Videoconferencing is a feasible and practical twinning tool in pediatric neuro-oncology with a potentially major impact on patient care.

Successful twinning initiatives have been reported in childhood leukemia. Pediatric neuro-oncology requires a complex multidisciplinary approach and the feasibility of similar twinning programs is unknown. Twinning between King Hussein Cancer Center in Amman and the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto started with e-mail communications, and subsequently included monthly videoconferences and exchanges between institutions. The outcome of 35 newly diagnosed medulloblastoma patients (22 highrisk and 13 average-risk) treated during this period is reported. The 3-year overall survival for average risk and high-risk patients was 100 and 81%, respectively. This experience suggests that twinning may facilitate the implementation of multidisciplinary neurooncology programs in low-income countries. Videoconferencing allows interactive exchanges with a significant learning impact. ' 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Biallelic mismatch repair deficiency (bMMRD) is a cancer predisposition syndrome affecting primarily individuals from consanguinous families resulting in multiple childhood cancers including high grade gliomas (HGG). This is the first study to assess the prevalence of bMMRD among patients with HGG in countries where consanguinity is high. We collected molecular and clinical information on all children diagnosed with HGG and supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors (sPNET) between 2003 and 2013 at King Hussein Cancer Center, Jordan. Comparison was made to a similar cohort from Toronto. Clinical data regarding presence of caf e au lait macules(CAL), family history of cancer, consanguinity, pathology and treatment were collected. Tumors were centrally reviewed and tested for MMRD by immunohistochemistry of the corresponding proteins. Fortytwo patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria, including 36 with HGG. MMRD was observed in 39% of HGG of whom79% also lost MMR staining in the corresponding normal cells suggestive of bMMRD. P53 dysfunction was highly enriched in MMR deficient tumors (p 5 0.0003).The frequency of MMRD was significantly lower in Toronto cohort (23%, p 5 0.03). Both evidence of CAL and consanguinity correlated with bMMRD (p 5 0.005 and 0.05,respectively) but family history of cancer didn't. HGG with all three bMMRD risk factors had evidence of MMRD and all children affected by multiple bMMRD related cancers had identical gene loss by immunohistochemical staining. In Jordan, the frequency of clinical and immunohistochemical alterations suggestive of bMMRD in pediatric HGG is high. Genetic testing will enable appropriate counseling and cancer screening to improve survival of these patients.Biallelic mismatch repair deficiency (bMMRD) is an autosomal recessive cancer predisposition syndrome caused by a biallelic germline mutation in the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes. This is one of the most devastating cancer syndromes associated with high penetrance and mortality during childhood.1-3 The MMR genes which are known to cause this syndrome in humans are MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2. In contrast to heterozygous carriers of mutations in these genes who are at risk to develop gastrointestinal and urogenital tumors as adults, 4,5 bMMRD is characterized by a broad spectrum of early onset tumors during childhood. The most common cancers affecting children are brain tumors followed by hematological malignancies and a variety of premalignant and malignant lesions of the gastrointestinal tract. High grade gliomas (HGG) are the most common CNS tumors associated with bMMRD and are the major cause of

PurposeThe management of central nervous system tumors is challenging in low- and middle-income countries. Little is known about applicability of twinning initiatives with high-income countries in neuro-oncology. In 2004, a monthly neuro-oncology video-teleconference program was started between King Hussein Cancer Center (Amman, Jordan) and the Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto, Ontario, Canada). More than 100 conferences were held and > 400 cases were discussed. The aim of this work was to assess the sustainability of such an initiative and the evolution of the impact over time.MethodsWe divided the duration in to three eras according to the initial 2 to 3 years of work of three consecutive oncologists in charge of the neuro-oncology program at King Hussein Cancer Center. We retrospectively reviewed the written minutes and compared the preconference suggested plans with the postconference recommendations. Impact of changes on the patient care was recorded.ResultsThirty-three sets of written minutes (covering 161 cases) in the middle era and 32 sets of written minutes (covering 122 cases) in the last era were compared with the initial experience (20 meetings, 72 cases). Running costs of these conferences has dropped from $360/h to < $40/h. Important concepts were introduced, such as multidisciplinary teamwork, second-look surgery, and early referral. Suggestions for plan changes have decreased from 44% to 30% and 24% in the respective consecutive eras. Most recommendations involved alternative intervention modalities or pathology review. Most of these recommendations were followed.ConclusionVideo-teleconferencing in neuro-oncology is feasible and sustainable. With time, team experience is built while the percentage and the type of treatment modifications change. Commitment and motivation helped maintain this initiative rather than availability of financial resources. Improvement in patients’ care was achieved, in particular, with the implementation of a multidisciplinary team and the continuous effort to implement recommendations.