The public defence will be held as a video conference over Zoom.
The defence will follow regular procedure as far as possible, hence it will be open to the public and the audience can ask ex auditorio questions when invited to do so.
Click here to participate in the public defence
Due to copyright reasons, an electronic copy of the thesis must be ordered from the faculty. In order for the faculty to have time to process the order, it must be received by the faculty no later than 2 days prior to the public defence. Orders received later than 2 days before the defence will not be processed. Inquiries regarding the thesis after the public defence must be addressed to the candidate.
Digital Trial Lecture – time and place
Adjudication committee
- First opponent: Senior Consultant Karsten Nysom, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Second opponent: Docent Magnus Tisell, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Third member and chair of the evaluation committee: Professor II Kristin Bjordal, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo
Chair of the Defence
Professor Emeritus Stein Kvaløy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo
Principal Supervisor
Researcher Petter Brandal, Oslo University Hospital
Summary
Medulloblastoma (MB) and supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumor (CNS-PNET) are embryonal brain tumours, and they account for about 15%–20% and 2.5%, respectively, of malignant brain tumors in children and adolescents.
The aim of the thesis Paediatric and adolescent medulloblastoma and CNS-PNET in Norway 1974 – 2013: Survival, regional differences, and late effects was two-fold. First, to investigate whether there within Norway were regional differences in survival for patients with MB and CNS-PNET in the time period 1974–2013, and if so try and identify possible explanations for such differences. The second aim was to determine frequency and severity of undesirable late effects in MB and CNS-PNET survivors, and evaluate rehabilitation need.
We performed a retrospective study of patients diagnosed with MB or CNS-PNET in Norway between 1974 and 2013. Second, a clinical follow-up study focusing on late effects and rehabilitation need for MB and CNS-PNET survivors in South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority was performed. At the time of analysis, 46% of all Norwegian patients were alive. In univariable analysis, 5-year overall survival, but not 5-year event-free survival , for MB/CNS-PNET altogether was significantly better at University Hospital Of North Norway, St. Olavs Hospital Trondheim University Hospital, and Haukeland University Hospital, compared to Oslo University Hospital (68% vs 54%). We were not able to identify any possible explanations for these regional survival differences within Norway.
In the clinical follow-up study, a high burden of unwanted late effects was found in paediatric, adolescent, and adult MB and CNS-PNET survivors, in the vast majority of cases leading to unmet rehabilitation needs. It is important to note that several late effects do not occur until years or even decades following completion of anti-neoplastic treatment and these patients will therefore need life-long follow-up and rehabilitation.
Additional information
Contact the research support staff.