Choriocarcinoma in neonates and infants: A severe but curable disease.

Choriocarcinoma in neonates and infants (N-CC) is an extremely rare, but aggressive cancer, frequently observed with concomitant maternal disease. A retrospective, bi-national study of patients treated in France and Poland for infantile choriocarcinoma analysed eight cases of N-CC, median age of 6 weeks. All tumours were diffuse. Six patients received a platinum-based regimen, and five had delayed surgery on residual distant tumour sites. At the end of follow-up, four patients were in complete remission and four had died of the disease. In all but two cases, mothers had simultaneous metastatic choriocarcinoma. Even if the outcome remains poor, patients could be cured with multimodal therapy.

Oncological and endocrinological outcomes for children and adolescents with testicular and ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors. Results of the TGM13 National Registry.

RATIONALE: Sex cord-stromal tumors (SCST) are hormonally active and rare. The aim was to describe their endocrinological presentation and outcomes. METHOD: Patients (< 19 years) registered in the TGM13 registry between 2014 and 2021 for SCST were selected. RESULTS: Sixty-three ovarian SCST (juvenile granulosa tumor (JGT) n = 34, Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor (SLCT) n = 17, other SCST n = 12) were included. Median age was 13.1 years (0.4-17.4). Germline DICER1 pathogenic variant was present in 9/17 SLCT. Sixty-one were FIGO stage I (IC n = 14). Adjuvant chemotherapy was administered for 15. Seven had recurrence (FIGO IA n = 3, IX n = 2, III n = 2), leading to one death. With a median follow-up of 42 months (2.5-92), the 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 89% (95% CI 76%-95%). Median age was 6.4 years (0.1-12.9) among the 15 testicular SCST (Leydig cell tumor n = 6, JGT n = 5, Sertoli cell tumor n = 3, mixed SCST n = 1). Tumor-nodes-metastases (TNM) stage was pSI in 14. Eight underwent a tumorectomy, 7 an orchiectomy. None experienced recurrence. Endocrinological data were reviewed for 41 patients (18 prepubescent). Endocrine symptoms were present at diagnosis in 29/34 females and 2/7 males (gynecomastia). After a median follow-up of 11 months, 15 patients had persistent endocrine abnormalities: gynecomastia/breast growth (2 males, 1 prepubescent female), precocious/advanced puberty (4 prepubescent females), and hirsutism/menstruation disorders/voice hoarseness/hot flashes (8 pubescent females). The mean height at the last follow-up was within normal ranges (+0.3 standard deviation). CONCLUSIONS: SCSTs have a favorable prognosis. Tumorectomy appears safe with testicular primary. Endocrinological disorders, common at diagnosis, may persist warranting endocrinological follow-up.

Renal toxicity of ifosfamide in children with cancer: an exploratory study integrating aldehyde dehydrogenase enzymatic activity data and a wide-array urinary metabolomics approach.

BACKGROUND: Ifosfamide is a major anti-cancer drug in children with well-known renal toxicity. Understanding the mechanisms underlying this toxicity could help identify children at increased risk of toxicity. METHODS: The IFOS01 study included children undergoing ifosfamide-based chemotherapy for Ewing sarcoma or rhabdomyosarcoma. A fully evaluation of renal function was performed during and after chemotherapy. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and conventional biochemistry were used to detect early signs of ifosfamide-induced tubulopathy. The enzymatic activity of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) was measured in the peripheral blood lymphocytes as a marker of ifosfamide-derived chloroacetaldehyde detoxification capacity. Plasma and urine concentrations of ifosfamide and dechloroethylated metabolites were quantified. RESULTS: The 15 participants received a median total ifosfamide dose of 59 g/m2 (range: 24-102), given over a median of 7 cycles (range: 4-14). All children had acute proximal tubular toxicity during chemotherapy that was reversible post-cycle, seen with both conventional assays and NMR. After a median follow-up of 31 months, 8/13 children presented overall chronic toxicity among which 7 had decreased glomerular filtration rate. ALDH enzymatic activity showed high inter- and intra-individual variations across cycles, though overall activity looked lower in children who subsequently developed chronic nephrotoxicity. Concentrations of ifosfamide and metabolites were similar in all children. CONCLUSIONS: Acute renal toxicity was frequent during chemotherapy and did not allow identification of children at risk for long-term toxicity. A role of ALDH in late renal dysfunction is possible so further exploration of its enzymatic activity and polymorphism should be encouraged to improve the understanding of ifosfamide-induced nephrotoxicity.

Low risk of embryonic and other cancers in PIK3CA-related overgrowth spectrum: Impact on screening recommendations.

The PIK3CA-related overgrowth spectrum (PROS) encompasses various conditions caused by mosaic activating PIK3CA variants. PIK3CA somatic variants are also involved in various cancer types. Some generalized overgrowth syndromes are associated with an increased risk of Wilms tumor (WT). In PROS, abdominal ultrasound surveillance has been advocated to detect WT. We aimed to determine the risk of embryonic and other types of tumors in patients with PROS in order to evaluate surveillance relevance. We searched the clinical charts from 267 PROS patients for the diagnosis of cancer, and reviewed the medical literature for the risk of cancer. In our cohort, six patients developed a cancer (2.2%), and Kaplan Meier analyses estimated cumulative probabilities of cancer occurrence at 45 years of age was 5.6% (95% CI = 1.35%-21.8%). The presence of the PIK3CA variant was only confirmed in two out of four tumor samples. In the literature and our cohort, six cases of Wilms tumor/nephrogenic rests (0.12%) and four cases of other cancers have been reported out of 483 proven PIK3CA patients, in particular the p.(His1047Leu/Arg) variant. The risk of WT in PROS being lower than 5%, this is insufficient evidence to recommend routine abdominal imaging. Long-term follow-up studies are needed to evaluate the risk of other cancer types, as well as the relationship with the extent of tissue mosaicism and the presence or not of the variant in the tumor samples.

Neurocognitive and radiological follow-up of children under 5 years of age treated for medulloblastoma according to the HIT-SKK protocol.

BACKGROUND: The HIT-SKK protocol is used for low/standard-risk medulloblastomas in young children with the aim to eliminate cranial irradiation and its neuropsychological (NP) sequelae. This therapy includes IV and intraventricular (ITV) methotrexate (MTX) potentially responsible for leukoencephalopathy (LE) and neurocognitive disorders. This study describes the risk factors and course of LE, and investigates its correlation with neurocognitive impact. METHODS: A retrospective, multicenter study was conducted in 35 children under 5 years old, with a median follow-up of 72 months (range 14 to 130). The main analysis was performed in 30 patients who received cumulative doses of MTX as per-protocol (group 1). Five patients who received higher cumulative doses of MTX were analyzed separately. All follow-up MRIs and NP assessments were centrally reviewed by experts. RESULTS: Twenty patients in group 1 developed LE, grade 2 and 3 abnormalities did not correlate with higher cumulative doses of ITV-MTX (p = 0.698). Considering the most recent NP evaluation, the Full-Scale IQ (FSIQ) and Wechsler indices were in the average to lower average range. The FSIQ was deficient in 6/17 evaluable patients. Cumulative dose of ITV-MTX was almost associated with decreased processing speed competence (p = 0.055) which was the most frequently impaired neurocognitive domain. Neuropsychological assessment scores were not statistically lower in patients with persistent grade 2 LE at the end of follow-up. CONCLUSION: This study described that the use of cumulative dose of MTX (IV and ITV) according to the HIT-SKK protocol resulted in LE that tented to decrease over time, without significant correlation with a decline in neuro-intellectual skills.

Extracranial germ cell tumours in children and adolescents: Results from the French TGM13 protocol.

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy for non-seminomatous germ cell tumours (NSGCT) exposes to dose-dependent toxicities. The TGM13-NS protocol (EudraCT 2013-004039-60) aimed to decrease the chemotherapy burden compared to the previous TGM95 protocol while maintaining the 5-year event-free survival (EFS) at 80% or more. PROCEDURE: Patients less than 19 years of age with disseminated NSGCT were enrolled (May 2014 to May 2019) and stratified into four groups: two intermediate-risk (IR: localised tumour with low tumour markers [TM]) groups treated with VBP (vinblastine-bleomycin-cisplatin): three courses for IR1 (ovarian tumour any age/testis tumour less than or equal to 10 years) and four courses for IR2 (extragonadal tumour 10 years or less) groups, and two high-risk (HR: metastatic and/or high TM) groups treated with etoposide-cisplatin and either ifosfamide (VIP) or bleomycin (BEP): three courses for HR1 (ovarian tumour any age/testis tumour less than or equal to 10 years and low TM/testis tumour more than 10 years and very low TM) groups and four courses for HR2 (remainder) groups. RESULTS: One hundred fifteen patients were included: median age of 12.8 years (0.4-18.9); tumour sites: 44 ovaries, 37 testes and 34 extragonadal. The 5-year EFS and overall survival (OS) were 87% (95% CI: 80-92) and 95% (89-98), respectively (median follow-up: 3.5 years, range: 0.2-5.9), similar to those of the TGM95 protocol (5-year EFS 89% (84-93), 5-year OS 93% (89-95), p = .561). The 5-year EFS were 93% (95% CI: 80-98), 88% (71-95) and 79% (62-90) for ovarian, testicular and extragonadal tumours, respectively. The 5-year EFS varied (p = .02) according to the risk groups: 90% (66-97), 64% (30-85), 95% (72-99) and 87% (74-94) for IR1, IR2, HR1 and HR2, respectively. TM decline adjusted to tumour site, and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level revealed a prognostic impact of time to normalisation on EFS: HR = 1.03 (1.003-1.007). CONCLUSION: Risk-adapted and globally decreased chemotherapy burden maintains excellent outcomes, exclusive of the IR2 group, which warrants more intensive chemotherapy.

Outcome and late effects of patients treated for childhood vaginal malignant germ cell tumors.

PURPOSE: Vaginal malignant germ cell tumors (MGCT) are rare, occurring in children less than 2 years old and raise the question of the optimal local treatment. METHODS: We included children treated for vaginal MGCT according to the French TGM-95/2013 regimen. Patients were classified as standard risk (SR: localized disease and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) < 10,000 ng/mL) or high risk (HiR: metastatic and/or AFP > 10,000 ng/mL) and were treated, respectively, with three to five VBP (vinblastine-bleomycin-cisplatin) or four to six VIP (etoposide-ifosfamide-cisplatin), followed by conservative surgery and/or brachytherapy in case of post-chemotherapy residuum. RESULTS: Fourteen patients were included (median age = 12 months), of which six (43%) were classified as HiR. AFP levels were normalized after first-line chemotherapy in all cases but one. A vaginal post-chemotherapy residuum (median size = 8 mm, range: 1-24 mm) was observed in 13/14 patients, treated by complete resection in seven of 13 (viable cells in three of seven), incomplete resection in four of 13 (viable cells in two of four), with adjuvant brachytherapy in two of 13, and exclusive brachytherapy in two of 13 (viable cells in one of six). Among the six patients with viable disease, four patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. One patient (SR) experienced immediate postoperative relapse despite presenting no viable residual cells and was treated with four VIP cycles and brachytherapy. At last follow-up (median = 4.6 years, range: 0.5-16), all patients were alive in complete remission. Five patients suffered from vaginal sequelae with synechiae and/or stenosis (of whom four had undergone brachytherapy). CONCLUSION: Childhood vaginal MGCTs show a highly favorable prognosis with risk-adapted chemotherapy and local treatment of post-chemotherapy residuum (preferably by conservative surgery with partial vaginectomy). Brachytherapy could be an alternative when conservative surgery is not deemed possible or in cases of incomplete resection with residual viable cells.

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.

Imaging response assessment for CNS germ cell tumours: consensus recommendations from the European Society for Paediatric Oncology Brain Tumour Group and North American Children's Oncology Group.

Homogeneous and common objective disease assessments and standardised response criteria are important for better international clinical trials for CNS germ cell tumours. Currently, European protocols differ from those of North America (the USA and Canada) in terms of criteria to assess radiological disease response. An international working group of the European Society for Paediatric Oncology Brain Tumour Group and North American Children's Oncology Group was therefore established to review existing literature and current practices, identify major challenges regarding imaging assessment, and develop consensus recommendations for imaging response assessment for patients with CNS germ cell tumours. New clinical imaging standards were defined for the most common sites of CNS germ cell tumour and for the definition of locoregional extension. These new standards will allow the evaluation of response to therapy in patients with CNS germ cell tumours to be more consistent, and facilitate direct comparison of treatment outcomes across international studies.

The French FRACTURE database: A way to improve knowledge on management of children with very rare tumors.

INTRODUCTION: Very rare pediatric tumors (VRTs), defined by an annual incidence ≤2 per million inhabitants, represent a heterogeneous group of cancers. Due to their extremely low incidence, knowledge on these tumors is scant. Since 2012, the French Very Rare Tumors Committee (FRACTURE) database has recorded clinical data about VRTs in France. This study aims: (a) to describe the tumors registered in the FRACTURE database; and (b) to compare these data with those registered in the French National Registry of Childhood Cancer (RNCE). METHODS: Data recorded in the FRACTURE database between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2018 were analyzed. In addition, these data were compared with those of the RNCE database between 2012 and 2015 to evaluate the completeness of the documentation and understand any discrepancies. RESULTS: A total of 477 patients with VRTs were registered in the FRACTURE database, representing 97 histological types. Of the 14 most common tumors registered in the RNCE (772 patients), only 19% were also registered in the FRACTURE database. Total 39% of children and adolescent VRTs registered in the RNCE and/or FRACTURE database (323 of a total of 828 patients) were not treated in or linked to a specialized pediatric oncology unit. CONCLUSION: VRTs represent many different heterogenous entities, which nevertheless account for 10% of all pediatric cancers diagnosed each year. Sustainability in the collection of these rare tumor cases is therefore important, and a regular systematic collaboration between the FRACTURE database and the RNCE register helps to provide a more exhaustive picture of these VRTs and allow research completeness for some peculiar groups of patients.

Lessons from a large nationwide cohort of 350 children with ovarian mature teratoma: A study in favor of ovarian-sparing surgery.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian mature teratoma (OMT) is a common ovarian tumor found in the pediatric population. In 10%-20% of cases, OMT occurs as multiple synchronous or metachronous lesions on ipsi- or contralateral ovaries. Ovarian-sparing surgery (OSS) is recommended to preserve fertility, but total oophorectomy (TO) is still performed. DESIGN: This study reviews the clinical data of patients with OMT, and analyzes risk factors for second events. A national retrospective review of girls under 18 years of age with OMTs was performed. Data on clinical features, imaging, laboratory studies, surgical reports, second events and their management were retrieved. RESULTS: Overall, 350 children were included. Eighteen patients (5%) presented with a synchronous bilateral form at diagnosis. Surgery was performed by laparotomy (85%) and laparoscopy (15%). OSS and TO were performed in 59% and 41% of cases, respectively. Perioperative tumor rupture occurred in 23 cases, independently of the surgical approach. Twenty-nine second events occurred (8.3%) in a median time of 30.5 months from diagnosis (ipsilateral: eight cases including one malignant tumor; contralateral: 18 cases; both ovaries: three cases). A large palpable mass, bilateral forms, at diagnosis and perioperative rupture had a statistical impact on the risk of second event, whereas the type of surgery or approach did not. CONCLUSION: This study is a plea in favor of OSS as the first-choice treatment of OMT when possible. Close follow-up during the first 5 years is mandatory considering the risk of 8.3% of second events, especially in cases with risk factors.

Childhood ovarian nonseminomatous germ cell tumors: A highly curable disease with few long-term treatment-related toxicities-Results of the French TGM95 study.

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.

Clinical and molecular heterogeneity of pineal parenchymal tumors: a consensus study.

Recent genomic studies have shed light on the biology and inter-tumoral heterogeneity underlying pineal parenchymal tumors, in particular pineoblastomas (PBs) and pineal parenchymal tumors of intermediate differentiation (PPTIDs). Previous reports, however, had modest sample sizes and lacked the power to integrate molecular and clinical findings. The different proposed molecular group structures also highlighted a need to reach consensus on a robust and relevant classification system. We performed a meta-analysis on 221 patients with molecularly characterized PBs and PPTIDs. DNA methylation profiles were analyzed through complementary bioinformatic approaches and molecular subgrouping was harmonized. Demographic, clinical, and genomic features of patients and samples from these pineal tumor groups were annotated. Four clinically and biologically relevant consensus PB groups were defined: PB-miRNA1 (n = 96), PB-miRNA2 (n = 23), PB-MYC/FOXR2 (n = 34), and PB-RB1 (n = 25). A final molecularly distinct group, designated PPTID (n = 43), comprised histological PPTID and PBs. Genomic and transcriptomic profiling allowed the characterization of oncogenic drivers for individual tumor groups, specifically, alterations in the microRNA processing pathway in PB-miRNA1/2, MYC amplification and FOXR2 overexpression in PB-MYC/FOXR2, RB1 alteration in PB-RB1, and KBTBD4 insertion in PPTID. Age at diagnosis, sex predilection, and metastatic status varied significantly among tumor groups. While patients with PB-miRNA2 and PPTID had superior outcome, survival was intermediate for patients with PB-miRNA1, and dismal for those with PB-MYC/FOXR2 or PB-RB1. Reduced-dose CSI was adequate for patients with average-risk, PB-miRNA1/2 disease. We systematically interrogated the clinical and molecular heterogeneity within pineal parenchymal tumors and proposed a consensus nomenclature for disease groups, laying the groundwork for future studies as well as routine use in tumor diagnostic classification and clinical trial stratification.

Subgroup and subtype-specific outcomes in adult medulloblastoma.

Medulloblastoma, a common pediatric malignant central nervous system tumour, represent a small proportion of brain tumours in adults. Previously it has been shown that in adults, Sonic Hedgehog (SHH)-activated tumours predominate, with Wingless-type (WNT) and Group 4 being less common, but molecular risk stratification remains a challenge. We performed an integrated analysis consisting of genome-wide methylation profiling, copy number profiling, somatic nucleotide variants and correlation of clinical variables across a cohort of 191 adult medulloblastoma cases identified through the Medulloblastoma Advanced Genomics International Consortium. We identified 30 WNT, 112 SHH, 6 Group 3, and 41 Group 4 tumours. Patients with SHH tumours were significantly older at diagnosis compared to other subgroups (p < 0.0001). Five-year progression-free survival (PFS) for WNT, SHH, Group 3, and Group 4 tumours was 64.4 (48.0-86.5), 61.9% (51.6-74.2), 80.0% (95% CI 51.6-100.0), and 44.9% (95% CI 28.6-70.7), respectively (p = 0.06). None of the clinical variables (age, sex, metastatic status, extent of resection, chemotherapy, radiotherapy) were associated with subgroup-specific PFS. Survival among patients with SHH tumours was significantly worse for cases with chromosome 3p loss (HR 2.9, 95% CI 1.1-7.6; p = 0.02), chromosome 10q loss (HR 4.6, 95% CI 2.3-9.4; p < 0.0001), chromosome 17p loss (HR 2.3, 95% CI 1.1-4.8; p = 0.02), and PTCH1 mutations (HR 2.6, 95% CI 1.1-6.2; p = 0.04). The prognostic significance of 3p loss and 10q loss persisted in multivariable regression models. For Group 4 tumours, chromosome 8 loss was strongly associated with improved survival, which was validated in a non-overlapping cohort (combined cohort HR 0.2, 95% CI 0.1-0.7; p = 0.007). Unlike in pediatric medulloblastoma, whole chromosome 11 loss in Group 4 and chromosome 14q loss in SHH was not associated with improved survival, where MYCN, GLI2 and MYC amplification were rare. In sum, we report unique subgroup-specific cytogenetic features of adult medulloblastoma, which are distinct from those in younger patients, and correlate with survival disparities. Our findings suggest that clinical trials that incorporate new strategies tailored to high-risk adult medulloblastoma patients are urgently needed.

Could Aberrant Migration Explain Metachronous Germ Cell Tumors?

BACKGROUND: Extragonadal germ cell tumors (GCTs) are thought to arise as a result of local transformation of primordial gonadal cells (PGCs) that become misplaced during embryogenesis. With the exception of bilateral testis tumors, metachronous GCT (i.e., occurring at a site classically described for primary GCTs) are rare events. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The clinical, radiological, and molecular data (if available) of patients with metachronous GCT were analyzed. RESULTS: Three Caucasian males were identified: case 1 presented with a pineal germinoma 19 years after a mediastinal seminoma that had been treated with chemotherapy, case 2 presented with a pineal non-seminomatous GCT (NSGCT) that occurred three years after a mediastinal seminoma treated with chemotherapy, and case 3 presented with a mediastinal seminoma concomitant with a suprasellar germinoma that occurred two years after a stage I testicular NSGCT treated exclusively with surgery. None of these patients had a positive family history or disorder of sex development. Molecular data were available for cases 2 and 3. In case 2, a CHEK2 gene biallelic inactivation in the second tumor suggested chemoresistance to cisplatin. This was further confirmed by tumor progression during second-line treatment. In case 3, the molecular analysis revealed different profiles in the three tumors, thus suggesting distinct tumor cell origins. CONCLUSION: These rare cases should alert clinicians of the possibility of multiple GCTs that should not be considered to be relapses. The underlying physiopathology is unknown, but multiple PGC mismigrations is a likely cause. Initial treatment with cisplatin may select chemo-resistant clones, thereby making the subsequent treatment more of a challenge.

What does a non-response to induction chemotherapy imply in high-risk medulloblastomas?

PURPOSE: High-risk medulloblastomas (HR-MB) may not respond to induction chemotherapy, with either post-induction stable (SD) or progressive disease (PD). There is no consensus regarding their optimal management. METHODS: A retrospective, multicentre study investigated patients with non-responder HR-MB treated according to the PNET HR + 5 protocol (NCT00936156) between 01/01/2009 and 31/12/2018. After two courses of etoposide and carboplatin (induction), patients with SD or PD were analyzed. Upon clinician's decision, the PNET HR + 5 protocol was either pursued with tandem high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) and craniospinal irradiation (CSI) (continuation group) or it was modified (switched group). RESULTS: Forty-nine patients were identified. After induction, 37 patients had SD and 12 had PD. The outcomes were better for the SD group: the 5-y PFS and OS were 52% (95% CI 35-67) and 70% (95% CI 51-83), respectively, in the SD group while the 2-y PFS and OS were 17% (95% CI 3-41) and 25% (95% CI 6-50), respectively, in the PD group (p < 0.0001). The PNET HR + 5 strategy was pursued for 3 patients in the PD group, of whom only one survived. In the SD group, it was pursued for 24/37 patients whereas 13 patients received miscellaneous treatments including a 36 Gy CSI in 12 cases. Despite that continuation and switched group were well-balanced for factors impacting the outcomes, the latter were better in the continuation group than in the switched group: the 5-y PFS were 78% (95% CI 54-90) versus 0% (p < 0.001), and the 5-y OS were 78% (95% CI 54-90) versus 56% (95% CI 23-79) (p = 0.0618) respectively. In the SD group, multivariate analysis revealed that MYC amplification, molecular group 3, and a switched strategy were independent prognostic factors for progression. CONCLUSION: Patients with post-induction SD may benefit from HDCT and CSI, whereas patients with early PD will require new therapeutic approaches.

Pineoblastoma segregates into molecular sub-groups with distinct clinico-pathologic features: a Rare Brain Tumor Consortium registry study.

Pineoblastomas (PBs) are rare, aggressive pediatric brain tumors of the pineal gland with modest overall survival despite intensive therapy. We sought to define the clinical and molecular spectra of PB to inform new treatment approaches for this orphan cancer. Tumor, blood, and clinical data from 91 patients with PB or supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumor (sPNETs/CNS-PNETs), and 2 pineal parenchymal tumors of intermediate differentiation (PPTIDs) were collected from 29 centres in the Rare Brain Tumor Consortium. We used global DNA methylation profiling to define a core group of PB from 72/93 cases, which were delineated into five molecular sub-groups. Copy number, whole exome and targeted sequencing, and miRNA expression analyses were used to evaluate the clinico-pathologic significance of each sub-group. Tumors designated as group 1 and 2 almost exclusively exhibited deleterious homozygous loss-of-function alterations in miRNA biogenesis genes (DICER1, DROSHA, and DGCR8) in 62 and 100% of group 1 and 2 tumors, respectively. Recurrent alterations of the oncogenic MYC-miR-17/92-RB1 pathway were observed in the RB and MYC sub-group, respectively, characterized by RB1 loss with gain of miR-17/92, and recurrent gain or amplification of MYC. PB sub-groups exhibited distinct clinical features: group 1-3 arose in older children (median ages 5.2-14.0 years) and had intermediate to excellent survival (5-year OS of 68.0-100%), while Group RB and MYC PB patients were much younger (median age 1.3-1.4 years) with dismal survival (5-year OS 37.5% and 28.6%, respectively). We identified age < 3 years at diagnosis, metastatic disease, omission of upfront radiation, and chr 16q loss as significant negative prognostic factors across all PBs. Our findings demonstrate that PB exhibits substantial molecular heterogeneity with sub-group-associated clinical phenotypes and survival. In addition to revealing novel biology and therapeutics, molecular sub-grouping of PB can be exploited to reduce treatment intensity for patients with favorable biology tumors.

Disorder of sex development with germ cell tumors: Which is uncovered first?

BACKGROUND: Disorders of sex development (DSD) are rare conditions. Although they are known to predispose to germ cell tumors (GCT), there is a paucity of information regarding the circumstances of DSD discovery. DESIGN/METHODS: All patients with DSD registered in two French pediatric GCT protocols (TGM95 and 13) were analyzed. RESULTS: Sixteen patients were identified among 276 ovarian, 160 testicular, and 24 mediastinal GCT. Eleven phenotypic females (median age 15 years) exhibited gonadal GCT, including 10 with a 46,XY karyotype and gonadal dysgenesis and one with 46XX,45X0 mosaicism. None had genital anomalies, seven had spontaneous pubertal changes, and one had spontaneous menarche. The tumors were bilateral in four cases. DSD was diagnosed after the GCT diagnosis in seven cases. The reasons for karyotyping were bilateral tumors (3), gonadoblastoma/streak gonad/absence of egg follicles (3), or systematic for GCT (1). The karyotyping was performed before the GCT diagnosis in four cases: for polymalformative syndrome (2) or primary amenorrhea (2). Four males (median age 14 years) exhibited mediastinal GCT (metastatic in two cases) indicative of Klinefelter syndrome, despite typical phenotypes in all cases. The remaining patient had severe hypospadias, leading to the discovery of 46,XY/45,X0 mosaicism before the diagnosis of testicular nonseminomatous GCT at 16 years of age. CONCLUSION: DSD are often uncovered at the time of GCT diagnosis (11/16 cases). This should prompt oncologists to rule out a DSD in patients with GCT, even in case of pubertal development. Earlier recognition of Klinefelter syndrome could potentially lead to GCT detection at an earlier stage.

Pure pediatric ovarian immature teratomas: The French experience.

OBJECTIVE: To describe characteristics and outcome of pediatric ovarian immature teratomas (IT) to better define the place of chemotherapy. METHODS: Children with ovarian IT enrolled in TGM95 and TGM2013 studies were analyzed. Norris grading and International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics staging system were used. RESULTS: Thirty-six cases were identified with a median age of 11 years (range = 1-18): 35 of 36 stage I (17 stage IA, 13 stage IC, and 5 stage IX), including seven patients with gliomatosis peritonei (GP), and 1 stage IIIB (IT peritoneal implants). Centrally reviewed Norris grading was performed in 31 cases: 14 grade I and 17 grade II/III tumors. All patients underwent upfront surgery: 19 unilateral oophorectomy, 14 unilateral adnexectomy, 2 unilateral cystectomy, and 1 bilateral cystectomy. No extensive GP surgery was performed. Six patients received adjuvant vinblastin, bleomycin, and cisplatinum because of tumor rupture (n = 5, including two patients with GP) or stage III (n = 1). After a median follow-up of 39.5 months (range = 6-238), two events occurred 10 and 11 months after diagnosis: one bilateralization (initial stage IX, grade I) and one IT peritoneal relapse (initial stage IA, grade II), respectively. Both were successfully rescued by platinum-based chemotherapy and delayed surgery. No stage IC patients treated without adjuvant chemotherapy relapsed (four grade I and three grade III). None of the seven patients with GP progressed. Five-year event-free survival and overall survival were 94% (95% CI = 81-98%) and 100%. CONCLUSIONS: The current series confirms the excellent prognosis of pediatric ovarian IT, arguing for conservative surgical approach in GP and against systematic adjuvant chemotherapy, even in ruptured tumors.

Tumor rupture in hepatoblastoma: A high risk factor?

BACKGROUND: Hepatoblastoma tumor rupture is a high-risk criterion in the SIOPEL 3/4 protocol. Little is known about the outcome of these children. METHODS: Radiological signs of possible tumor rupture, defined as peritoneal effusion, peritoneal nodules, or hepatic subcapsular hematoma, were reported in 24 of 150 patients treated for hepatoblastoma in France from January 2000 to December 2014 after central radiological expert review. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients with available clinical data were included (nine PRETEXT-I/II, six PRETEXT-III, seven PRETEXT-IV, and five had lung metastases). Five patients had a subcapsular hematoma only, and 17 patients had intraperitoneal rupture (subcapsular hematoma and peritoneal effusion). A hepatic biopsy was performed in 19 patients. Intraperitoneal rupture occurred before biopsy in 12 and after biopsy in three (including one with prebiopsy subcapsular hematoma) (missing data: two). All patients were treated with chemotherapy, with high-risk regimens including cisplatin or carboplatin and doxorubicin in 19 and cisplatin or carboplatin alone in three. Liver surgery was performed in 20 patients (including three liver transplants). Fifteen patients (68%) achieved complete remission. With a median follow-up of 5.5 years, 11 events occurred (six progressions and three relapses, including three peritoneal progressions/relapses, one surgical complication, and one second cancer) and eight patients died. One of eight patients with no other high-risk criterion had a relapse. The three-year event-free survival and overall survival rates were 49.6% (95% CI = 30-69) and 68.2% (40-84), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Tumor rupture is predictive of poor prognosis with risk of peritoneal progression/relapse. However, it should not be a contraindication for liver transplantation.