Advances of Recombinant Adenoviral Vectors in Preclinical and Clinical Applications.

Adenoviruses (Ad) have the potential to induce severe infections in vulnerable patient groups. Therefore, understanding Ad biology and antiviral processes is important to comprehend the signaling cascades during an infection and to initiate appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. In addition, Ad vector-based vaccines have revealed significant potential in generating robust immune protection and recombinant Ad vectors facilitate efficient gene transfer to treat genetic diseases and are used as oncolytic viruses to treat cancer. Continuous improvements in gene delivery capacity, coupled with advancements in production methods, have enabled widespread application in cancer therapy, vaccine development, and gene therapy on a large scale. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the virus biology, and several aspects of recombinant Ad vectors, as well as the development of Ad vector, are discussed. Moreover, we focus on those Ads that were used in preclinical and clinical applications including regenerative medicine, vaccine development, genome engineering, treatment of genetic diseases, and virotherapy in tumor treatment.

Outbreak of severe community-acquired bacterial infections among children in North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany), October to December 2022.

PURPOSE: In late 2022, a surge of severe S. pyogenes infections was reported in several European countries. This study assessed hospitalizations and disease severity of community-acquired bacterial infections with S. pyogenes, S. pneumoniae, N. meningitidis, and H. influenzae among children in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany, during the last quarter of 2022 compared to long-term incidences. METHODS: Hospital cases due to bacterial infections between October and December 2022 were collected in a multicenter study (MC) from 59/62 (95%) children's hospitals in NRW and combined with surveillance data (2016-2023) from the national reference laboratories for streptococci, N. meningitidis, and H. influenzae. Overall and pathogen-specific incidence rates (IR) from January 2016 to March 2023 were estimated via capture-recapture analyses. Expected annual deaths from the studied pathogens were calculated from national death cause statistics. RESULTS: In the MC study, 153 cases with high overall disease severity were reported with pneumonia being most common (59%, n = 91). IRs of bacterial infections declined at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and massively surged to unprecedented levels in late 2022 and early 2023 (overall hospitalizations 3.5-fold), with S. pyogenes and S. pneumoniae as main drivers (18-fold and threefold). Observed deaths during the study period exceeded the expected number for the entire year in NRW by far (7 vs. 0.9). DISCUSSION: The unprecedented peak of bacterial infections and deaths in late 2022 and early 2023 was caused mainly by S. pyogenes and S. pneumoniae. Improved precautionary measures are needed to attenuate future outbreaks.

Zoledronic Acid Add-on Therapy for Standard-Risk Ewing Sarcoma Patients in the Ewing 2008R1 Trial.

PURPOSE: The phase III, open-label, prospective, multicenter, randomized Ewing 2008R1 trial (EudraCT2008-003658-13) was conducted in 12 countries to evaluate the effect of zoledronic acid (ZOL) maintenance therapy compared with no add-on regarding event-free survival (EFS, primary endpoint) and overall survival (OS) in standard-risk Ewing sarcoma (EWS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eligible patients had localized EWS with either good histologic response to induction chemotherapy and/or small tumors (<200 mL). Patients received six cycles of VIDE induction and eight cycles of VAI (male) or eight cycles of VAC (female) consolidation. ZOL treatment started parallel to the sixth consolidation cycle. Randomization was stratified by tumor site (pelvis/other). The two-sided adaptive inverse-normal four-stage design (planned sample size 448 patients, significance level 5%, power 80%) was changed after the first interim analysis using the Müller-Schäfer method. RESULTS: Between April 2010 and November 2018, 284 patients were randomized (142 ZOL/142 no add-on). With a median follow-up of 3.9 years, EFS was not significantly different between ZOL and no add-on group in the adaptive design (HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.43-1.28, P = 0.27, intention-to-treat). Three-year EFS rates were 84.0% (95% CI, 77.7%-90.8%) for ZOL vs. 81.7% (95% CI, 75.2%-88.8%) for no add-on. Results were similar in the per-protocol collective. OS was not different between groups. The 3-year OS was 92.8% (95% CI, 88.4%-97.5%) for ZOL and 94.6% (95% CI, 90.9%-98.6%) for no add-on. Noticeable more renal, neurologic, and gastrointestinal toxicities were observed for ZOL (P < 0.05). Severe renal toxicities occurred more often in the ZOL arm (P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with standard-risk localized EWS, there is no additional benefit from maintenance treatment with ZOL.

Ewing Sarcoma as Secondary Malignant Neoplasm-Epidemiological and Clinical Analysis of an International Trial Registry.

Ewing sarcoma (EwS) is the second most common bone and soft tissue tumor, affecting primarily adolescents and young adults. Patients with secondary EwS are excluded from risk stratification in several studies and therefore do not benefit from new therapies. More knowledge about patients with EwS as secondary malignant neoplasms (SMN) is needed to identify at-risk patients and adapt follow-up strategies. Epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and survival analyses of EwS as SMN were analyzed in 3844 patients treated in the last three consecutive international EwS trials, EICESS 92, Euro-E.W.I.N.G. 99, and EWING 2008. Forty-two cases of EwS as SMN (approximately 1.1% of all patients) were reported, preceded by a heterogeneous group of malignancies, mainly acute lymphoblastic leukemias (n = 7) and lymphomas (n = 7). Three cases of EwS as SMN occurred in the presumed radiation field of the primary tumor. The median age at diagnosis of EwS as SMN was 19.4 years (range, 5.9-72) compared with 10.8 years (range, 0.9-51.2) for primary EwS. The median interval between first malignancy and EwS diagnosis was 7.4 years. The 3-year overall survival (OS)/event-free survival (EFS) was 0.69 (SE = 0.09)/0.53 (SE = 0.10) for localized patients and 0.36 (SE = 0.13)/0.29 (SE = 0.12) for metastatic patients (OS: p = 0.02; EFS: p = 0.03). Survival in patients with EwS as SMN did not differ between hematologic or solid primary malignancies. EwS as SMN is rare; however, survival is similar to that of primary EwS, and its risk-adjusted treatment should be curative, especially in localized patients.

How Stressful Is Examining Children with Symptoms of Child Abuse?-Measurement of Stress Appraisal (SAM) in German Physicians with Key Expertise in Pediatrics.

BACKGROUND: Pediatricians frequently feel uncertain about their ability to detect early symptoms of child abuse and how to respond in suspected cases. AIM: This study investigated the transactional stress model in German pediatricians who experienced imagination stories with a child protection scenario and another potentially stress-triggering scenario. METHODS: A two-part survey was conducted online. Each part included a different imagination story and evaluation of the Stress Appraisal Measure (SAM), as well as questions on child protection, current problematics, and suggested remedies. In total, 96 pediatricians participated. The child abuse scenario was perceived as significantly more threatening and more stressful than a medical emergency. The pediatricians declared moderate familiarity with the Child Protection Guidelines and the Federal Child Protection Act and an average confidence in their application. The greatest perceived problems were communication difficulties with parents and youth welfare services. Suggested improvements were concrete procedural directives, more training programs, better interdisciplinary networks, and greater exchange among colleagues. CONCLUSIONS: To optimize their potential in the child protection system, pediatricians need to be better supported in coping with the identified stressors in child abuse scenarios.

High-Dose Treosulfan and Melphalan as Consolidation Therapy Versus Standard Therapy for High-Risk (Metastatic) Ewing Sarcoma.

PURPOSE: Ewing 2008R3 was conducted in 12 countries and evaluated the effect of treosulfan and melphalan high-dose chemotherapy (TreoMel-HDT) followed by reinfusion of autologous hematopoietic stem cells on event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival in high-risk Ewing sarcoma (EWS). METHODS: Phase III, open-label, prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled clinical trial. Eligible patients had disseminated EWS with metastases to bone and/or other sites, excluding patients with only pulmonary metastases. Patients received six cycles of vincristine, ifosfamide, doxorubicin, and etoposide induction and eight cycles of vincristine, actinomycin D, and cyclophosphamide consolidation therapy. Patients were randomly assigned to receive additional TreoMel-HDT or no further treatment (control). The random assignment was stratified by number of bone metastases (1, 2-5, and > 5). The one-sided adaptive-inverse-normal-4-stage-design was changed after the first interim analysis via Müller-Schäfer method. RESULTS: Between 2009 and 2018, 109 patients were randomly assigned, and 55 received TreoMel-HDT. With a median follow-up of 3.3 years, there was no significant difference in EFS between TreoMel-HDT and control in the adaptive design (hazard ratio [HR] 0.85; 95% CI, 0.55 to 1.32, intention-to-treat). Three-year EFS was 20.9% (95% CI, 11.5 to 37.9) in TreoMel-HDT and 19.2% (95% CI, 10.8 to 34.4) in control patients. The results were similar in the per-protocol collective. Males treated with TreoMel-HDT had better EFS compared with controls: median 1.0 years (95% CI, 0.8 to 2.2) versus 0.6 years (95% CI, 0.5 to 0.9); P = .035; HR 0.52 (0.28 to 0.97). Patients age < 14 years benefited from TreoMel-HDT with a 3-years EFS of 39.3% (95% CI, 20.4 to 75.8%) versus 9% (95% CI, 2.4 to 34); P = .016; HR 0.40 (0.19 to 0.87). These effects were similar in the per-protocol collective. This observation is supported by comparable results from the nonrandomized trial EE99R3. CONCLUSION: In patients with very high-risk EWS, additional TreoMel-HDT was of no benefit for the entire cohort of patients. TreoMel-HDT may be of benefit for children age < 14 years.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Employees of Three Hospitals of a Secondary Care Hospital Network in Germany and an Associated Fire Brigade: Results of a Repeated Cross-Sectional Surveillance Study Over 1 Year.

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are playing a vital role in the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. This study investigated how infection spreads within three local hospitals and an associated fire brigade in Germany by testing employees for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies over one year. The three observational periods corresponded to the initial three pandemic waves: first wave: June-September 2020, second wave: October 2020-January 2021, and third wave: February-June 2021. We analysed 3285 serum samples of 1842 employees, which represents 65.7% of all employees. Altogether, 13.2% employees were seropositive: 194/1411 HCWs (13.7%) and 49/431 non-HCWs (11.4%) with a clear increase of seroprevalence from the first (1.1%) to the second (13.2%) and third (29.3%) pandemic wave. HCWs presumably had an additional occupational risk for infection in the second and third wave due to an increase of infection pressure with more COVID-19 patients treated, showing possible weak points in the recommended infection prevention strategy.

Extraskeletal Ewing sarcoma in children, adolescents, and young adults. An analysis of three prospective studies of the Cooperative Weichteilsarkomstudiengruppe (CWS).

BACKGROUND: We have analyzed the outcome of patients with localized extraskeletal Ewing sarcoma (EES) treated in three consecutive Cooperative Weichteilsarkomstudiengruppe (CWS) soft tissue sarcoma (STS) studies: CWS-91, CWS-96, and CWS-2002P. METHODS: Patients were treated in CWS-91 with four- (vincristine, dactinomycin, doxorubicin, and ifosfamide [VAIA] or cyclophosphamide [VACA II]) or five-drug (+etoposide [EVAIA]) cycles, in CWS-96 they were randomly assigned to receive VAIA or CEVAIE (+carboplatin and etoposide), and in CWS-2002P with VAIA III plus optional maintenance therapy (MT) with cyclophosphamide and vinblastine. Local therapy consisted of resection and/or radiotherapy (RT). RESULTS: Two hundred forty-three patients fulfilled the eligibility criteria. The 5-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were 63% (95% confidence interval [CI] 57-69) and 73% (95% CI 67-79), respectively. The 5-year EFS by study was 64% (95% CI 54-74) in CWS-91, 57% (95% CI 48-66) in CWS-96, and 79% (95% CI 67-91) in CWS-2002P (n.s.). The 5-year OS was 72% (95% CI 62-82) in CWS-91, 70% (95% CI 61-79) in CWS-96, and 86% (95% CI 76-96) in CWS-2002P (n.s.). In CWS-96, 5-year EFS and OS in the VAIA arm versus the CEVAIE were 65% (95% CI 52-81) versus 55% (95% CI 39-76) log-rank p = .13, and 85% (95% CI 75-96) versus 61% (95% CI 45-82), log-rank p = .09. CONCLUSION: Our analysis provides interesting information on the treatment and specificities of EES, which can be useful for a better understanding of this rare entity and should be considered in the development of future clinical trials for Ewing sarcoma defined as FET-ETS fusion positive tumors.

A homozygous nonsense mutation early in exon 5 of BRCA2 is associated with very severe Fanconi anemia.

Fanconi anemia (FA) due to biallelic mutations in the BRCA2 gene is very rare and associated with an extremely high risk of early-onset of aggressive childhood malignancies, predominantly brain tumors, leukemia, and nephroblastoma. Here, we present a consanguineous family with three affected children of the D1 subtype of FA and describe the clinical consequences of the earliest known biallelic nonsense/stop-gain germ-line mutation in BRCA2, exon 5 c.469A>T, that leads to a premature stop of translation, p.Lys157*. The three patients were born with severe intrauterine growth restrictions and different degrees of congenital malformations. Altogether, they developed eight distinct malignancies and died within their first three years of life. Treatment with a reduced chemotherapy regimen was only performed in patient 2 for his first tumor, a nephroblastoma, which the patient tolerated well for eight months, until he developed myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and then acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Finally, the third patient experienced a hepatoblastoma, an unclassified brain tumor and MDS in parallel and died in her second year of life. Our report re-emphasizes the aggressiveness and fatality of the FA-D1 children with biallelic BRCA2 nonsense mutations, that are both located before exon 11, which contains binding domains for the RAD51 recombinase.

Primary and Metastatic Intracranial Ewing Sarcoma at Diagnosis: Retrospective International Study and Systematic Review.

Intracranial Ewing sarcoma (EwS) is rare and publications on primary or metastatic intracranial EwS are minimal. The aim of this study was to describe incidence, clinical behavior, treatment, and factors associated with outcome in patients with primary intracranial EwS or patients with a primary extracranial EwS and cerebral metastases at diagnosis. We reviewed all patients with primary or with metastatic intracranial EwS at diagnosis registered in the International Clinical Trial Euro-E.W.I.N.G.99 (EE99). In total, 17 of 1435 patients (1.2%) presented with primary intracranial EwS; 3 of them had metastatic disease. Four patients (0.3%) with primary extracranial EwS presented with intracranial metastatic lesions. The 3-year event-free survival (EFS) was 64% and overall survival (OS) was 70% in patients with a primary intracranial EwS. Local control in patients with primary intracranial EwS consisted of surgery (6%), radiotherapy (RT) (18%), or both modalities (76%). Univariate analysis showed that patients < 15 years of age had significantly better outcome (EFS: 72%; OS: 76%) compared to those aged above 15 years (EFS: 13%; OS: 25%). In conclusion, primary intracranial EwS and extracranial EwS with cerebral metastases at diagnosis is rare, yet survival is comparable with local and metastatic EwS elsewhere in the body. Age and stage of disease are important prognostic factors. Besides chemotherapeutic treatment, local control with surgical resection combined with RT is recommended whenever feasible.

Extended clinical and immunological phenotype and transplant outcome in CD27 and CD70 deficiency.

Biallelic mutations in the genes encoding CD27 or its ligand CD70 underlie inborn errors of immunity (IEIs) characterized predominantly by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated immune dysregulation, such as chronic viremia, severe infectious mononucleosis, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), lymphoproliferation, and malignancy. A comprehensive understanding of the natural history, immune characteristics, and transplant outcomes has remained elusive. Here, in a multi-institutional global collaboration, we collected the clinical information of 49 patients from 29 families (CD27, n = 33; CD70, n = 16), including 24 previously unreported individuals and identified a total of 16 distinct mutations in CD27, and 8 in CD70, respectively. The majority of patients (90%) were EBV+ at diagnosis, but only ∼30% presented with infectious mononucleosis. Lymphoproliferation and lymphoma were the main clinical manifestations (70% and 43%, respectively), and 9 of the CD27-deficient patients developed HLH. Twenty-one patients (43%) developed autoinflammatory features including uveitis, arthritis, and periodic fever. Detailed immunological characterization revealed aberrant generation of memory B and T cells, including a paucity of EBV-specific T cells, and impaired effector function of CD8+ T cells, thereby providing mechanistic insight into cellular defects underpinning the clinical features of disrupted CD27/CD70 signaling. Nineteen patients underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) prior to adulthood predominantly because of lymphoma, with 95% survival without disease recurrence. Our data highlight the marked predisposition to lymphoma of both CD27- and CD70-deficient patients. The excellent outcome after HSCT supports the timely implementation of this treatment modality particularly in patients presenting with malignant transformation to lymphoma.

Genotyping circulating tumor DNA of pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma.

We used hybrid capture-targeted next-generation sequencing of circulating cell-free DNA (ccfDNA) of pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma (PHL) patients to determine pathogenic mechanisms and assess the clinical utility of this method. Hodgkin-Reed/Sternberg (HRS) cell-derived single nucleotide variants, insertions/deletions, translocations and VH-DH-JH rearrangements were detected in pretherapy ccfDNA of 72 of 96 patients. Number of variants per patient ranged from 1 to 21 with allele frequencies from 0.6 to 42%. Nine translocation breakpoints were detected. Genes involved in JAK/STAT, NFkB and PI3K signaling and antigen presentation were most frequently affected. SOCS1 variants, mainly deletions, were found in most circulating tumor (ct) DNAs, and seven of the nine translocation breakpoints involved SOCS1. Analysis of VH-DH-JH rearrangements revealed an origin of PHL HRS cells from partially selected germinal center B cells. Amounts of pretherapy ctDNA were correlated with metabolic tumor volumes. Furthermore, in all ccfDNA samples of 43 patients with early response assessment quantitative qPET < 3, indicative of a favorable clinical course, ctDNA was not detectable. In contrast, in five of six patients with qPET > 3, indicative of an unfavorable clinical course, ctDNA remained detectable. ccfDNA analysis of PHL is thus a suitable approach to determine pathogenic mechanisms and monitor therapy response.

High-Dose Chemotherapy Compared With Standard Chemotherapy and Lung Radiation in Ewing Sarcoma With Pulmonary Metastases: Results of the European Ewing Tumour Working Initiative of National Groups, 99 Trial and EWING 2008.

PURPOSE: 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. METHODS: 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 P value were corrected for the three previous interim analyses by the inverse normal method. RESULTS: 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; P = .16). For overall survival, the HR was 1.00 (95% CI, 0.70 to 1.44; P = .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. CONCLUSION: In ES with pulmonary or pleural metastases, there is no clear benefit from BuMel compared with conventional VAI plus WLI.

The relation of radiological tumor volume response to histological response and outcome in patients with localized Ewing Sarcoma.

BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the modality of choice for local staging and response evaluation of Ewing sarcoma (EwS). Aim of this study was to determine the relevance of tumor volume response (TVR) in relation to histological response (HisRes) and survival, in order to evaluate if early modification of chemotherapy might be indicated in patients with inadequate TVR. METHODS: Three dimensional (3D)-tumor volume data at diagnosis, during early induction phase (1-3 courses of chemotherapy; n = 195) and/or late induction phase (4-6 courses; n = 175) from 241 localized patients were retrospectively analyzed. A distinction was made between adequate response (reduction ≥67%) and inadequate response (reduction <67% or progression). Correlations between TVR, HisRes, event free survival (EFS), and overall survival (OS) were analyzed using chi-square tests, log-rank tests, and the Cox-regression model. RESULTS: Early adequate TVR, noted in 41% of patients, did not correlate with EFS (P = 0.92) or OS (P = 0.38). During late induction phase 62% of patients showed an adequate TVR. EFS for patients with late adequate TVR was better (78%) than for those with inadequate late TVR (61%) (P = 0.01); OS was 80% and 69% (P = 0.26), respectively. No correlation was found between TVR and HisRes. Multivariate analysis showed that poor HisRes, pelvic location and late inadequate TVR were associated with poor outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Early inadequate TVR does not predict adverse outcome; therefore, changing the treatment to second line chemotherapy is not indicated in case of inadequate early TVR. Late adequate TVR and good HisRes correlate with better EFS; patients with late inadequate TVR might benefit from augmented therapy.

Impact of Whole Lung Irradiation on Survival Outcome in Patients With Lung Relapsed Ewing Sarcoma.

PURPOSE: There is no standard treatment procedure for relapsed Ewing sarcoma (EwS). This retrospective analysis evaluates the survival outcome in patients with an isolated pulmonary relapse of EwS treated with whole lung irradiation (WLI) in addition to second line chemotherapy (Ctx). METHODS AND MATERIALS: In our study, 136 patients with pulmonary relapsed EwS who were registered in the relapse register of the Cooperative Ewing Sarcoma Study group or the Sarcoma Relapse Registry for relapsed sarcoma of bone and soft tissues were analyzed. All patients received relapse Ctx or an additional total resection of lung metastasis. Of these patients, 88 (median age, 21 years; range, 7-52 years) achieved a second remission by the relapse treatment. Of these 88 patients, 48 patients received an additional WLI. The 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) and 3-year overall survival (OS) were analyzed (median follow-up, 3 years; range, 7 months to 11 years and 9 months). Additional prognostic factors for survival outcomes, including the response of lung metastases to Ctx, were also estimated. RESULTS: The survival outcome was significantly improved after WLI when analyzing the entire group of pulmonary relapsed patients: 3-year PFS 36% (+WLI) versus 14% (-WLI) (P = .001); 3- year OS 47% (+WLI) versus 33% (-WLI) (P = .007). The 3-year PFS in patients with complete remission of lung relapse receiving WLI (n = 48) compared with those without WLI (n = 40), was 37% (+WLI) versus 21% (-WLI) (P = .18). The site of the primary tumor and the response of pulmonary lesions to Ctx were significant prognostic indicators for survival in patients treated with WLI. No severe pulmonary function disorders or lung toxicities were observed after WLI treatment in both pediatric and adult patients. CONCLUSIONS: The WLI does not correlate with improved OS in patients with pulmonary relapsed EwS. However, a marginal trend toward superior PFS and improved local control of pulmonary disease suggests the application of WLI in patients with EwS with isolated lung relapse and second clinical remission.

High-Dose Chemotherapy and Blood Autologous Stem-Cell Rescue Compared With Standard Chemotherapy in Localized High-Risk Ewing Sarcoma: Results of Euro-E.W.I.N.G.99 and Ewing-2008.

Purpose For over 30 years, the place of consolidation high-dose chemotherapy in Ewing sarcoma (ES) has been controversial. A randomized study was conducted to determine whether consolidation high-dose chemotherapy improved survival in patients with localized ES at high risk for relapse. Methods Randomization between busulfan and melphalan (BuMel) or standard chemotherapy (vincristine, dactinomycin, and ifosfamide [VAI], seven courses) was offered to patients if they were younger than 50 years of age with poor histologic response (≥ 10% viable cells) after receiving vincristine, ifosfamide, doxorubicin, and etoposide (six courses); or had a tumor volume at diagnosis ≥ 200 mL if unresected, or initially resected, or resected after radiotherapy. A 15% improvement in 3-year event-free survival (EFS) was sought (hazard ratio [HR], 0.60). Results Between 2000 and 2015, 240 patients classified as high risk (median age, 17.1 years) were randomly assigned to VAI (n = 118) or BuMel (n = 122). Seventy-eight percent entered the trial because of poor histologic response after chemotherapy alone. Median follow-up was 7.8 years. In an intent-to-treat analysis, the risk of event was significantly decreased by BuMel compared with VAI: HR, 0.64 (95% CI, 0.43 to 0.95; P = .026); 3- and 8-year EFS were, respectively, 69.0% (95% CI, 60.2% to 76.6%) versus 56.7% (95% CI, 47.6% to 65.4%) and 60.7% (95% CI, 51.1% to 69.6%) versus 47.1% (95% CI, 37.7% to 56.8%). Overall survival (OS) also favored BuMel: HR, 0.63 (95% CI, 0.41 to 0.95; P = .028); 3- and 8-year OS were, respectively, 78.0% (95% CI, 69.6% to 84.5%) versus 72.2% (95% CI, 63.3% to 79.6%) and 64.5% (95% CI, 54.4% to 73.5%) versus 55.6% (95% CI, 45.8% to 65.1%). Results were consistent in the sensitivity analysis. Two patients died as a result of BuMel-related toxicity, one after standard chemotherapy. Significantly more BuMel patients experienced severe acute toxicities from this course of chemotherapy compared with multiple VAI courses. Conclusion BuMel improved EFS and OS when given after vincristine, ifosfamide, doxorubicin, and etoposide induction in localized ES with predefined high-risk factors. For this group of patients, BuMel may be an important addition to the standard of care.

Age dependency of primary tumor sites and metastases in patients with Ewing sarcoma.

BACKGROUND: The median age of patients with Ewing sarcoma (EwS) at diagnosis is around 14-15 years. Older age is associated with a worse outcome. The correlation of age at diagnosis on sites of disease has not been fully described. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to evaluate the differences in sites of primary tumor and metastatic tumor involvement according to age groups. DESIGN/METHOD: EwS data from the Gesellschaft für Pädiatrische Onkologie und Hämatology (GPOH) database of the Cooperative Ewing Sarcoma Study (CESS) 81/86 and the European Intergroup Cooperative Ewing's Sarcoma Study EICESS 92 and the EUROpean Ewing tumor Working Initiative of National Groups-99-Protocol (EURO-E.W.I.N.G.-99) study were analyzed. Patient and tumor characteristics were evaluated statistically using chi square tests. RESULTS: The study population included 2,635 patients with bone EwS. Sites of primary and metastatic tumors differed according to the age groups of young children (0-9 years), early adolescence (10-14 years), late adolescence (15-19 years), young adults (20-24 years), and adults (more than 24 years). Young children demonstrated the most striking differences in site of disease with a lower proportion of pelvic primary and axial tumors. They presented less often with metastatic disease at diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Site of primary and metastatic tumor involvement in EwS differs according to patient age. The biological and developmental etiology for these differences requires further investigations.

Survival is influenced by approaches to local treatment of Ewing sarcoma within an international randomised controlled trial: analysis of EICESS-92.

BACKGROUND: Two national clinical trial groups, United Kingdom Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG) and the German Paediatric Oncology and Haematology Group (GPOH) together undertook a randomised trial, EICESS-92, which addressed chemotherapy options for Ewing's sarcoma. We sought the causes of unexpected survival differences between the study groups. METHODS: 647 patients were randomised. Cox regression analyses were used to compare event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) between the two study groups. RESULTS: 5-year EFS rates were 43% (95% CI 36-50%) and 57% (95% CI 52-62) in the CCLG and GPOH patients, respectively; corresponding 5-year OS rates were 52% (95% CI 45-59%) and 66% (95% CI 61-71). CCLG patients were less likely to have both surgery and radiotherapy (18 vs. 59%), and more likely to have a single local therapy modality compared to the GPOH patients (72 vs. 35%). Forty-five percent of GPOH patients had pre-operative radiotherapy compared to 3% of CCLG patients. In the CCLG group local recurrence (either with or without metastases) was the first event in 22% of patients compared with 7% in the GPOH group. After allowing for the effects of age, metastases, primary site, histology and local treatment modality, the risk of an EFS event was 44% greater in the CCLG cohort (95% CI 10-89%, p = 0.009), and the risk of dying was 30% greater, but not statistically significant (95% CI 3-74%, p = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: Unexpected differences in EFS and OS occurred between two patient cohorts recruited within an international randomised trial. Failure to select or deliver appropriate local treatment modalities for Ewing's sarcoma may compromise chances of cure.Trial registration Supported by Deutsche Krebshilfe (Grants No. DKH M43/92/Jü2 and DKH 70-2551 Jü3), and European Union Biomedicine and Health Programme (Grants No. BMH1-CT92-1341 and BMH4-983956), and Cancer Research United Kingdom. Clinical trial information can be found for the following: NCT0000251.

Results for patients with sarcoma not otherwise specified and other diagnoses than Ewing sarcoma treated according to the Euro-EWING 99 trial.

BACKGROUND: Euro-EWING 99 trial of the European Ewing tumor Working Initiative of National Groups (EE99) was an international phase III study in patients with Ewing sarcoma. The German Society of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology (GPOH) data center registered and followed patients with other diagnoses than Ewing sarcoma who were treated according to the EE99 protocol in an additional non-Ewing database. PROCEDURE: Data of 27 patients with other diagnoses than Ewing sarcoma treated according to the EE99 protocol were analyzed. Patients had miscellaneous histologic diagnoses, the majority were diagnosed with sarcoma not otherwise specified (NOS) arising in bone and soft tissue (63%). RESULTS: The median age at diagnosis was 16.9 years (range 4.5-41.4). Localized disease was diagnosed in 61.5% of the patients and 38.5% had distant metastases at time of primary diagnosis. The median follow-up time was 3.7 years (range 0.5-9.5). Patients with localized disease showed a 3-year event-free survival (EFS) of 68%, compared to 3-year EFS of 20% in patients with metastases (P = 0.042). Three-year EFS for patients with sarcoma NOS was 52%, patients with localized and metastatic disease showed 3-year EFS of 66 and 20%, respectively. CONCLUSION: EFS in patients with other diagnoses than Ewing sarcoma treated according to EE99 was significantly higher in patients with localized than metastatic disease. Sarcomas of soft tissue and bone that cannot be classified to current diagnostic categories constitute a therapeutic challenge.