Early and late complications
Insulin resistance and body composition in young adults after stem-cell transplantation in childhood
Frisk, Öberg, et al.
Hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT), which is often added to a previous leukemia treatment, may give rise to a number of late-effects. Apart from cardio toxic effects of treatment (chemo- and radiotherapy) there is an increasing number of studies that show that persons who have gone thorough HSCT also have an increased risk of developing cardio-metabolic risk factors such as obesity, disturbed sugar metabolism, increased blood lipids and increased blood pressure which increase the risk for cardio vascular disease and diabetes.
Late cognitive effects after CNS-radiotherapy in children with cancer
Ljungman, Söderström, et al.
Cognitive, psychosocial and health-related complications after CNS radiotherapy will be studied and compared with radiotherapy plans and results from eye movement measurements. Comparisons will be made with an age matched healthy control group. The study will generate new knowledge about radiation related late-effects and improve neuropsychological screening- and rehabilitation methods that we plan to use in a future prospective study for all children in Sweden who receive proton radiotherapy at the Skandion Clinic in Uppsala.
Glioneuronal tumors in children; clinical picture, long term outcomes and possible novel treatments
Ahlsten, et al.
The overarching goal was to describe and study long term prognosis with regard to epilepsy, neurological late-effects, cognitive difficulties, health related quality of life, psychiatric problems and future education and professional development. Furthermore occurrence of somatostatin receptors and mTOR activation in the tumors will be investigated to see if treatment with somatostatin analogues and/or mTOR inhibitors could be potential treatments for patients with inoperable tumors and/or therapy resistant epilepsy.
Follow up study of children and adolescents with low-grade astrocytoma in the posterior fossa in the Uppsala-Örebro region 1995–2011
Frisk, Kristiansen, et al.
Low-grade astrocytoma is the most common type of brain tumor in childhood and the cerebellum is the most common location. Mortality is low but knowledge about long term survival and prognosis neurologically and cognitively is scarce. The aim of the project is to investigate whether patients treated for low grade astrocytoma have complications which affect physical and psychological health, cognitive function and quality of life and if this affects the psychosocial and educational situation during childhood and adulthood.
Interventions for procedural pain in children and adolescents with cancer
Ljungman, Hedén, Kamsvåg Magnusson et al.
Pain is a major problem for children with cancer. Pain can be procedure-related, treatment-related (side-effects of treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy), and cancer-related. In this project, we study procedure-related pain and different pharmacological and psychological interventions in RCTs.
Interventions for oral mucositis in children and adolescents with cancer
Ljungman, Kamsvåg Magnusson, Thorsell, Blacker, et al.
Oral mucositis is a painful condition with inflammation and ulceration of the mucous membranes in the mouth, caused by chemo- and radiotherapy and is particularly frequent in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Pain intensity varies, but the pain is often so severe that the patient is unable to eat solid food or even to consume liquids. In very severe cases the patient cannot talk, nor swallow saliva. Specific pharmacological and psychological interventions that may prevent or can reduce oral mucositis symptoms are evaluated in RCTs.
Pharmacogenetics in chemotherapy-induced toxicity in children with a focus on marrow toxicity
Ljungman, Hansson, Green, Wadelius, Paulsson, et al.
The overall goal of this project is to, by identifying different genetic variants that may increase the risk of chemotherapy-induced toxicity, improve the treatment with chemotherapy for children with cancer, thus reducing the risk of potentially life-threatening side effects and improving quality of life.
Vitamin D in children with cancer
Frisk, Jackmann, et al.
The aim of this project is to investigate prevalence, degree and consequences of vitamin D deficiency in children treated for cancer and to study if supplementation may reduce these consequences. Possible clinical consequences of vitamin D deficiency like infections and other reasons for hospital admissions between chemotherapy treatments will be studied, and which dose of vitamin D that is needed to reach normal levels will be investigated.