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Updated: May 10, 2026
Isolation, Enrichment, and Maintenance of Medulloblastoma Stem Cells
Published on: September 1, 2010
Final height and insulin-like growth factor-1 in children with medulloblastoma treated with growth hormone
Hyun Wook Chae1, Young Seok Park, Dong Seok Kim
1Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 120-752, Republic of Korea.
Insights
Early growth hormone (GH) treatment improves height in children with medulloblastoma. Younger age at treatment initiation and increased insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels are key factors for better growth outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Endocrinology
- Growth Disorders
Background:
- Medulloblastoma is a common and aggressive childhood brain tumor.
- Increasing survival rates necessitate focus on long-term sequelae, including growth impairment.
- Growth hormone (GH) deficiency is a known complication in these patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate growth outcomes in children with medulloblastoma treated with GH.
- To assess the role of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and its response to GH therapy.
- To identify factors influencing growth response to GH treatment in this population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 34 children with medulloblastoma receiving GH treatment.
- Evaluation of serum IGF-1 and IGF-binding protein-3 levels.
- Assessment of growth status and changes in height standard deviation score (SDS) over time.
Main Results:
- GH deficiency was present in 82% of patients.
- Height SDS improved significantly from -2.35 at baseline to -1.42 at 3 years, and -1.54 at final height.
- Younger age at GH initiation and a significant increase in serum IGF-1 SDS correlated with greater height gain.
Conclusions:
- Initiating GH treatment at a younger age is a crucial prognostic factor for improved growth.
- The increment in serum IGF-1 levels during GH therapy is directly correlated with height gain.
- Early GH intervention and monitoring IGF-1 may optimize final height in pediatric medulloblastoma survivors.
Purpose:
Medulloblastoma is a highly malignant childhood brain tumor. Survival from medulloblastoma is increasing. This study was performed to examine growth outcomes, insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1), and response to growth hormone (GH) treatment in children with medulloblastoma.
Methods:
Retrospective analysis of 34 children treated with GH for medulloblastoma was performed. We evaluated serum IGF-1 and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 concentrations. Further, we examined growth status and changes with GH treatment according to treatment modality.
Results:
GH deficiency was observed in 28 patients (82 %). The initial height at the start of GH treatment was -2.35 ± -1.53 standard deviation score (SDS) and increased to -1.85 ± -1.28 SDS by 1 year, -1.64 ± -1.46 SDS by 2 years, and -1.42 ± -1.49 SDS by 3 years after GH treatment. The final height was -1.54 ± -1.06 SDS. Gender, surgical method, tumor location, tumor size, and type of radiation did not correlate with height gain. A younger age at the initiation of GH treatment correlated with height gain. The initial serum IGF-1 concentration was -1.73 ± -0.42 and increased significantly to -0.74 ± -0.21 SDS by 1 year after GH treatment. The serum IGF-1 SDS increment correlated significantly with height gain.
Conclusions:
Beginning GH treatment at a younger age was an important prognostic factor for growth outcome. Serum IGF-1 increment correlated with height gain during GH treatment. Thus, early GH treatment and analysis of serum IGF-1 might be helpful for improving final height or growth outcome.
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