title: Pediatric diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma patients from a single center.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prognosis of children with diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG) is dismal. This study aims to evaluate the characteristics and treatment outcome of children with DIPG in a single center.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the outcome of children with DIPG treated at the Oncology Institute of Istanbul University from February 1999 to May 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty children (26 female, 24 male) with the median age of 7 years were analyzed. The median duration of symptoms was 30 days. All patients received radiotherapy (RT). Before the year 2000, 12 patients received only RT. Thirty-eight had concomitant and/or adjuvant chemotherapy with RT. Between 2000 and 2004, 17 patients received cis-platinum or vincristine as sensitizers during RT and CCNU + vincristine combination after RT. Since 2004, 21 patients received temozolomide (TMZ) concomitantly during RT and as adjuvant chemotherapy after RT. The median survival time of all patients was 13 months (1-160 months). Patients receiving RT + TMZ had a significantly higher overall survival than patients with only RT (p = 0.018). Patients receiving RT + chemotherapy other than TMZ also had a significantly higher overall survival than patients receiving only RT (p = 0.013). Patients receiving RT + TMZ + and chemotherapy other than TMZ had a significantly higher survival than patients receiving only RT (p = 0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our series, patients receiving RT + TMZ and also patients receiving RT + chemotherapy other than TMZ had a significantly higher overall survival than patients treated with only RT. Hence, administering chemotherapy during and after RT seems to prolong survival in some DIPG patients.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty and Oncology Institute, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey. rejinkebudi@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Rejin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kebudi
authors.forename: Fatma Betul
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Cakir
authors.forename: Fulya Yaman
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Agaoglu
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gorgun
authors.forename: Inci
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ayan
authors.forename: Emin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Darendeliler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020295:Brain Stem Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011149:Pons / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014750:Vincristine / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D014750:Vincristine