Multi-gene measurable residual disease assessed by digital polymerase chain reaction has clinical and biological utility in acute myeloid leukemia patients receiving venetoclax/azacitidine.

Venetoclax with azacitidine (ven/aza) is a lower-intensity therapeutic regimen that has been shown to improve outcomes in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Measurable residual disease (MRD) using flow cytometry is a valuable tool for the prediction of relapse in AML using conventional therapies and ven/aza; however, the prognostic value for broad-scale molecular MRD after ven/aza treatment is less clear. We aimed to determine the utility of retrospective assessment using multi-gene molecular MRD by droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). We found this approach correlates with outcomes in a cohort of patients receiving frontline ven/aza for AML. The predictive value of ddPCR MRD persisted when NPM1 mutations were removed from analysis, as well as after adjustment for the impact of stem cell transplant (SCT) on outcomes. Late achievement of MRD negativity, including after SCT, was still associated with superior outcomes compared to persistently detectable MRD. We further explored the impact of ven/aza on the burden of different classes of mutations, and identified the persistence of splicing factor mutations, commonly associated with MDS, as a consistent finding after ven/aza treatment. These data add to our understanding of the effects of ven/aza on AML disease biology and provide details on molecular depth of remission that can guide prospective trials in the future.

Children's Oncology Group's 2023 blueprint for research: Renal tumors.

Every year, approximately 600 infants, children, and adolescents are diagnosed with renal cancer in the United States. In addition to Wilms tumor (WT), which accounts for about 80% of all pediatric renal cancers, clear cell sarcoma of the kidney, renal cell carcinoma, malignant rhabdoid tumor, as well as more rare cancers (other sarcomas, rare carcinomas, lymphoma) and benign tumors can originate within the kidney. WT itself can be divided into favorable histology (FHWT), with a 5-year overall survival (OS) exceeding 90%, and anaplastic histology, with 4-year OS of 73.7%. Outcomes of the other pediatric renal cancers include clear cell sarcoma (5-year OS: 90%), malignant rhabdoid tumor (5-year OS: 10% for stages 3 and 4), and renal cell carcinoma (4-year OS: 84.8%). Recent clinical trials have identified novel biological prognostic markers for FHWT, and a series of Children's Oncology Group (COG) trials have demonstrated improving outcomes with therapy modification, and opportunities for further care refinement.

Extrarenal, Soft Tissue Malignant Rhabdoid Tumor Arising in the Mons Pubis.

Extrarenal, extracranial malignant rhabdoid tumors (MRT) are uncommon malignancies with poor prognoses that may be diagnostically challenging. Reports of soft tissue MRTs in children are rare. For this reason, there are no standard treatment protocols. Historically, an aggressive multimodal approach has been taken. Here, we present a case of metastatic superficial pelvic MRT in a 16-year-old girl who remains disease-free after aggressive multi-modal therapy.

Pathology of Wilms' tumour in International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) and Children's oncology group (COG) renal tumour studies: Similarities and differences.

Excellent outcomes for patients with Wilms' tumour (WT), >90% for all stages together, have been achieved through researching WT in multicentre and multinational trials and studies in the last 50 years, led by two major groups-the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) and the Children's Oncology Group (COG) (previously the National Wilms' Tumour Study Group). Despite the two groups having different approaches, the survival outcomes are remarkably similar. In general, in the SIOP approach, which is followed in Europe and most other countries around the world, patients are first treated with preoperative chemotherapy; this is followed by surgery and, if necessary, postoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In the COG approach, which is mainly followed in North America, patients are treated with upfront surgery, followed, if necessary, by postoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In both groups, postoperative treatment primarily depends on tumour histological classification and stage, although, in recent studies, other prognostic factors have also been included (tumour volume, response to preoperative chemotherapy, and molecular markers). Owing to separate initial treatments, there are differences in histological assessment and subtyping of WT, and, more importantly, in staging criteria. In this review, we discuss the similarities and differences between the two groups in order to help pathologists who are dealing with WT to understand and follow the pathological protocol that is appropriate for a particular case, because, in many centres, both approaches may be followed, depending on individual case/patient circumstances.

Circulating Plasma Tumor DNA Is Superior to Plasma Tumor RNA Detection in Ewing Sarcoma Patients: ptDNA and ptRNA in Ewing Sarcoma.

The detection of tumor-specific nucleic acids from blood increasingly is being used as a method of liquid biopsy and minimal residual disease detection. However, achieving high sensitivity and high specificity remains a challenge. Here, we perform a direct comparison of two droplet digital PCR (ddPCR)-based detection methods, circulating plasma tumor RNA and circulating plasma tumor DNA (ptDNA), in blood samples from newly diagnosed Ewing sarcoma patients. First, we developed three specific ddPCR-based assays to detect EWS-FLI1 or EWS-ERG fusion transcripts, which naturally showed superior sensitivity to DNA detection on in vitro control samples. Next, we identified the patient-specific EWS-FLI1 or EWS-ERG breakpoint from five patient tumor samples and designed ddPCR-based, patient-specific ptDNA assays for each patient. These patient-specific assays show that although plasma tumor RNA can be detected in select newly diagnosed patients, positive results are low and statistically unreliable compared with ptDNA assays, which reproducibly detect robust positive results across most patients. Furthermore, the unique disease biology of Ewing sarcoma enabled us to show that most cell-free RNA is not tumor-derived, although cell-free-DNA burden is affected strongly by tumor-derived DNA burden. Here, we conclude that, even with optimized highly sensitive and specific assays, tumor DNA detection is superior to RNA detection in Ewing sarcoma patients.

Infantile myofibromatosis: multiple firm nodules in a premature newborn.

Infantile myofibromatosis is a rare myofibroblastic proliferative disorder characterized by firm, skin-colored to red-purple cutaneous and subcutaneous nodules; these are the most prevalent fibrous tumors observed in infancy. A premature male infant presented at birth with multiple subcutaneous firm skin-colored nodules measuring about 1-2cm each. Full body MRI and excisional biopsy of the right chest nodule confirmed the diagnosis. We review the case of infantile myofibromatosis and discuss its highly heterogeneous presentation and clinical course, as well as histopathology, genetic testing, and approaches to management.

Metastatic NUT Midline Carcinoma Treated With Aggressive Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy, Radiation, and Resection: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

NUT midline carcinoma, characterized by the rearrangement of the nuclear protein in testis (NUTM1) gene, is a rare and aggressive subtype of squamous cell carcinoma. This disease is rarely cured and there have been no reports of cure in patients with distant metastatic disease. In fact, patients typically succumb to NUT midline carcinoma within 6 to 12 months from diagnosis. The authors report on a single patient who presented widely metastatic disease who has now been in remission for 37 months after multimodal therapy with compressed cycles of vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and doxorubicin alternating with ifosfamide and etoposide, high-dose radiation, and postchemotherapy resection.

Imaging of fetal cystic kidney disease: multicystic dysplastic kidney versus renal cystic dysplasia.

With the advent of routine prenatal imaging, the number of renal anomalies identified prenatally has significantly increased; however, the underlying etiologies of these anomalies and the clinical significance of these findings remains unclear. This confusion is especially true for the prenatal diagnosis of cystic renal changes. The terms "cystic kidney disease" and "renal cystic dysplasia" encompass myriad renal diseases. Although renal cystic dysplasia in infants shares many similarities with multicystic dysplastic kidney (MCDK), it is important to distinguish MCDK from other etiologies that would lead to renal cysts, to ensure proper patient diagnosis and appropriate counseling regarding risks and to guide clinical management. The purpose of this review is to highlight the multiple etiologies of cystic kidney disease, including genetic associations, associations with underlying syndromes, and associations with underlying anatomical abnormalities. Here we focus on prenatal imaging, associated pathological findings, and clinical significance, with an emphasis on the defining characteristics of MCDK as compared to other forms of cystic renal disease.

Pediatric Renal Tumors: Updates in the Molecular Era.

Molecular characterization has led to advances in the understanding of pediatric renal tumors, including the association of pediatric cystic nephromas with DICER1 tumor syndrome, the metanephric family of tumors with somatic BRAF mutations, the characterization of ETV6-NTRK3-negative congenital mesoblastic nephromas, the expanded spectrum of gene fusions in translocation renal cell carcinoma, the relationship of clear cell sarcoma of the kidney with other BCOR-altered tumors, and the pathways affected by SMARCB1 alterations in rhabdoid tumors of the kidney. These advances have implications for diagnosis, classification, and treatment of pediatric renal tumors.

Single-center pediatric experience with venetoclax and azacitidine as treatment for myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia.

BACKGROUND: The BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax (ven) has revolutionized the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in elderly adults, leading to its recent FDA approval for this population in combination regimens. Although extensive data exist for adult myeloid malignancies, there are limited preclinical data on the efficacy and/or dosing of venetoclax for pediatric myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or AML and thus little information to guide use of this regimen in pediatric patients. Our objective was to describe our single-center experience with venetoclax in combination with the hypomethylating agent 5-azacitidine (aza) in pediatric patients with MDS or AML. PROCEDURE: We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients treated at Children's Hospital Colorado prior to March 2020 with at least one cycle of ven/aza. Patients were included if between the ages of 1 and 25 years with a diagnosis of high-grade MDS or AML. AML patients had relapsed or primary refractory disease or were deemed poor candidates for standard chemotherapy. RESULTS: Eight patients received ven/aza, two for high-grade MDS and six for AML. Ven/aza was well tolerated by all patients. The most common adverse events seen with this regimen were gastrointestinal and hematologic. Morphologic responses were seen in six patients including both patients with MDS. All four AML responders became minimal residual disease negative. Three responders have thus far proceeded to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant following ven/aza. CONCLUSIONS: Our clinical experience suggests that ven/aza is a safe and promising regimen that should be further explored with late-phase clinical trials.

Pediatric ovarian Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors with heterologous rhabdomyosarcoma elements: Clinical case series and review of the literature.

Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors (SLCTs) are rare ovarian neoplasms in pediatric patients. More exceedingly rare are SLCTs that also contain heterologous rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) elements. For these patients, there is no standardized treatment. We report four cases of pediatric SLCT with heterologous RMS elements that were successfully treated with surgical resection and adjuvant chemotherapy. All four patients are alive and remain in remission.

Isolated Pure Malignant Rhabdoid Tumor (MRT) of the Bladder: Case Report and Lessons Learned.

Pediatric extrarenal malignant rhabdoid tumors (MRTs) are rare, aggressive tumors with a poor prognosis (20% 5-year survival). There are currently fewer than 10 published case reports of primary MRT of the bladder. We report the case of an 18-month-old female with an isolated MRT of the bladder which was initially misdiagnosed as an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor on biopsy. We review the history, tumor biology, histology, and current management of extrarenal MRT, along with lessons learned from the difficulty with the patient's initial diagnosis.

Large Cystic Metanephric Adenoma in a 15-Year-Old Girl.

Metanephric adenoma is a rare pediatric renal tumor, generally considered to be benign. It can be difficult to distinguish from Wilms tumor and renal cell carcinoma based on imaging alone, and even may be difficult on histopathologic analysis. We present a case of a large cystic metanephric adenoma managed with surgical resection. This case highlights the difficulty in managing cystic renal lesions in children and adolescents as there is a paucity of data on the radiologic and pathologic correlation in such patients.