Brainstem toxicity after proton or photon therapy in children and young adults with localized intracranial ependymoma: A French retrospective study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Ependymoma is the third most frequent childhood braintumor. Standard treatment is surgery followed by radiation therapy including proton therapy (PBT). Retrospective studies have reported higher rates of brainstem injury after PBT than after photon therapy (XRT). We report a national multicenter study of the incidence of brainstem injury after XRT versus PBT, and their correlations with dosimetric data. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included all patients aged < 25 years who were treated with PBT or XRT for intracranial ependymoma at five French pediatric oncology reference centers between 2007 and 2020. We reviewed pre-irradiation MRI, follow-up MRIs over the 12 months post-treatment and clinical data. RESULTS: Of the 83 patients, 42 were treated with PBT, 37 with XRT, and 4 with both (median dose: 59.4 Gy, range: 53­60). No new or progressive symptomatic brainstem injury was found. Four patients presented asymptomatic radiographic changes (punctiform brainstem enhancement and FLAIR hypersignal), with median onset at 3.5 months (range: 3.0­9.4) after radiation therapy, and median offset at 7.6 months (range: 3.7­7.9). Two had been treated with PBT, one with XRT, and one with mixed XRT-PBT. Prescribed doses were 59.4, 55.8, 59.4 and 54 Gy. CONCLUSION: Asymptomatic radiographic changes occurred in 4.8% of patients with ependymoma in a large national series. There was no correlation with dose or technique. No symptomatic brainstem injury was identified.

A software tool to support follow-up care in a French childhood cancer cohort: construction and feasibility.

BACKGROUND: Treatment summaries and a personalized survivorship care plans based on internationally approved, organ-specific follow-up care recommendations are essential in preserving the health and quality of life for cancer survivors. Cohorts made up of survivors of childhood cancer have made significant contributions to the understanding of early mortality, somatic late complications, and psychosocial outcomes among former patients. New treatment protocols are needed to enhance survival and reduce the potential risk and severity of late effects, and working with treatment databases is crucial in doing so. CONSTRUCTION AND CONTENT: In the GOCE (Grand Ouest Cancer de l'Enfant [Western Region Childhood Cancer]) network, in a participative approach, we developed the LOG-after medical tool, on which health data are registered and can be extracted for analysis. Its name emphasizes the tool's goal, referring to 'logiciel' (the French word for software) that focuses on the period "after" the acute phase. This tool is hosted on a certified health data server. Several interfaces have been developed that can be used depending on the user's profile. Here we present this innovative co-constructed tool that takes national aspects into account, including the results of the feasibility/satisfaction study and its perspective. UTILITY AND DISCUSSION: The database contains data relating to 2558 patients, with samples from 1702 of these (66.54%) being held in a tumor bank. The average year in which treatment started was 2015 (ranging from December 1967 to November 2022: 118 patients were treated before 2012 and registered retrospectively when seen in long-term follow-up consultations or for another cancer since November 2021). A short questionnaire was distributed to healthcare professionals using the tool (physicians and research associates or technicians, n = 14), of whom 11 answered and were all satisfied. Access to the patient interface is currently open to 124 former patients. This was initially offered to 30 former patients who were over 15 years old, affected by the disease within the last 5 years, and had agreed to test it. Their opinions were collected by their doctor by e-mail, telephone, or during a consultation in an open-ended question and a non-directive interview. All patients were satisfied with the tool, with interest in testing it in the long term. Some former patients found that the tool provided them with some ease of mind; one, for instance, commented: "I feel lighter. I allow myself to forget. I know I will get a notification when the time comes." CONCLUSIONS: Freely available to all users, LOG-after: (1) provides help with determining personalized survivorship care plans for follow-up; (2) builds links with general practitioners; (3) empowers the patient; and (4) enables health data to be exported for analysis. Database URL for presentation: https://youtu.be/2Ga64iausJE.

Post-operative flank irradiation using conformal versus highly conformal radiotherapy techniques for paediatric renal tumours: Results from the French registry PediaRT.

PURPOSE: Three-dimensional conformal RT (3D-RT) techniques are gold standard for post-operative flank radiotherapy (RT) in paediatric renal tumours. Recently, highly conformal RT (HC-RT) techniques have been implemented without comparative clinical data. The main objective of this multicentre study was to compare locoregional control (LRC) in children treated either with HC-RT or 3D-RT techniques. METHODS: Patients treated with post-operative flank RT for renal tumour registered in the national cohort PediaRT between March 2013 and September 2019 were included. Treatment and follow-up data, including toxicities and outcomes, were retrieved from the database. LRC was calculated, and dose reconstruction was performed in case of an event. RESULTS: Seventy-nine patients were included. Forty patients were treated with HC-RT and 39 with 3D-RT. Median follow-up was 4.5 years. Three patients had locoregional failure (LRF; 4%). HC-RT was not associated with a higher risk of LRF. Three-year LRC were 97.4% and 94.7% in the HC-RT and 3D-RT groups, respectively. The proportion of planning target volumes receiving 95% or more of the prescribed dose did not significantly differ between both groups (HC-RT 88%; 3D-RT 69%; p = .05). HC-RT was better achieving dose constraints, and a significant mean dose reduction was observed in the peritoneal cavity and pancreas associated with lower incidence of acute gastrointestinal toxicity. CONCLUSION: LRF after post-operative flank RT for renal tumours was rare and did not increase using HC-RT versus 3D-RT techniques. Dose to the pancreas and the peritoneal cavity, as well as acute toxicity, were reduced with HC-RT compared to 3D-RT.

Respective Roles of Surgery, Chemotherapy, and Radiation Therapy for Recurrent Pediatric and Adolescent Ependymoma: A National Multicentric Study.

PURPOSE: Half of the children and adolescents treated for intracranial ependymoma experience recurrences that are not managed in a standardized manner. This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate recurrence treatments. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We assessed overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) after a first relapse in a population of patients from the Pediatric Ependymoma Photons Protons and Imaging study (PEPPI study) who were treated with surgery and radiation therapy in French Society of Childhood Cancer reference centers between 2000 and 2013. Data were analyzed using the Cox model as well as a landmark analysis at 4 months that accounted for the guarantee-time bias. RESULTS: The median follow-up of the whole population of 202 patients was 105.1 months, with a 10-year OS of 68.2% and PFS of 45.5%. Among the 100 relapse cases, 68.0% were local relapses, 20.0% were metastatic, and 12.0% were combined (local and metastatic). Relapses were treated by surgery (n = 79) and/or reirradiation (n = 52) and/or chemotherapy (n = 22). The median follow-up after relapse was 77.8 months. The OS and PFS at 5 years were 43.1% and 16.2%, respectively. After surgery or radiation therapy of the first relapse, OS and PFS were more favorable, whereas treatments that included chemotherapy with or without focal treatment were associated with worse OS and PFS. In the multivariate analysis, stereotactic hypofractionated reirradiation after surgery was associated with a significantly better outcome (OS, P = .030; PFS, P = .008) and chemotherapy with a worse outcome (OS, P = .028; PFS, P = .033). CONCLUSIONS: This analysis of relapse treatments within the PEPPI study determined that irrespective of whether the relapse was localized or metastatic, treatments that included surgery and/or reirradiation had better outcomes.

Epiphyseal-sparing biological reconstruction of bone sarcoma in children: Focus on articular function and growth.

INTRODUCTION: Epiphyseal preservation surgery and biological reconstruction after resection of metaphyseal bone sarcoma in children is a surgical challenge which can only be justified if future joint function is maintained. HYPOTHESIS: The main hypothesis of this work was that long-term function was maintained. The secondary hypotheses were that local control of the disease and growth restoration were achieved, at the cost of an acceptable number of complications. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This was a retrospective study of 14 children with a median age of 8 years [2-14] at the time of surgery. The tumors (Ewing's sarcoma or osteosarcoma) were mostly situated at the knee (n=9) and hip (n=3). The reconstruction used an induced membrane (n=7) or an allograft (n=7). We studied joint function, mechanisms contributing to loss of growth, surgical complications and survival at the last follow-up. RESULTS: At the median follow-up of 76 months [24-130], 9 out of 14 patients required revision for non-union, and 4 of them required a second revision. At the last follow-up, 82% of the length had been restored, due to 3 bone lengthenings and 7 contralateral epiphysiodeses. Preserved joint function was excellent with an average modified MSTS score of 28.3/30 [24-30]. No local recurrence was reported. DISCUSSION: Our experience of epiphyseal preservation allows local control of the disease and very good function but at the cost of a cumbersome surgical program (12 out of 14 patients were reoperated on, with an average of 1.2 interventions per patient). The main difficulty is the growth management, most often by complex programs of alternating bone lengthening and shortening. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, retrospective study.

Results of the treatment of pineal tumors in children: the Lyon experience.

INTRODUCTION: Pineal tumors are rare and their incidence is of 1% among all pediatric tumors of the central nervous system. Patient survival depends on the histology, the extension of the surgical removal, and the efficacy of the complementary treatment (chemotherapy and cranio-spinal irradiation), as well as the age of the patient. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, we analyzed 151 pediatric patients treated for pineal tumors from 1997 to 2020 in Lyon, France. All patients were recorded in the French Register of Pineal tumors, which has been centralized and maintained in Lyon since 2010. RESULTS: Our analysis shows that benign tumors have an overall positive prognosis with total surgical removal. Concerning pineal parenchymal tumors, pinealoblastomas have a poor prognosis , especially in children less than three years old. A new pathological classification system allows for a better stratification of patient risk within different groups of patients with pineal tumors. It is also important to note that the identification of DICER 1 syndrome in families with pinealoblastomas warrant further medical investigation. Patients with Germ Cell Tumors have more favorable outcomes, with a global survival rate of 87 % and a pure germinoma survival rate of almost 97%. When analyzing the prognosis of pineal gland gliomas, otherwise known as tectal plate gliomas, pilocytic astrocytomas had a promising prognosis. Otherwise, prognosis of other tectal plate gliomas are related to the grade of malignancy and the efficacy of complementary treatment. Lastly, papillary tumors need a complete removal for the best chance of survival, and Atypical teratoid/ rabdoid tumors (AT/TR) still have a bad prognosis, regardless of surgical resection. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that, with regards to pediatric pineal region tumors, there are still areas in prognostic indicators that need to be improved. Similarly, these pathologies need to be treated via a multidisciplinary approach to improve a patient's survival rate and their quality of life.

Predicting acute severe toxicity for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas by combining dosimetry with a radiosensitivity biomarker: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: Radiotherapy (RT) against head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) may lead to severe toxicity in 30-40% of patients. The normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) models, based on dosimetric data refined the normal tissue dose/volume tolerance guidelines. In parallel, the radiation-induced nucleoshuttling (RIANS) of the Ataxia-Telangiectasia Mutated protein (pATM) is a predictive approach of individual intrinsic radiosensitivity. Here, we combined NTCP with RADIODTECT©, a blood assay derived from the RIANS model, to predict RT toxicity in HNSCC patients. METHODS: RADIODTECT© cutoff values (i.e. 57.8 ng/mL for grade⩾2 toxicity and 46 ng/mL for grade⩾3 toxicity) have been previously assessed. Validation was performed on a prospective cohort of 36 HNSCC patients treated with postoperative RT. Toxicity was graded with the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) scale and two criteria were considered: grade⩾2 oral mucositis (OM2), grade⩾3 mucositis (OM3) and grade⩾2 dysphagia (DY2), grade⩾3 dysphagia (DY3). pATM quantification was assessed in lymphocytes of HNSCC patients. The discrimination power of the pATM assay was evaluated through the Area Under the Receiver Operator Characteristics Curve (AUC-ROC). Two previously described NTCP models were considered, including the dose to the oral cavity and the mean dose to the parotid glands (OM2 and OM3) and the dose to the oral cavity, to the larynx and the volume of pharyngeal constrictor muscles (DY2 and DY3). RESULTS: Combining NTCP models with RADIODTECT© blood test improved the AUC-ROC. Considering the prediction of mucositis, AUC-ROCNTCP+RADIODTECT©=0.80 was for OM2, and AUC-ROCNTCP+RADIODTECT©=0.78 for OM3. Considering the prediction of acute dysphagia, AUC-ROCNTCP+RADIODTECT©=0.71 for DY2 and for DY3. CONCLUSIONS: Combining NTCP models with a radiosensitivity biomarker might significantly improve the prediction of toxicities for HNSCC patients.

[National meetings for complex cases in pediatric radiation oncology: Back on six years experience]. / Réunions nationales de cas complexes en radiothérapie pédiatrique : retour sur six années d'expérience.

INTRODUCTION: Pediatric cancers are rare, representing almost 2,500 new cases each year in France meaning 1% of all cancers. Since 2012, a twice-monthly national web-based conference was held in France. Any patient with a pediatric type cancer requiring radiotherapy can be discussed. It aims at answering the physician with specific radiation therapy questions on rare and complex indications, at promoting the use of referential and the inclusion into clinical protocols. RESULTS: From 2012 to 2018, 1,078 cases were discussed for 940 patients in 142 meetings. Mean age was 10 years old (4 months to 45 years). The mean number of attendants was 6 (2 to 32). We review in this paper the main clinical features discussed in the web-conference and the decision of the web-conference. In 85% cases, the first treatment proposed was mostly accepted, but in 15%, other proposals were done (modifications of target volumes, doses or indications). CONCLUSIONS: Between 2012 and 2018, more than 1,000 pediatric irradiation cases were discussed in our web-based conference leading to 15% of change in radiation protocol. The rarity and the complexity of these situations need those meetings. They provide a place to improve the global knowledge and the quality of the treatments provided.

High-dose chemotherapy followed by whole lung irradiation in pulmonary relapse Ewing's sarcomas: a retrospective multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: Regarding the efficiency of Bu-Mel-based high-dose-chemotherapy (Bu-Mel-HDCT) and whole lung irradiation (WLI), the objective was to evaluate the efficiency and safety of this salvage sequence in Ewing sarcoma (ES) lung relapses. METHODS: All eligible pediatric ES patients (1991-2020) identified in SFCE departments were retrospectively reviewed. Seven patients were (1) diagnosed with a pulmonary relapse, isolated or not, (2) naïve from both HCDT and WLI (3) treated by the salvage sequence of conventional chemotherapy, Bu-Mel-HDCT and WLI. The main endpoint was OS evaluation. WLI toxicities were scored using CTC-V5. RESULTS: With a 13 years median follow-up (FU), 5/7 patients are alive and in complete remission. 10y-EFS is 71.4%. Three patients experienced transitory radio-induced pneumopathy (RIP). A patient developed RIP (gr.3) and finally progressive lung fibrosis leading to death. CONCLUSION: This study reports seven ES patients treated for lung metastatic relapses, using an aggressive strategy, with favorable survival long-term results which should be balanced with the risk of lung toxicity. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: The approach of surgery, Bu-Mel HDCT followed by WLI can be discussed in selected ES patients with lung relapse, naive from HDCT or WLI, providing an optimal chemosensitivity. A special vigilance is necessary regarding the incidence rate of lung toxicity which can be mitigated by limiting the radiotherapy dose, and observing optimal timing of radiotherapy after HDCT.

NUT carcinoma in children, adolescents and young adults.

BACKGROUND: NUT carcinoma (NC), defined by the presence of the NUTM1 rearrangement, is an aggressive tumour associated with poor prognosis. This rare cancer is underdiagnosed and difficult to treat. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: The primary objective of this review is to describe the clinical, radiological and laboratory features of NC in young patients. The secondary objective is to propose a consensual strategy for the French very Rare Tumour group (FRACTURE group). RESULTS: NUT-specific antibody immunostaining in cases of undifferentiated or poorly differentiated carcinoma may demonstrate the specific NUT gene rearrangement. NCs are frequently advanced stage at diagnosis and the outcome remains poor despite a global strategy that generally includes conventional combination chemotherapy with wide local therapy (surgery, radiotherapy). Chemosensitivity is frequently only transient. CONCLUSION: Recent data have shown that new targeted drugs (histone deacetylase and bromodomain and extra-terminal protein inhibitors) are promising, but their role has yet to be evaluated in NC. Centralized data review is necessary to improve our knowledge of paediatric NC. We propose a multimodal strategy based on published data and their personal experience.

Toxicity and efficacy of stereotactic body radiotherapy for ultra-central lung tumours: a single institution real life experience.

OBJECTIVES: The use of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) to treat ultra-central lung tumours remains more controversial than for peripheral and central tumours. Our objective was to assess toxicities, local control (LC) rate and survival data in patients with ultra-central lung tumours treated with SBRT. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective and monocentric study about 74 patients with an ultra-central lung tumour, consecutively treated between 2012 and 2018. Ultra-central tumours were defined as tumours whose planning target volume overlapped one of the following organs at risk (OARs): the trachea, right and left main bronchi, intermediate bronchus, lobe bronchi, oesophagus, heart. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 25 months. Two patients (2.7%) showed Grade 3 toxicity. No Grade 4 or 5 toxicity was observed. 11% of patients experienced primary local relapse. LC rate was 96.7% at 1 year and 87.6% at 2 years. Median progression free survival was 12 months. Median overall survival was 31 months. CONCLUSION: SBRT for ultra-central tumours remains safe and effective as long as protecting organs at risk is treatment-planning priority. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: The present study is one of the rare to describe exclusively ultra-central tumours through real-life observational case reports. Globally, literature analysis reveals a large heterogeneity in ultra-central lung tumours definition, prescribed dose, number of fractions. In our study, patients treated with SBRT for ultra-central lung tumours experienced few Grade 3 toxicities (2.7%) and no Grade 4 or 5 toxicities, due to the highest compliance with dose constraints to OARs. LC remained efficient.

Postsurgical geometrical variations of tumor bed and brainstem during photon and proton therapy for pediatric tumors of the posterior fossa: dosimetric impact and predictive factors.

PURPOSE: Brainstem radionecrosis is an important issue during the irradiation of tumors of the posterior fossa. The aim of the present study is to analyze postsurgical geometrical variations of tumor bed (TB) and brainstem (BS) and their impact on dosimetry. METHODS: Retrospective collection of data from pediatric patients treated at a single institution. Availability of presurgical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was verified; availability of at least two postsurgical MRIs was considered a further inclusion criterion. The following metrics were analyzed: total volume, Dice similarity coefficient (DSC), and Haudsdorff distances (HD). RESULTS: Fourteen patients were available for the quantification of major postsurgical geometrical variations of TB. DSC, HD max, and HD average values were 0.47 (range: 0.08;0.76), 11.3 mm (7.7;24.5), and 2.6 mm (0.7;6.7) between the first and the second postoperative MRI, respectively. Postsurgical geometrical variations of the BS were also observed. Coverage to the TB was reduced in one patient (D95: -2.9 Gy), while D2 to the BS was increased for the majority of patients. Overall, predictive factors for significant geometrical changes were presurgical gross tumor volume (GTV) > 33 mL, hydrocephaly at diagnosis, Luschka foramen involvement, and younger age (≤ 8 years). CONCLUSION: Major volume changes were observed in this cohort, with some dosimetric impact. The use of a recent co-registration MRI is advised. The 2-3 mm HD average observed should be considered in the planning target volume/planning organ at risk volume (PTV/PRV) margin and/or robust optimization planning. Results from wider efforts are needed to verify our findings.

Hypofractionated stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in pediatric patients: preliminary toxicity results of a national prospective multicenter study.

OBJECTIVES: While hypofractionated stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) has been largely adopted in the adult setting, its use remains limited in pediatric patients. This is due, among other factors, to fear of potential toxicities of hypofractionated regimens at a young age. In this context, we report the preliminary acute (<3 months from SBRT) and middle-term (3-24 months) toxicity results of a national prospective study investigating SBRT in pediatric patients. METHODS: Between 2013 and 2019, 61 patients were included. The first 40 patients (median age: 12 y, range: 3-20) who completed a 2-year-follow-up were included in the present analysis. SBRT was used for treating lung, brain or (para)spinal lesions, either as first irradiation (35%) or in the reirradiation setting (65%). RESULTS: Acute and middle-term grade ≥2 toxicities occurred in 12.5 and 7.5% of the patients, respectively. No grade ≥4 toxicities occurred. Almost all toxicities occurred in the reirradiation setting. CONCLUSION: SBRT showed a favorable safety profile in young patients treated for lung, brain, and (para)spinal lesions. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: SBRT appeared to be safe in pediatric patients treated for multiple oncology indications. These results support further evaluation of SBRT, which may have a role to play in this patient population in the future.

Second primary cancers: a retrospective analysis of real world data using the enhanced medical research engine ConSoRe in a French comprehensive cancer center.

BACKGROUND: Second primary cancers (SPC) account for 18% of all cancers. We used the enhanced medical/health data mining tool ConSoRe to search aggregated data, analyze electronic patient records (EPR), and better characterize patients with SPC. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used ConSoRe to identify EPRs from patients with SPC referred to the regional cancer center Leon Bérard from 1993 to 2017, and examined characteristics of patients with SPC, frequencies of first primary cancer (FPC) localization in the global population of patients with SPC, and time to SPC. Data set was extracted on January 1, 2018. RESULTS: Among 296,530 EPRs, we identified 157,187 patients with FPC, including 13,002 (8%) patients with SPC. Between 2000 and 2010, the rate of SPC was 34%, and 52% of SPC were identified in the last years (2010-2017). In men, main cancers were head and neck cancer, lymphoma, and prostate carcinoma accounting for 15.6%, 12.8%, and 10.5% of FPC, while the three most common SPC were head and neck cancer (13.2%), lung cancer (11.8%) and lymphoma (9.2%). In women, breast cancers, lymphoma, and skin cancers accounted for 48.8%, 8%, and 5.1% of first cancers, and for 31.1%, 7% and 6% of SPC. CONCLUSION: The data mining tool ConSoRe contributes to access to real world data, and to better characterize patients with SPC. Expanding such approach to any comprehensive center will allow a global overview of the follow-up of patients with cancer, and help to improve long-term management and adapt surveillance.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma in children and adolescents: The EXPeRT/PARTNER diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a rare pediatric tumor. Collaborative studies performed over the last decades showed improved results compared to historical data, but standardized guidelines for diagnosis and management of pediatric NPC are still unavailable. This study presents a European consensus guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric NPC developed by the European Cooperative Study Group for Pediatric Rare Tumors (EXPeRT). Main recommendations include induction chemotherapy with cisplatin and 5-flurouracil, concomitant chemoradiotherapy in advanced disease, and to consider maintenance treatment with interferon beta (IFN-ß) for selected high-risk patients. Dose adjustments of radiotherapy based on response to induction chemotherapy may decrease the rates of long-term treatment-related complications that affect most of the survivors.

Ewing sarcoma.

Ewing sarcoma is a rare tumor that requires complex multidisciplinary management. This report describes the general management and standard radiotherapy guidelines in both North America (Children's Oncology Group) and Europe (International Society of Pediatric Oncology). Standard treatment involves multiagent induction chemotherapy followed by local treatment with surgery, definitive radiation, or a combination of surgery and radiation followed by additional chemotherapy and consolidation local treatment to metastatic sites. The data supporting the role of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation and specific radiation therapy guidelines are presented.

Management of sarcomas in children, adolescents and adults: Interactions in two different age groups under the umbrellas of GSF-GETO and SFCE, with the support of the NETSARC+ network.

Sarcomas are a rare heterogeneous group of malignant neoplasms that can arise in almost any anatomic site and any age. Close collaboration among adult and pediatric cancer specialists in the management of these tumors is of foremost importance. In this review, we present the current multidisciplinary organization in care of patients with sarcoma in France and we review the main advances made in the last decades in systemic and radiotherapy treatment in the main sarcoma types diagnosed in children, adolescents and young adults (AYA), thanks to the international collaboration.

Radical radiotherapy for paediatric solid tumour metastases: An overview of current European protocols and outcomes of a SIOPE multicenter survey.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE: About 20% of children with solid tumours (ST) present with distant metastases (DM). Evidence regarding the use of radical radiotherapy of these DM is sparse and open for personal interpretation. The aim of this survey was to review European protocols and to map current practice regarding the irradiation of DM across SIOPE-affiliated countries. MATERIALS/METHODS: Radiotherapy guidelines for metastatic sites (bone, brain, distant lymph nodes, lung and liver) in eight European protocols for rhabdomyosarcoma, non-rhabdomyosarcoma soft-tissue sarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, neuroblastoma and renal tumours were reviewed. SIOPE centres irradiating ≥50 children annually were invited to participate in an online survey. RESULTS: Radiotherapy to at least one metastatic site was recommended in all protocols, except for high-risk neuroblastoma. Per protocol, dose prescription varied per site, and information on delineation and treatment planning/delivery was generally missing. Between July and September 2019, 20/27 centres completed the survey. Around 14% of patients were deemed to have DM from ST at diagnosis, of which half were treated with curative intent. A clear cut-off for a maximum number of DM was not used in half of the centres. Regardless of the tumour type and site, conventional radiotherapy regimens were most commonly used to treat DM. When stereotactic radiotherapy was used, a wide range of fractionation regimens were applied. CONCLUSION: Current radiotherapy guidelines for DM do not allow a consistent approach in a multicentre setting. Prospective (randomised) trials are needed to define the role of radical irradiation of DM from paediatric ST.

Osteosarcoma.

Osteosarcoma is a rare tumor that requires complex multidisciplinary management. This paper reviews the general management and standard radiotherapy guidelines for osteosarcoma in both North America and Europe in a joined effort between the Children's Oncology Group and International Society of Pediatric Oncology. Standard treatment involves multiagent induction chemotherapy followed by surgical resection for local tumor control and consolidation local control to metastatic sites. Radiotherapy is reserved for cases with a marginal or incomplete resection or for definitive treatment in the case of unresectable disease. We present supporting data for the role of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy.

[Influence of age on indications and modalities of radiation therapy: What to keep in mind for adolescents and young adults?] / Impact de l'âge et radiothérapie : points clés chez les AJA.

When using radiation therapy for adolescents and young adults (AYA), paediatricians, adults' oncologists and radiation oncologists need to keep in mind several particularities through the whole therapeutic process. They embrace the indication, target volumes, prescribed dose, treatment techniques and follow-up. Indeed, the young age and the cancer features that characterised this population influence the modalities of irradiation. This article highlights the key points of AYA care with radiation therapy.