Jan de Kraker

High dose melphalan in the treatment of advanced neuroblastoma: results of a randomised trial (ENSG-1) by the European Neuroblastoma Study Group

High dose myeloablative chemotherapy (“megatherapy”), with haematopoietic stem cell support, is now widely used to consolidate response to induction chemotherapy in patients with advanced neuroblastoma.

Iodine-131-metaiodobenzylguanidine as initial induction therapy in stage 4 neuroblastoma patients over 1 year of age

PURPOSE To determine the response to radionuclide targeted therapy with I-131-metaiodobenzylguanidine ((131)I-MIBG) as induction therapy in high-risk neuroblastoma patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS The protocol dictated at least two cycles of (131)I-MIBG with a fixed dose of 7.4 and 3.7 GBq, respectively, followed by surgery, if feasible, or followed by neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery. This was followed by consolidation with four courses of chemotherapy myeloablative chemotherapy and autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT). Consolidation therapy with 13-cis-retinoic acid was given for 6 months. RESULTS Of 44 consecutive patients, 41 were evaluable after two courses of (131)I-MIBG. The objective response rate at this point was 66%. In 24 patients, (131)I-MIBG was continued as pre-operative induction treatment. Seventeen patients required additional chemotherapy before surgery. After pre-operative therapy and surgery, the overall response rate was 73%. CONCLUSION First line (131)I-MIBG-targeted therapy is a valuable tool in the treatment of MIBG-positive high-risk neuroblastoma patients.

Complete necrosis induced by preoperative chemotherapy in Wilms tumor as an indicator of low risk: report of the international society of paediatric oncology (SIOP) nephroblastoma trial and study 9.

BACKGROUND The SIOP Nephroblastoma therapeutic protocols include a period of preoperative chemotherapy followed by nephrectomy and a period of postoperative chemotherapy. From the outset, identification of low-risk groups has been an aim of the SIOP Nephroblastoma Trials and Studies. Now that 90% of children with Wilms tumor can be cured, attention is even more focused on the identification of patients who could benefit from less aggressive postoperative therapy, thus minimizing the morbidity and late effects associated with treatment. The prognostic implications of total necrosis in nephroblastoma after chemotherapy have not been investigated hitherto. PROCEDURE Between November 1, 1987 and June 30, 1993, 599 patients referred to the SIOP-9 Nephroblastoma Trial and Study were preoperatively treated and classified as stages I-IV nonanaplastic Wilms tumor. RESULTS Of these 599 patients, pathologic examination of the nephrectomy specimen revealed a completely necrotic Wilms tumor (CNWT) with no viable tumor remaining in 59 (10%): these comprised 37 stages I-III and 22 stage IV. Of these patients, 58 (98%) had no evidence of disease at 5 years vs. 90% for the rest of the cohort (P < 0.05). Stages I-III patients represented 63% of CNWT and had a 97% overall survival rate. The only death was related to veno-occlusive disease and occurred in a stage I patient in the month following nephrectomy. Stage IV patients represented 37% of CNWT (vs. only 10% of all other cases of unilateral nonanaplastic Wilms tumor) and had a 100% rate of survival. Children with CNWT were older (mean 59 months vs. 43 months); their tumor at diagnosis was larger and had regressed more significantly at subsequent ultrasound examination. The data also uphold the hypothesis that Wilms tumors of blastemic pattern are most aggressive, but also are extremely responsive to chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS Patients with unilateral nonanaplastic WT that showed total necrosis following preoperative chemotherapy had excellent outcome and should benefit from less aggressive postoperative treatment in further trials. Other very responsive tumors, such as Wilms with <10% viable tumor, should also be assessed.

Veno-occlusive disease of the liver in children treated for Wilms tumor.

INTRODUCTION Hepatotoxicity consistent with the clinical diagnosis of veno-occlusive disease (VOD) of the liver has been suspected after conventional anti-cancer chemotherapy in children. METHODS To establish the incidence of hepatotoxicity and its relationship with VOD, we analyzed toxicity data obtained on 511 children affected by Wilms tumor and treated according to the SIOP-9 protocol. They all received pre- and postnephrectomy chemotherapy using dactinomycin (AD) and vincristine (VCR) +/- other drugs +/- radiotherapy according to surgical stage and histology. RESULTS Sixty-four patients suffered at least one episode of hepatotoxicity and 41 satisfied the criteria for a clinical diagnosis of VOD. In this latter group, toxicity occurred during preoperative treatment in 15 patients and was confirmed histopathologically in 9 of the 16 liver biopsies obtained. There was a higher percentage of children aged less than 1 year at diagnosis in the VOD group than in the other patients (24% vs. 11.4%). The degree of liver damage in the younger patients seems important, as suggested by a higher increase in transaminases. VOD developed in 12% of the 68 irradiated children vs. 7% in the non-irradiated group. Statistical analysis showed an increased risk of VOD in younger patients (p < 0.001) and in those receiving radiotherapy (p < 0.001). All patients recovered after 6-180 days using supportive therapy only. CONCLUSIONS (1) 8% of children treated according to the SIOP-9 protocol, developed hepatotoxicity consistent with VOD. Excluding patients who received radiotherapy, the incidence was 6%. These figures are much higher than in earlier reports, though different diagnostic criteria were used. (2) Chemotherapy with AD and VCR seems to be a major cause of VOD. (3) Risk factors are young age and concomitant radiotherapy. (4) VOD does not prejudice positive outcome for these patients.

Characteristics and survival of 750 children diagnosed with a renal tumor in the first seven months of life: A collaborative study by the SIOP/GPOH/SFOP, NWTSG, and UKCCSG Wilms tumor study groups.

To review the clinical characteristics and survival of infants diagnosed with a primary renal tumor in the first 7 months of life.

Malignant rhabdoid tumours of the kidney (MRTKs), registered on recent SIOP protocols from 1993 to 2005: A report of the SIOP renal tumour study group

Survival data of malignant rhabdoid tumour of the kidney (MRTK) registered in SIOP trials, advocating preoperative chemotherapy, are not available. Aim To evaluate characteristics, response and survival of MRTK patients registered in recent SIOP protocols.

Characteristics and outcome of stage II and III non-anaplastic Wilms’ tumour treated according to the SIOP trial and study 93-01

PURPOSE To determine the prognosis of children with stage II and III of low or intermediate risk histology (SIOP classification) in unilateral localised Wilms tumour (WT) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy according to the trial and study of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology, SIOP 93-01. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with unilateral localised WT and stage II or III with low (LR) or intermediate risk (IR) histology between 6 months and 18 years of age, were selected from the total sample of patients registered in the SIOP 93-01 study between June 1993 and December 2001. All patients received 4 weeks of actinomycin-D/vincristine before surgery. Postoperative chemotherapy consisted of actinomycin-D, vincristine and epirubicin/doxorubicin for 27 weeks. Flank or whole abdomen irradiation was given for stage III. Event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were analysed for various subgroups. RESULTS Of 1476 registered patients 594 (40%) met the inclusion criteria for this analysis. Four hundred and two (67%) had stage II disease and 563 (95%) had intermediate risk histology. Median tumour volume was 439 ml at diagnosis and 163 ml after preoperative chemotherapy. With a median follow-up of 8 years, 5-year EFS was 90% (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 87-92%) and OS 95% (95% CI: 93-97%). Patients with stage III, blastemal type histology and a large volume at surgery had a worse outcome. CONCLUSION Treatment for stage II and III LR or IR WT is successful in a neoadjuvant setting as advised by the SIOP. Stage, tumour volume and blastemal type histology are the most important prognostic factors.

Treatment of Pulmonary Metastases in Children With Stage IV Nephroblastoma With Risk-Based Use of Pulmonary Radiotherapy

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to determine the outcome of children with nephroblastoma and pulmonary metastases (PM) treated according to International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP) 93-01 recommendations using pulmonary radiotherapy (RT) in selected patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients (6 months to 18 years) were treated with preoperative chemotherapy consisting of 6 weeks of vincristine, dactinomycin, and epirubicin or doxorubicin. If pulmonary complete remission (CR) was not obtained, metastasectomy was considered. Patients in CR received three-drug postoperative chemotherapy, whereas patients not in CR were switched to a high-risk (HR) regimen with an assessment at week 11. If CR was not obtained, pulmonary RT was mandatory. RESULTS Two hundred thirty-four of 1,770 patients had PM. Patients with PM were older (P < .001) and had larger tumor volumes compared with nonmetastatic patients (P < .001). Eighty-four percent of patients were in CR postoperatively, with 17% requiring metastasectomy. Thirty-five patients (16%) had multiple inoperable PM and required the HR protocol. Only 14% of patients received pulmonary RT during first-line treatment. For patients with PM, 5-year event-free survival rate was 73% (95% CI, 68% to 79%), and 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 82% (95% CI, 77% to 88%). Five-year OS was similar for patients with local stage I and II disease (92% and 90%, respectively) but lower for patients with local stage III disease (68%; P < .001). Patients in CR after chemotherapy only and patients in CR after chemotherapy and metastasectomy had a better outcome than patients with multiple unresectable PM (5-year OS, 88%, 92%, and 48%, respectively; P < .001). CONCLUSION Following the SIOP protocol, pulmonary RT can be omitted for a majority of patients with PM and results in a relatively good outcome.

Nephron Sparing Surgery (NSS) for Unilateral Wilms Tumor (UWT): The SIOP 2001 Experience

Total nephrectomy (TN) remains the standard treatment of unilateral Wilms tumors (uWT). The SIOP WT‐2001 protocol allowed Nephron Sparing Surgery (NSS) for polar or peripherally non‐infiltrating tumors. Aim: Inventory of the current SIOP NSS‐experience.

Treatment of relapsed Wilms tumors: lessons learned

Treatment regimens for recurrent Wilms tumor (WT) are currently designed to include drugs that are not used during primary chemotherapy, using a risk-stratified approach. Therapy of recurrent disease depends on the nature of initial treatment, and of recognized prognostic indicators inherent in the primary tumor. Several highly effective chemotherapy regimens, including ifosfamide–carboplatin–etoposide, cyclophosphamide–etoposide and carboplatin–etoposide, are considered first treatment choice for recurrent disease. While intense-dose chemotherapy is uniformly accepted to treat high-risk recurrent WTs, the optimal therapy for standard-risk children has yet to be defined, owing to the small number of such patients and their relatively better prognosis compared with high-risk recurrences. Recurrent tumors among those defined as very-high risk are likely to develop chemoresistant disease, and novel therapeutic strategies will be necessary to cure these patients. Evidence on how to properly administer surgery and radiotherapy at relapse is more fragmentary. The authors have reviewed the available experiences concerning the treatment of recurrent WT, and have attempted to provide the most up-to-date recommendations regarding the optimal risk-based treatment for these patients.