In Euro‐EWING99‐R1 randomized trial, cyclophosphamide was shown to be noninferior to ifosfamide in the consolidation of standard‐risk Ewing sarcoma (SR‐EWS) after a common induction with VIDE ...(vincristine‐ifosfamide‐doxorubicin‐etoposide). We present the results of the late effects analysis of VAC (vincristine‐dactinomycin‐cyclophoshamide) vs VAI (vincristine‐dactinomycin‐ifosfamide) conducted in Euro‐EWING99‐R1 French cohort. Of 267 French randomized patients, 204 were alive and free‐of‐relapse at 5‐years including 172 with available long‐term follow‐up data concerning cardiac, renal and/or gonadal functions (sex‐ratio M/F = 1.3, median age at diagnosis = 14 years): 84 randomized in VAC (median cumulative doses: cyclophosphamide = 9.7 g/m2, ifosfamide = 59.4 g/m2) and 88 in VAI (ifosfamide = 97.1 g/m2). With a median follow‐up of 10 years (range = 5‐17), five late relapses and five second malignancies were recorded. The 10‐year event‐free survival among 5‐year free‐of‐relapse survivors was similar between VAC and VAI (93% vs 95%, P = .63). We estimated the 10‐year cumulative probabilities of cardiac and kidney toxicities at 4.4% (95% confidence interval 95% CI = 1.1%‐7.6%) and 34.8% (95% CI = 26.8%‐42.0%), respectively. Cardiac toxicity cumulative probability was similar in both arms, whereas kidney toxicity was higher in VAI (at 10 years, 43.0% vs 25.7%, P = .02), resulting from significant difference in glomerular toxicity (31.1% vs 13.1%, P < .01). At 10 years, gonadal toxicity was observed in 27% and 28% of pubertal men and women, respectively, without significant difference between VAC and VAI. Kidney and gonadal toxicities represent major issues in Euro‐EWING99‐R1, with significantly higher risk of kidney toxicities with VAI, without significant gonadal toxicity reduction. These results support the need to limit cumulative doses of both alkylating agents and to use mixed regimen as in VIDE‐VAC or VDC/IE (vincristine‐doxorubicin‐cyclophoshamide/ifosfamide‐etoposide).
What's new?
The Euro‐EWING99‐R1 trial compared the alkylating agents cyclophosphamide with ifosfamide in combination treatment for Ewing sarcoma. Here, the authors compare the late events between the two combination treatments using data from 172 patients enrolled in Euro‐EWING99‐R1. The combination containing ifosfamide carried a higher risk of kidney toxicity, but both regimens carried high rates of gonadal toxicity. Some of this toxicity could be avoided, they suggest, by using a mixed regimen to limit the dose of both alkylating agents.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
The R2Pulm trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of busulfan-melphalan high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem-cell rescue (BuMel) without whole-lung irradiation (WLI) on event-free survival ...(main end point) and overall survival, compared with standard chemotherapy with WLI in Ewing sarcoma (ES) presenting with pulmonary and/or pleural metastases.
From 2000 to 2015, we enrolled patients younger than 50 years of age with newly diagnosed ES and with only pulmonary or pleural metastases. Patients received chemotherapy with six courses of vincristine, ifosfamide, doxorubicin, and etoposide (VIDE) and one course of vincristine, dactinomycin, and ifosfamide (VAI) before either BuMel or seven courses of VAI and WLI (VAI plus WLI) by randomized assignment. The analysis was conducted as intention to treat. The estimates of the hazard ratio (HR), 95% CI, and
value were corrected for the three previous interim analyses by the inverse normal method.
Of 543 potentially eligible patients, 287 were randomly assigned to VAI plus WLI (n = 143) or BuMel (n = 144). Selected patients requiring radiotherapy to an axial primary site were excluded from randomization to avoid excess organ toxicity from interaction between radiotherapy and busulfan. Median follow-up was 8.1 years. We did not observe any significant difference in survival outcomes between treatment groups. Event-free survival was 50.6% versus 56.6% at 3 years and 43.1% versus 52.9% at 8 years, for VAI plus WLI and BuMel patients, respectively, resulting in an HR of 0.79 (95% CI, 0.56 to 1.10;
= .16). For overall survival, the HR was 1.00 (95% CI, 0.70 to 1.44;
= .99). Four patients died as a result of BuMel-related toxicity, and none died after VAI plus WLI. Significantly more patients in the BuMel arm experienced severe acute toxicities than in the VAI plus WLI arm.
In ES with pulmonary or pleural metastases, there is no clear benefit from BuMel compared with conventional VAI plus WLI.
Summary
The nucleoside analogue, 2‐chlorodeoxyadenosine (2CDA), was reported to be an active treatment for childhood Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) without risk organ (RO−) involvement. However, ...we lack data on long‐term effects of 2CDA treatment, including the disease reactivation rate, permanent sequelae and long‐term tolerance. This study included 44 children from the French LCH registry, treated for a RO− LCH with 2CDA monotherapy (median number of six courses). The median age at the beginning of 2CDA was 3·6 years (range, 0·3–19·7 years) and the median follow‐up after was 5·4 years (range, 0·6–15·1 years). Objective response to 2CDA was observed in 25 patients (56·8%), while six patients (13·6%) had stable disease and 13 patients (29·5%) exhibited progressive disease. Among patients without progression, only two experienced disease reactivation after 2CDA discontinuation. The five‐year cumulative incidence of disease progression or reactivation after 2CDA therapy initiation was 34·3%. The lymphopenia reported in all cases 72% below absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) of 0·5 G/l, was addressed with appropriate prophylactic measures. Other toxicities above grade 2 were uncommon, and no second malignant neoplasm or neuropathy was reported. The five‐year overall survival was 97·7%. In conclusion, we could confirm that 2CDA monotherapy was a beneficial long‐term therapy for treating patients with RO− LCH. Appropriate management of induced immune deficiency is mandatory.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
The aim of this study was to investigate the role of radiation dose received to the circle of Willis (WC) during radiation therapy (RT) and of potential dose-response modifiers on the risk of stroke ...after treatment of childhood cancer.
We evaluated the risk factors for stroke in a cohort of 3172 5-year survivors of childhood cancer who were followed up for a median time of 26 years. Radiation doses to the WC and brain structures were estimated for each of the 2202 children who received RT.
Fifty-four patients experienced a confirmed stroke; 39 were ischemic. Patients not receiving RT had a stroke risk similar to that of the general population, whereas those who received RT had an 8.5-fold increased risk (95% confidence interval CI: 6.3-11.0). The excess of incidence of stroke increased yearly. The dose of radiation to the WC, rather than to other brain structures, was found to be the best predictor of stroke. The relative risk was 15.7 (95% CI: 4.9-50.2) for doses of 40 Gy or more. At 45 years of age, the cumulative stroke incidence was 11.3% (95% CI: 7.1%-17.7%) in patients who received 10 Gy or more to the WC, compared with 1% expected from general population data. Radiation doses received to the heart and neck also increased the risk. Surgery for childhood brain cancer was linked to hemorrhagic strokes in these patients.
The WC should be considered as a major organ at risk during RT for childhood brain cancers. The incidence of radiation-induced ischemic stroke strongly increases with long-term follow-up.
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GEOZS, IJS, NUK, OILJ, UL, UM, UPUK
In most countries, reference chemotherapy for osteosarcoma is MAP regimen (M = high-dose methotrexate, AP = doxorubicin-cisplatinum). In France, the standard preoperative chemotherapy for ...children/adolescents combines M and etoposide-ifosfamide (EI), based on the OS94-trial. We report the safety and efficacy results of patients ≤25 years treated with preoperative M-EI regimen enroled in the French OS2006-study, between 2007 and 2014.
Treatment comprised preoperative chemotherapy with the 7 M-courses and 2 EI-courses, then surgery and postoperative chemotherapy assigned by risk's groups: standard-risk (good histological response without metastases) received 12 M-courses, 3 EI-courses; high-risk (poor histologic response, initial metastases or unresectable primary) received 5 M-courses alternated with 5 AP-courses. 253 patients were randomised to receive (n = 128) or not (n = 125) zoledronate.
409/522 patients enroled in the OS2006 study who received preoperative M-EI were analysed. Median age was 14.3 years (4.7–24.5), with 55 patients aged 18–25 years. Primary tumour location was limb in 383 patients (94%) and 85 (21%) presented metastases. Median chemotherapy duration was 37.4 weeks. 381 (96%) patients underwent surgery, 258 patients (65%) had a good histologic response. 187/324 patients (58%) with localised disease did not receive doxorubicin nor cisplatinum. Toxicity was evaluated in the randomised study: most patients experienced ≥1 severe toxicity (grade IV haematological or grade III/IV extra-haematological). Median follow-up was 4.8 years, and 168 patients had events. Five-year event-free survival was 56% (95% CI, 51–62%) and overall survival 71% (66–76%).
M-EI regimen/strategy was feasible for patient aged ≤25 years with survival rates are comparable to those obtained with MAP regimen.
•Paediatric and young adult methotrexate-based chemotherapy regimen of OS2006 protocol.•Event-free survival and overall survival rates were similar to those with standard Methotrexate-Doxorubicin-Cisplatinum (MAP) regimen used worldwide.•First-line treatment with doxorubicin and cisplatinum was avoided in 58% patients with localised tumours.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Background
The role of tumor molecular profiling in directing targeted therapy utilization remains to be defined for pediatric tumors. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a sequencing and ...molecular biology tumor board (MBB) program, and its clinical impact on children with solid tumors.
Procedure
We report on a single‐center MBB experience of 60 pediatric patients with a poor prognosis or relapsed/refractory solid tumors screened between October 2014 and November 2015. Tumor molecular profiling was performed with panel‐based next‐generation sequencing and array comparative genomic hybridization.
Results
Mean age was 12 ± 5.7 years (range 0.1–21.5); main tumor types were high‐grade gliomas (n = 14), rare sarcomas (n = 9), and neuroblastomas (n = 8). The indication was a poor prognosis tumor at diagnosis for 16 patients and relapsed (n = 26) or refractory disease (n = 18) for the remaining 44 patients. Molecular profiling was feasible in 58 patients. Twenty‐three patients (40%) had a potentially actionable finding. Patients with high‐grade gliomas had the highest number of targetable alterations (57%). Six of the 23 patients subsequently received a matched targeted therapy for a period ranging from 16 days to 11 months. The main reasons for not receiving targeted therapy were poor general condition (n = 5), pursuit of conventional therapy (n = 6), or lack of pediatric trial (n = 4).
Conclusions
Pediatric molecular profiling is feasible, with more than a third of patients being eligible to receive targeted therapy, yet only a small proportion were treated with these therapies. Analysis at diagnosis may be useful for children with very poor prognosis tumsors.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Childhood or adolescent cancer survivors are at increased risks of subsequent primary neoplasms (SPN) of the central nervous system (CNS) after cranial irradiation. In a large multicentric cohort, we ...investigated clinical and therapeutic factors associated with the long-term risk of CNS SPN, and quantified the dose-response relationships.
We selected all CNS SPN cases diagnosed up to 2016 among members of the French Childhood Cancer Survivor Study at least 5 years after first cancer diagnosis in 1946-2000. Four controls per case were randomly selected within the cohort and matched by sex, year of/age at first cancer diagnosis, and follow-up time. On the basis of medical and radiological reports, cumulative radiation doses received to the SPN or matched location were retrospectively estimated using mathematical phantoms. We computed conditional logistic regression models.
Meningioma risk significantly increased with higher radiation doses excess OR per Gy (EOR/Gy) = 1.377;
< 0.001; 86 cases; median latency time = 30 years, after adjustment for reported genetic syndromes and first CNS tumor. It was higher among youngest individuals at first cancer diagnosis, but did not vary with follow-up time. On the opposite, radiation-related glioma risk (EOR/Gy = 0.049;
= 0.11; 47 cases; median latency time = 17 years) decreased over time (
for time effect = 0.05). There was a significant association between meningioma risk and cumulative doses of alkylating agents, but no association with growth hormone therapy.
The surveillance of patients with cranial irradiation should continue beyond 30 years after treatment.
The identified risk factors may inform long-term surveillance strategies.
We report survival and late effects analysis of TGM95 study for childhood (≤18 years) ovarian nonseminomatous germ cell tumors (NS‐GCT). Patients with localized tumors (FIGO‐stage IA) had no adjuvant ...treatment (low‐risk, LR). Patients with advanced‐stage received 3‐5 VBP (vinblastin‐bleomycin‐cisplatin) in intermediate‐risk group (IR: FIGO‐stage IC‐II‐III and AFP < 15 000 ng/mL) or 4‐6 VIP (etoposide‐ifosfamide‐cisplatin) in high‐risk group (HiR: metastatic or AFP ≥ 15 000 ng/mL). Seventy‐seven patients were included (median age = 12 years): 14 LR (13 FIGO‐stage IA, 1 retrospectively IC), 26 IR (12 IC, 12 II‐III, 2 not‐available) and 37 HiR (2 IA with AFP ≥ 15 000 ng/mL, 27 II‐III, 8 IV). After a median follow‐up of 13.4 years, 12 events (eight relapses) and six deaths (two GCT‐related, two due to acute myeloid leukemia and two noncancer related) occurred. All relapses (6 LR, 1 IR) occurred within 2 years. Four contralateral mature teratomas were observed within 8 years. Five‐year EFS and OS were 88.2% (95%CI = 79‐94%) and 94.6% (95%CI = 87‐98%). Seven patients (9%) had bilateral gonadectomy. Among 51 survivors at 2 years aged >15 years (median = 26 years) with remaining ovarian tissue, all had developed spontaneous puberty and 21 (41%) had at least one pregnancy (including two with infertility treatment). Among 69 patients treated with platinum‐based chemotherapy, chronic‐kidney‐disease was diagnosed in four patients (three after VIP) and significant ototoxicity occurred in three (all grade‐2). Childhood ovarian NS‐GCTs have an excellent prognosis with few late effects. The low‐intensive etoposide‐free VBP regimen could be an alternative in children with IR disease especially in cases of tumor rupture. The risk of contralateral mature teratoma needs regular monitoring of the remaining ovary.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
STUDY QUESTION
What is the effect of different alkylating agents used without pelvic radiation to treat childhood cancer in girls on the ovarian reserve in survivors?
SUMMARY ANSWER
Ovarian reserve ...seems to be particularly reduced in survivors who received procarbazine (in most cases for Hodgkin lymphoma) or high-dose chemotherapy; procarbazine but not cyclophosphamide dose is associated with diminished ovarian reserve.
WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY
A few studies have demonstrated diminished ovarian reserve in survivors after various combination therapies, but the individual role of each treatment is difficult to assess.
STUDY DESIGN
Prospective cross-sectional study, involving 105 survivors and 20 controls.
PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS
One hundred and five survivors aged 17–40 years and 20 controls investigated on Days 2–5 of a menstrual cycle or Day 7 of an oral contraceptive pill-free interval. Main outcome measures: ovarian surface area (OS), total number of antral follicles (AFC), serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH).
MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE
Survivors had a lower OS than controls: 3.5 versus 4.4 cm2 per ovary (P = 0.0004), and lower AMH levels: 10.7 versus 22 pmol/l (P = 0.003). Ovarian markers (OS, AMH, AFC) were worse in patients who received high-dose compared with conventional-dose alkylating agents (P = 0.01 for OS, P = 0.002 for AMH, P < 0.0001 for AFC). Hodgkin lymphoma survivors seemed to have a greater reduction in ovarian reserve than survivors of leukaemia (P = 0.04 for AMH, P = 0.01 for AFC), sarcoma (P = 0.04 for AMH, P = 0.04 for AFC) and other lymphomas (P = 0.04 for AFC). A multiple linear regression analysis showed that procarbazine but not cyclophosphamide nor ifosfamide dose was associated with reduced OS (P = 0.0003), AFC (P = 0.0007), AMH (P < 0.0001) and higher FSH levels (P < 0.0001).
LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION
The small percentage of participating survivors (28%) from the total cohort does not allow conclusion on fertility issues because of possible response bias. The association between procarbazine and HL makes it impossible to dissociate their individual impacts on ovarian reserve. The number of controls is small, but ovarian volume and AMH levels in survivors were compared with published normal values and results were unchanged.
WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS
Early detection and follow-up of compromised ovarian function after cancer therapy should help physicians to counsel young survivors about their fertility window. However, longitudinal follow-up is required to determine the rate of progression from low ovarian reserve to premature ovarian failure.
STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)
La Ligue contre le Cancer (grant no., PRAYN7497). The authors have no competing interests to disclose.
BACKGROUND—Cardiac disease (CD) is one of the major side effects of childhood cancer therapy, but until now little has been known about the relationship between the heart radiation dose (HRD) ...received during childhood and the risk of CD.
METHODS AND RESULTS—The cohort comprised 3162 5-year survivors of childhood cancer. Chemotherapy information was collected and HRD was estimated. There were 347 CDs in 234 patients, 156 of them were rated grade ≥3. Cox and Poisson regression models were used. The cumulative incidence of any type of CD at 40 years of age was 11.0% (95% confidence interval CI, 9.5–12.7) and 7·4% (95% CI, 6.2–8.9) when only the CDs of grade ≥3 were considered. In comparison with patients who received no anthracycline and either no radiotherapy or an HRD<0·1Gy, the risk was multiplied by 18·4 (95% CI, 7.1–48.0) in patients who had received anthracycline and no radiotherapy or a HRD <0.1Gy, by 60.4 (95% CI, 22.4–163.0) in those who had received no anthracycline and an HRD≥30Gy, and 61.5 (95% CI, 19.6–192.8) in those who had received both anthracycline and an HRD≥30Gy.
CONCLUSIONS—Survivors of childhood cancers treated with radiotherapy and anthracycline run a high dose-dependent risk of developing CD. CDs develop earlier in patients treated with anthracycline than in those treated without it.