age >39 years). Molecular pathology has helped enhance the characterization of these tumors, revealing a heterogeneous and ever more complex group of malignancies. Recent molecular analyses have led to an increased appreciation of common genomic alterations prevalent across all ages. The 2021 World Health Organization (WHO) CNS tumor classification, 5th edition (WHO CNS5) brings forward a nomenclature distinguishing “pediatric-type” and “adult-type” gliomas. The spectrum of gliomas in AYA comprises both “pediatric-like” and “adult-like” tumor entities but remains ill-defined. With fragmentation of clinical management between pediatric and adult centers, AYAs face challenges related to gaps in medical care, lower rates of enrollment in clinical trials and additional ps...