Predictive factors of long-term follow-up attendance in very long-term childhood cancer survivors.

BACKGROUND: Long-term follow-up (LTFU) clinics have been developed but only some childhood cancer survivors (CCS) attend long-term follow-up (LTFU). OBJECTIVE: To identify factors that influence LTFU attendance. METHODS: Five-year CCS treated for a solid tumor or lymphoma in Gustave Roussy before 2000, included in the FCCSS cohort (French Childhood Cancer Survivor Study), aged >18 years and alive at the date of the LTFU Clinic opening (January 2012) were invited to a LTFU visit. Factors associated with attendance at the LTFU clinic between 2012 and 2020 were estimated using logistic regression analyses. Analyses included different types of factors: clinical (tumor characteristics, cancer treatments, late effects), medical (medical expenses were used as a proxy of survivor's health status), social (deprivation index based on census-tract data relating to income, educational level, proportion of blue-collar workers, and unemployed people living in the area of residence), and spatial (distance to the LTFU clinic). RESULTS: Among 2341 CCS contacted (55% males, mean age at study, 45 years; SD ± 10 years; mean age at diagnosis, 6 years; SD ± 5 years), 779 (33%) attended at least one LTFU visit. Initial cancer-related factors associated with LTFU visit attendance were: treatment with both radiotherapy and chemotherapy (odds ratio [OR], 4.02; 95% CI, 2.11-7.70), bone sarcoma (OR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.56-3.78), central nervous system primitive tumor (OR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.02-2.67), and autologous hematopoietic cell transplant (OR, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.34-3.20). Late effects (OR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.31-2.20), highest medical expenses (OR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.22-2.22), living in the most advantaged area (OR vs. the most deprived area = 1.60; 95% CI, 1.15-2.22), and shorter distance from LTFU care center (<12 miles) also increased attendance. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who are apparently healthy as well as socially disadvantaged and living far away from the center are less likely to attend LTFU care. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Among 2341 adult childhood cancer survivors contacted between 2012 and 2020, 33% attended at least one long-term follow-up visit. Clinical factors related to attendance were multimodal treatment of first cancer (combining chemotherapy and radiotherapy), stem cell transplant, type of diagnosis (bone tumor and central nervous system primitive tumor), late effects (at least one disease among second malignancy, heart disease, or stroke), and highest medical expenses. In addition, the study identified social and spatial inequalities related to attendance, with independent negative effects of distance and social deprivation on attendance, even though the medical costs related to the long-term follow-up examinations are covered by the French social security system.

The development of an international childhood cancer hospital register database in 13 African countries. A project of the French African Pediatric Oncology Group (GFAOP).

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The establishment of an international hospital-based register (HBR) for the French African Pediatric Oncology Group (GFAOP) was a necessary step in the group's clinical research program. With help from the Sanofi Espoir Foundation's "My Child Matters" program, the GFAOP resolved to develop an international HBR network to collect quality data on children attending the Pediatric Oncology Units (POUs). METHODS: All children entering POUs from January 2016 to December 2018 were registered using an online questionnaire. Data collection included information on diagnosis, disease stage, demographics, socioeconomic status, and outcome. An intensive training program was developed to improve both data quality and quantity. RESULTS: Among the 3348 children registered, 3230 had a suspected cancer, 681 were not confirmed. A diagnosis was confirmed on radiological, clinical, or histological examination for 2549 children including Burkitt lymphoma (516: 20%)-the most frequent diagnosis, Wilms' tumor (459: 18%), retinoblastoma (357: 14%), and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (345: 13%). Of these, 2187 children were treated. Early deaths, abandonment, economic difficulties, and lack of equipment were some of the reasons offered to explain the numbers of undiagnosed and untreated children. Vital status is known for 1994 children: 1187 died and 807 were alive, 551 of these with a follow-up > 12 months. CONCLUSION: This work has provided reliable data on children attending the POUs, especially clarifying reasons and occasions for care rupture. The data will help to identify material, human resources, and staff training needs, to evaluate progress, and to encourage consideration of pediatric cancer in national cancer plans.

Smoking and Cannabis Use among Childhood Cancer Survivors: Results of the French Childhood Cancer Survivor Study.

BACKGROUND: Unhealthy behaviors among childhood cancer survivors increase the risks for cancer treatment adverse effects. We aimed to assess tobacco and cannabis use prevalence in this population and to identify factors associated with these consumptions. METHODS: This study involved 2,887 5-year survivors from the French childhood cancer survivor study (FCCSS) cohort. Data on health behaviors were compared with those of controls from the general population. Associations of current smoking and cannabis use with clinical features, sociodemographic characteristics, and health-related quality of life (QOL) were investigated using multivariable logistic regressions. RESULTS: Prevalence for tobacco use was lower in survivors (26%) than in controls (41%, P < 0.001). Among current smokers, survivors smoked more cigarettes per day and started at a younger age than controls. Women, college graduates, older, married, and CNS tumor survivors, as well as those who received chemotherapy and thoracic radiation therapy, were less likely to be smokers and/or cannabis consumers than others. Participants with a poor mental QOL were more likely to smoke. CONCLUSIONS: Preventive interventions and cessation programs must be carried out as early as possible in survivors' life, especially among young males with low educational level and poor mental health. IMPACT: This study brings new insights to health behaviors among childhood cancer survivors from a population with high rates of smoking and cannabis use.

Identifying clusters of health risk behaviors and their predictors in adult survivors of childhood cancer: A report from the French Childhood Cancer Survivor Study.

OBJECTIVE: Health risk behaviors (HRB) of childhood cancer survivors (CCS) are generally studied separately, despite the evidence suggesting that HRB are not independent. To our knowledge, few studies have examined HRB profiles in the former pediatric cancer patients. In this study, we identified HRB profiles and examined predictors engaging in unhealthy behaviors in CCS. METHODS: We used data from a French cohort of CCS that includes five-year survivors diagnosed between 1945 and 2000 and treated before reaching age 18, in five centers in France. A total of 2961 adult CCS answered a self-reported questionnaire pertaining to HRB. Latent class analysis was used to identify HRB profiles combining physical activity, smoking, cannabis use, and alcohol drinking. Multinomial logistic analyses examined predictors for engaging in unhealthy behaviors. RESULTS: Three HRB patterns emerged: "Low-risk" (n = 1846, 62.3%) included CCS who exhibited the highest frequency for usual physical activity and the lowest probabilities for current smoking or cannabis use, but most drank at least moderately; "Moderate-risk behaviors" (n = 291, 9.8%), and "High-risk behaviors" (n = 824, 27.8%) for CCS who exhibited the highest frequencies for current smoking, cannabis use, and heavy drinking. The multivariable regression revealed that male CCS, less educated or not married were significantly more likely to be in the high-risk behaviors group than the low-risk group. CONCLUSIONS: As CCS remain a vulnerable population, screening for HRB should be routinized in long-term follow-up care and interventions targeting multiple HRB simultaneously among survivors should be developed.

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.

Risk of subsequent colorectal cancers after a solid tumor in childhood: Effects of radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Very few previous studies have addressed the question of colorectal cancer (CRC) after childhood cancer treatment. We aimed to quantify the roles of radiation therapy and chemotherapy agents in the occurrence of subsequent CRC. METHODS: A nested case-control study was conducted using 36 CRC cases and 140 controls selected from 7032 five-year survivors of the French Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (FCCSS) cohort, treated from 1945 to 2000 in France. The radiation dose-distribution metrics at the site of CRC and doses of individual chemotherapeutic agents were calculated. Conditional logistic regressions were performed to calculate odds ratios (ORs). RESULTS: Overall, patients who received radiotherapy with estimated dose to colon had a 4.3-fold (95% CI, 1.3-17.6) increased risk for CRC compared with patients who did not receive radiotherapy, after adjustment for chemotherapy. This risk increased to 8.9-fold and 19.3-fold among patients who received radiation doses ranging from 20 to 29.99 Gy and ≥30 Gy, respectively. Our data reported a significantly elevated OR for anthracyclines, after controlling for radiotherapy and MOPP regimen. But, restricted analyses excluding patients who had received ≥30 Gy showed that only radiation doses ranging from 20 to 29.99 Gy produced a significant increase in subsequent CRC risk (OR = 7.8; 95% CI, 1.3-56.0), after controlling for anthracyclines and MOPP regimen. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of subsequent CRC was significantly increased after radiation dose (even < 30 Gy). This novel finding supports the need to update monitoring guidelines for CRC to optimize the long-term follow-up for subsequent CRC in survivors of childhood cancer.

Risk of solid subsequent malignant neoplasms after childhood Hodgkin lymphoma-Identification of high-risk populations to guide surveillance: A report from the Late Effects Study Group.

BACKGROUND: Survivors of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) in childhood have an increased risk of subsequent malignant neoplasms (SMNs). Herein, the authors extended the follow-up of a previously reported Late Effects Study Group cohort and identified patients at highest risk for SMNs to create evidence for risk-based screening recommendations. METHODS: The standardized incidence ratio was calculated using rates from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program as a reference. The risk of SMN was estimated using proportional subdistribution hazards regression. The cohort included 1136 patients who were diagnosed with HL before age 17 years between 1955 and 1986. The median length of follow-up was 26.6 years. RESULTS: In 162 patients, a total of 196 solid SMNs (sSMNs) were identified. Compared with the general population, the cohort was found to be at a 14-fold increased risk of developing an sSMN (95% confidence interval, 12.0-fold to 16.3-fold). The cumulative incidence of any sSMN was 26.4% at 40 years after a diagnosis of HL. Risk factors for breast cancer among females were an HL diagnosis between ages 10 years and 16 years and receipt of chest radiotherapy. Males treated with chest radiotherapy at age <10 years were found to be at highest risk of developing lung cancer. Survivors of HL who were treated with abdominal/pelvic radiotherapy and high-dose alkylating agents were found to be at highest risk of developing colorectal cancer and females exposed to neck radiotherapy at age <10 years were at highest risk of thyroid cancer. By age 50 years, the cumulative incidence of breast, lung, colorectal, and thyroid cancer was 45.3%, 4.2%, 9.5%, and 17.3%, respectively, among those at highest risk. CONCLUSIONS: Survivors of childhood HL remain at an increased risk of developing sSMNs. In the current study, subgroups of survivors of HL at highest risk of specific sSMNs were identified, and evidence for screening provided.

The role of irradiated heart and left ventricular volumes in heart failure occurrence after childhood cancer.

BACKGROUND: Paediatric cancer survivors have a high risk of developing cardiac diseases, and the most frequent cardiac disease is heart failure (HF). The radiation dose-volume effects in the heart and cardiac substructures have not been explored in childhood cancer survivors (CCS). Therefore, the role of irradiated heart volume in the occurrence of HF among this population remains unclear. The aims of this study were to determine the doses and irradiated volumes of the heart and left ventricle (LV) related to the risk of HF in CCS and to investigate the impact of anthracycline exposure on this risk. METHODS AND RESULTS: A case-control study nested in the French Childhood Cancer Survivors Study cohort. The mean heart and left ventricular doses and volumes indicators were estimated by reconstruction of individual treatments. A total of 239 HF cases and 1042 matched controls were included. The median age of HF diagnosis was 25.1 years. The median volume of the heart that received ≥ 30 Gy was 61.1% for cases and 16.9% for controls. In patients who did not receive anthracycline, the risk of HF was increased 3.6-fold when less than 10% of the LV received ≥ 30 Gy when compared to patients who were not exposed to any cardiac radiation and anthracycline. CONCLUSIONS: Small irradiated volumes of the heart or LV were significantly associated with HF risk. To the author's knowledge, this is the first study to report a dose-response relationship based on dose-volume indicators in CCS, which can be translated efficiently into current clinical practice.

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.

Addition of dose-intensified doxorubicin to standard chemotherapy for rhabdomyosarcoma (EpSSG RMS 2005): a multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled, phase 3 trial.

BACKGROUND: Rhabdomyosarcoma is an aggressive tumour that can develop in almost any part of the body. Doxorubicin is an effective drug against rhabdomyosarcoma, but its role in combination with an established multidrug regimen remains controversial. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the possible benefit of early dose intensification with doxorubicin in patients with non-metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma. METHODS: We did a multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled, phase 3 trial involving 108 hospitals from 14 countries. We included patients older than 6 months but younger than 21 years with a pathologically proven diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma. We assigned each patient to a specific subgroup according to the EpSSG stratification system. Those with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma incompletely resected and localised at unfavourable sites with or without nodal involvement, or those with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma without nodal involvement were considered at high risk of relapse. These high-risk patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either nine cycles of IVA (ifosfamide 3 g/m2 given as a 3-h intravenous infusion on days 1 and 2, vincristine 1·5 mg/m2 weekly during the first 7 weeks then only on day 1 of each cycle [given as a single intravenous injection], and dactinomycin 1·5 mg/m2 on day 1 given as a single intravenous injection) or four cycles of IVA with doxorubicin 30 mg/m2 given as a 4-h intravenous infusion on days 1 and 2 followed by five cycles of IVA. The interval between cycles was 3 weeks. Randomisation was done using a web-based system and was stratified (block sizes of four) by enrolling country and risk subgroup. Neither investigators nor patients were masked to treatment allocation. The primary endpoint was 3-year event-free survival assessed by the investigator at each centre in the intention-to-treat population. Patients who received at least one dose of study treatment were considered in the safety analysis. In agreement with the independent data monitoring committee, the study was closed to patient entry on Dec 16, 2013, after futility analysis. This trial is registered with EudraCT, number 2005-000217-35, and is currently in follow-up. FINDINGS: Between Oct 1, 2005, and Dec 16, 2013, 484 patients were randomly assigned to receive each chemotherapy regimen (242 in the IVA group and 242 in the IVA plus doxorubicin group). Median follow-up was 63·9 months (IQR 44·6-78·9). The 3-year event-free survival was 67·5% (95% CI 61·2-73·1) in the IVA plus doxorubicin group and 63·3% (56·8-69·0) in the IVA group (hazard ratio 0·87, 95% CI 0·65-1·16; p=0·33). Grade 3-4 leucopenia (232 [93%] of 249 patients in the IVA plus doxorubicin group vs 194 [85%] of 227 in the IVA group; p=0·0061), anaemia (195 [78%] vs 111 [49%]; p<0·0001), thrombocytopenia (168 [67%] vs 59 [26%]; p<0.0001), and gastrointestinal adverse events (78 [31%] vs 19 [8%]; p<0·0001) were significantly more common in the IVA plus doxorubicin group than in the IVA group. Grade 3-5 infections (198 [79%] vs 128 [56%]; p<0·0001) were also significantly more common in the IVA plus doxorubicin group than in the IVA group, in which one patient had grade 5 infection. Two treatment-related deaths were reported (one patient developed septic shock and one affected by Goldenhar syndrome developed intractable seizures) in the IVA plus doxorubicin group, both occurring after the first cycle of treatment, and none were reported in the IVA group. INTERPRETATIONS: The addition of dose-intensified doxorubicin to standard IVA chemotherapy did not show a significant improvement in the outcome of patients with high-risk non-metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma. Therefore, the IVA chemotherapy regimen should remain the standard of care for patients with localised rhabdomyosarcoma in Europe. FUNDING: Fondazione Città della Speranza, Italy, and the Association Léon Berard Enfant Cancéreux, France.

Fecundity and Quality of Life of Women Treated for Solid Childhood Tumors Between 1948 and 1992 in France.

PURPOSE: To describe fecundity in female survivors of childhood cancer and consider the correlation with quality of life (QOL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of 1744 women treated for childhood cancer before the age of 15 years at one of eight French cancer treatment centers between 1948 and 1992, 1187 who were alive in 2005 were sent a self-administered questionnaire, including questions about health status, QOL (MOS SF-36), and fecundity. A standardized fecundity ratio (SFR) was calculated (SFR: observed/expected number of children) for each individual based on a national reference. RESULTS: Of the 972 individuals (82%) who responded, 53% had at least 1 child. The overall SFR, 0.65, was dependent upon the initial diagnosis, more decreased in Central Nervous System tumors (0.24; p < 10-3) than in Germ cell (0.46; p = 0.03) or Sympathetic Nervous System tumors (0.79; p = 0.02). The average QOL motor score was 72.5 ± 19.5, and the average mental score was 61.4 ± 16.7. After adjusting for age, pathology, and self-reported sequelae in the questionnaires, it was determined that SF-36 mental (p = 0.002) and motor (p < 0.0002) scores correlated positively with fecundity, and SF-36 scores correlated negatively with locomotor late effects (p < 0.0001), growth insufficiency (p = 0.002), and psychological disorders (p < 0.001). Gonadal insufficiency was correlated with neither motor nor mental scores. CONCLUSION: Women treated for childhood cancer demonstrated impaired fecundity that correlated with poor QOL, as registered by the SF-36. Patients should be warned of the risk of impaired fecundity early during the follow-up. If possible, preservation of fertility should be prioritized at initiation of therapy.

Localized vaginal/uterine rhabdomyosarcoma-results of a pooled analysis from four international cooperative groups.

BACKGROUND: Vaginal/uterine rhabdomyosarcoma (VU RMS) is one of the most favorable RMS sites. To determine the optimal therapy, the experience of four cooperative groups (Children's Oncology Group [COG], International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP) Malignant Mesenchymal Tumor Group [MMT], Italian Cooperative Soft Tissue Sarcoma Group [ICG], and European pediatric Soft tissue sarcoma Study Group [EpSSG]) was analyzed. PROCEDURE: From 1981 to 2009, 237 patients were identified. Median age (years) at diagnosis differed by tumor location; it was 1.9 for vagina (n = 160), 2.7 for uterus corpus (n = 26), and 13.5 for uterus cervix (n = 51). Twenty-eight percent of patients received radiation therapy (RT) as part of primary therapy (23% COG, 27% MMT, 46% ICG, and 42% EpSSG), with significant differences in the use of brachytherapy between the cooperative groups (23% COG, 76% MMT, 64% ICG, and 88% EpSSG). RESULTS: Ten-year event-free (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were 74% (95% CI, 67-79%) and 92% (95% CI, 88-96%), respectively. In univariate analysis, OS was inferior for patients with uterine RMS and for those with regional lymph node involvement. Although EFS was slightly lower in patients without initial RT (71% without RT vs. 81% with RT; P = 0.08), there was no difference in OS (94% without RT vs. 89% with RT; P = 0.18). Local control using brachytherapy was excellent (93%). Fifty-one (51.5%) of the 99 survivors with known primary therapy and treatment for relapse were cured with chemotherapy with or without conservative surgery. CONCLUSIONS: About half of all patients with VU RMS can be cured without systematic RT or radical surgery. When RT is indicated, modalities that limit sequelae should be considered, such as brachytherapy.

Clinical and histological features of second breast cancers following radiotherapy for childhood and young adult malignancy.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of early second breast cancer (SBC) among survivors of childhood and young adult malignancy treated with irradiation. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter retrospective study of women who presented with breast cancer aged 50 years or younger in nine French centers. RESULTS: 121 patients and 141 SBC were analyzed (invasive = 130; non-invasive = 11). The mean age at first cancer diagnosis was 15 years and at initial SBC diagnosis was 38 years. Bilateral disease before the age of 51 years was diagnosed in 16% of the females. The majority of SBC were invasive carcinomas (92%). Among the invasive carcinomas, 39% had a histoprognostic score of III, 3.1% overexpressed HER2 and 29% were triple negative. The proportion of triple negative phenotype SBC was higher in patients older at first cancer diagnosis [RR = 1.2, 95% CI (1.1-1.3)]. 94% of triple negative SBCs developed in breast tissue which had received >20 Gy. CONCLUSION: We found a high proportion of aggressive SBC following thoracic radiotherapy in childhood or early adulthood. Advances in knowledge: SBC screening is recommended by scientific societies for these child/young-adulthood cancer survivors in the same way as the one for high risk women because of constitutional mutations. Our results support these recommendations, not only because of a similar cumulative risk, but also because of the aggressive histological characteristics.

Prognostic relevance of early radiologic response to induction chemotherapy in pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma: A report from the International Society of Pediatric Oncology Malignant Mesenchymal Tumor 95 study.

BACKGROUND: Early response to induction chemotherapy is used in current European guidelines to evaluate the efficacy of chemotherapy and subsequently to adapt treatment in pediatric patients with rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). However, existing literature on the prognostic value of early radiologic response on survival is contradictory; here the prognostic value is analyzed with data from the International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP) Malignant Mesenchymal Tumor 95 (MMT-95) study. METHODS: This study examined 432 Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study Grouping III (macroscopic residue) patients enrolled in the SIOP MMT-95 study with a response assessment after 3 courses of chemotherapy (a 2-dimensional assessment). Patients with progressive disease (PD) after 3 courses of chemotherapy were excluded (n = 7). Failure-free survival (FFS) and overall survival (OS), calculated with the Kaplan-Meier method, were compared for 3 groups (complete response [CR]/partial response [PR], objective response [OR], and no response [NR]). The prognostic impact of early response was assessed through the calculation of Cox proportional hazards. RESULTS: After 3 courses of chemotherapy, 85.2% of the patients had CR/PR, 8.6% had OR, and 6.3% had NR. For all patients, the 5-year FFS and OS rates were 60% (95% confidence interval [CI], 56%-65%) and 74% (95% CI, 70%-78%), respectively. However, a Cox proportional hazards regression analysis revealed no significant difference in FFS or OS between the response groups. The adjusted hazard ratios for an OR and NR were 1.09 (95% CI, 0.63-1.88) and 0.81 (95% CI, 0.39-1.67), respectively, for FFS and 0.91 (95% CI, 0.47-1.76) and 1.27 (95% CI, 0.61-2.64), respectively, for OS. CONCLUSIONS: No evidence was found for the idea that early radiologic response to chemotherapy is prognostic for survival for patients with RMS. Treatment adaptation based on early response (except for patients with PD) should, therefore, no longer be incorporated into future studies. Cancer 2018;124:1016-24. © 2017 American Cancer Society.

Open-label, multicentre, randomised, phase II study of the EpSSG and the ITCC evaluating the addition of bevacizumab to chemotherapy in childhood and adolescent patients with metastatic soft tissue sarcoma (the BERNIE study).

PURPOSE: We evaluated the role of bevacizumab as part of the multi-modality treatment of children and adolescents with metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) or non-rhabdomyosarcoma soft tissue sarcoma (NRSTS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eligible patients aged ≥6 months to <18 years were randomised to receive induction chemotherapy (four cycles of IVADo + five cycles of IVA, ±bevacizumab), surgery and/or radiotherapy, followed by maintenance chemotherapy (12 cycles of low-dose cyclophosphamide + vinorelbine, ±bevacizumab). The primary objective was event-free survival (EFS) evaluated by an independent radiological review committee. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-four patients were randomised to receive chemotherapy alone (n = 80) or with bevacizumab (n = 74). At the data cut-off for the primary efficacy analysis, median EFS was 14.9 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 10.8-35.9) with chemotherapy and 20.6 months (95% CI: 15.2-24.9) with bevacizumab plus chemotherapy (stratified hazard ratio [HR] = 0.93; 95% CI: 0.61-1.41; P = 0.72). The HR for EFS in patients with RMS (n = 103) was 1.24 (95% CI: 0.73-2.09) versus 0.64 (95% CI: 0.32-1.26) for those with NRSTS (n = 49). Objective response rate was 36.0% (95% CI: 25.2-47.9) with chemotherapy and 54.0% (95% CI: 40.9-66.6) with bevacizumab plus chemotherapy (difference of 18.0%; 95% CI: 0.6-35.3). There were no treatment-related deaths and no increased incidence of grade 3/4 toxicities with bevacizumab. CONCLUSION: The addition of bevacizumab to chemotherapy appeared tolerable in children and adolescents with metastatic RMS/NRSTS, but the primary end-point of EFS did not show statistically significant improvement. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00643565.

Brachytherapy Combined With Surgery for Conservative Treatment of Children With Bladder Neck and/or Prostate Rhabdomyosarcoma.

PURPOSE: To report the results of a conservative strategy based on partial surgery combined with brachytherapy in a prospective cohort of children with bladder-prostate rhabdomyosarcoma (BP RMS). METHODS AND MATERIALS: We prospectively documented the outcome of children treated in our department between 1991 and 2015 for BP RMS and undergoing a multimodal approach combining conservative surgery (partial cystectomy and/or partial prostatectomy) and perioperative interstitial low-dose-rate or pulse-dose-rate brachytherapy. Before brachytherapy, children had received chemotherapy with modalities depending on their risk group of treatment. RESULTS: A total of 100 patients were identified, with a median age of 28 months (range, 5.6 months-14 years). According to the Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study (IRS) group, 84 were IRS-III, and 12 were IRS-IV tumors. Four patients were treated at relapse. The median number of chemotherapy cycles before local therapy was 6 (range, 4-13). After surgery, 63 patients had a macroscopic tumor residuum. Five patients underwent a brachytherapy boost before pelvic external beam radiation therapy because of nodal involvement, and 95 had exclusive brachytherapy. Median follow-up was 64 months (range, 6 months-24.5 years). Five-year disease-free and overall survival rates were 84% (95% confidence interval 80%-88%) and 91% (95% confidence interval 87%-95%), respectively. At last follow-up most survivors presented with only mild to moderate genitourinary sequelae and a normal diurnal urinary continence. Five patients required a secondary total cystectomy: 3 for a nonfunctional bladder and 2 for relapse. CONCLUSION: Brachytherapy is effective as part of a conservative strategy for BP RMS, with a relatively low delayed toxicity as compared with previously published studies using external beam radiation therapy. Longer follow-up is required to ensure that the functional results are maintained over time.

Paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma in children and adolescents-Outcome and patterns of relapse when utilizing a nonsurgical strategy for lymph node staging: Report from the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) Malignant Mesenchymal Tumour 89 and 95 studies.

PURPOSE: To report the results from International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP) Malignant Mesenchymal Tumors studies (MMT 89 and 95) of males with nonmetastatic paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma. METHODS: From 1989 to 2003, 159 patients were included. Radical inguinal orchidectomy was recommended, but retroperitoneal lymph node (LN) assessment was based on imaging alone. The treatment was stratified by stage (SIOP tumor-node-metastasis staging system) and histology. RESULTS: Median age at presentation was 5.6 years (range 0.3-17.6) and 120 patients were of <10 years (75%). Patients ≥10 years had tumors of >5 cm more frequently compared to patients of <10 years (54% vs. 22%, P = 0.0004). The 5- year overall and progression-free survivals were 94% and 83%, respectively. Seventy-eight percent of relapses occurred in the retroperitoneal LN. Thirty-one percent of stage N0 patients of age ≥10 years developed node relapse, compared with 8% of N0 patients aged <10 years (P = 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS: Older patients with paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma have a significant risk of LN relapse. These results support a surgical approach to LN staging in this subgroup of patients.

The right to be forgotten: a change in access to insurance and loans after childhood cancer?

PURPOSE: Access to insurance for a loan or a mortgage is an important issue for childhood cancer survivors. The aim of this study was to describe difficulties experienced by adult survivors. METHODS: A total of 1920 survivors treated before the age of 18 in five French cancer centers responded to a questionnaire in 2010. Survivors who had tried to obtain a loan were asked if they had experienced difficulties, which were defined as experiencing rejection, higher premiums, or exclusions. The questionnaire investigated health problems related to the circulatory, respiratory, digestive, urinary, endocrine, hormonal, and nervous systems. Second tumors, diabetes mellitus, cardiac disease, and stroke were ascertained from a physician's report or medical records. Multivariable analyses were conducted to identify the characteristics of survivors reporting difficulties. RESULTS: Difficulties were experienced by 10.4% of those who had tried to obtain a small loan (n = 787) and by 30.1% of those who had tried to obtain a home loan (n = 909). Disclosure of childhood cancer to the insurer and amputation surgery were negatively associated with insurance accessibility, even when controlling for age, gender, education, health-related unemployment, familial situation, and severe or life-threatening conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, second cancers, or diabetes. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the financial burden of cancer can extend decades after diagnosis. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Thanks to a 2016 law, French cancer survivors no longer have to disclose their cancer to insurers after a fixed number of years. This law will probably lessen the socioeconomic burden of cancer.

Cerebrovascular Diseases in Childhood Cancer Survivors: Role of the Radiation Dose to Willis Circle Arteries.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of radiation dose received to the circle of Willis (WC) during radiation therapy (RT) and of potential dose-response modifiers on the risk of stroke after treatment of childhood cancer. METHODS: We evaluated the risk factors for stroke in a cohort of 3172 5-year survivors of childhood cancer who were followed up for a median time of 26 years. Radiation doses to the WC and brain structures were estimated for each of the 2202 children who received RT. RESULTS: Fifty-four patients experienced a confirmed stroke; 39 were ischemic. Patients not receiving RT had a stroke risk similar to that of the general population, whereas those who received RT had an 8.5-fold increased risk (95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.3-11.0). The excess of incidence of stroke increased yearly. The dose of radiation to the WC, rather than to other brain structures, was found to be the best predictor of stroke. The relative risk was 15.7 (95% CI: 4.9-50.2) for doses of 40 Gy or more. At 45 years of age, the cumulative stroke incidence was 11.3% (95% CI: 7.1%-17.7%) in patients who received 10 Gy or more to the WC, compared with 1% expected from general population data. Radiation doses received to the heart and neck also increased the risk. Surgery for childhood brain cancer was linked to hemorrhagic strokes in these patients. CONCLUSION: The WC should be considered as a major organ at risk during RT for childhood brain cancers. The incidence of radiation-induced ischemic stroke strongly increases with long-term follow-up.