Malignant renal tumours incidence and survival in European children (1978-1997): report from the Automated Childhood Cancer Information System project

Primary renal botryoid rhabdomyosarcoma: diagnosis and outcome

Primary renal rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare entity. We report on a pediatric patient who, despite having multiple metastases to the lung on presentation, is free of disease 28 months after radical nephrectomy combined with chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Up-to-date monitoring of childhood cancer long-term survival in Europe: tumours of the sympathetic nervous system, retinoblastoma, renal and bone tumours, and soft tissue sarcomas

BACKGROUND

Prognosis for most types of childhood tumours has improved during the last few decades. In this article we estimate up-to-date period survival for less common, but important childhood malignancies in Europe.

METHODS

Using the database of the Automated Childhood Cancer Information System we calculated period estimates of 10-year survival for the 1995-1999 period for children aged 0-14 years diagnosed during 1985-1999 with tumours of the sympathetic nervous system (NS), retinoblastoma, renal tumours, bone tumours and soft tissue sarcomas in four European regions.

RESULTS

Ten-year period survival for 1995-1999 was 66% in children with tumours of the sympathetic NS, 96% for retinoblastoma, 87% for renal tumours, 58% for bone tumours and 61% for soft tissue sarcomas. The higher period estimates, as compared with cohort and complete estimates indicate recent improvement in survival for tumours of the sympathetic NS and to a lesser extent for retinoblastoma and renal tumours. Region-specific period survival estimates were lowest for Eastern Europe for renal, bone and soft tissue tumours, but not for the other two tumour groups.

CONCLUSION

There have been further improvements in the 1990s in long-term survival of children diagnosed with several malignancies, albeit to a different extent in different European regions.

Part II: Treatment of primary malignant non-Wilms' renal tumours in children

Renal-cell carcinoma, clear-cell sarcoma, (congenital) mesoblastic nephroma, rhabdoid tumour, and renal medullary carcinoma form a heterogeneous group of childhood renal malignancies known as non-Wilms' tumours. Progress has been slow in improving the management of these tumours to decrease morbidity and increase survival. However, greater cooperation between national and international centres should engender specialisation, and an increased knowledge of the molecular biology of these tumours will inevitably lead to substantial progress over the next decade. This review is the second of two parts: the first part provided an updated review of the clinical presentation, imaging, and pathology of non-Wilms' tumours and this second part provides an updated review of the treatment of these tumours.

What can we learn from geographical comparisons of childhood cancer survival?

With improvements in treatment for childhood cancer, comparisons of survival rates between countries have become important to inform future health policies and treatment strategies. Population-based cancer registry data are viewed as the gold standard for such comparisons, but even these have potential confounding factors. Here, we review the interpretation of recent geographical comparisons of childhood cancer survival from the viewpoint of the British Isles, a region with a 45-year record of national population-based cancer registration and a national childhood cancer clinical trials organisation in place for nearly 30 years. Using national data on referral patterns to tertiary paediatric oncology centres, we explore some of the reasons for lower survival rates in the past for some tumour groups and anticipate continued improvement in the next decade. Participation in international clinical trials coincided with rapid gains in survival for hepatoblastoma. This exemplifies the potential benefits of international collaborative clinical research, particularly for rare subgroups.

Population-based study of renal cell carcinoma in children in Germany, 1980-2005: more frequently localized tumors and underlying disorders compared with adult counterparts

BACKGROUND

Childhood renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) differ histologically and biologically from their adult counterparts. The characteristics of RCC-affected children and their tumors, the influence of treatment, and outcome have so far not been studied in a nonselected, population-based cohort.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was undertaken of RCC patients less than 16 years old reported to the German Childhood Cancer Registry and to the Kiel Paediatric Tumor Registry from 1980 to 2005.

RESULTS

Forty-nine RCC in children (24 boys, 25 girls) with a median age of 10.6 years were identified. In about every third child possibly RCC-related underlying disorders (tuberous sclerosis, neuroblastoma, teratoma with chemotherapy, Saethre-Chotzen syndrome, chronic renal failure) or related diseases in their family were found. The pathologic subtypes were papillary in 16 (33%), translocation type in 11 (22%), unclassified in 8 (16%), and rarely clear-cell (n = 3) or others. Thirty-four (69%) patients had localized RCC, 8 (16%) patients regional lymph node metastases, and 4 (8%) patients distant metastases. Event-free survival and overall survival rates at 5 years were 96% for localized RCC, 69% and 75% for regional lymph node-positive, 25% and 33% for distant metastatic RCC, respectively. Two of 4 patients with distant metastases received immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy and surgery, both are alive, 1 of them disease-free for 6.9 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatric RCCs are predominantly localized diseases. Children with RCC frequently suffer underlying disorders. Survival rates in localized and regional lymph node-positive cases are favorable. Because of the rarity of RCC in childhood, an international study is necessary.