Neuroblastoma 4S with an unfavorable biological marker: what to do?

Neuroblastoma stage 4S: Tumor regression rate and risk factors of progressive disease

BACKGROUND

The clinical course of neuroblastoma stage 4S or MS is characterized by a high rate of spontaneous tumor regression and favorable outcome. However, the clinical course and rate of the regression are poorly understood.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was performed, including all patients with stage 4S neuroblastoma without MYCN amplification, from two Dutch centers between 1972 and 2012. We investigated the clinical characteristics, the biochemical activity reflected in urinary catecholamine excretion, and radiological imaging to describe the kinetics of tumor regression, therapy response and outcome.

RESULTS

The cohort of 31 patients reached a 10-year overall survival of 84% ± 7% (median follow-up 16 years; range, 3.3-39). During the regressive phase, liver size normalized in 91% of the patients and catecholamine excretion in 83%, both after a median of two months (liver size: range, 0-131; catecholamines: range, 0-158). The primary tumors completely regressed in 69% after 13 months (range, 6-73), and the liver architecture normalized in 52% after 15 months (range, 5-131). Antitumor treatment was given in 52% of the patients. Interestingly, regression rates were similar for treated and untreated patients. Four of seven patients < 4 weeks old died of rapid liver expansion and organ compression. Three patients progressed to stage 4, 3 to 13 months after diagnosis; all had persistently elevated catecholamines.

CONCLUSION

Patients < 4 weeks old with neuroblastoma stage 4S are at risk of fatal outcome caused by progression of liver metastases. In other patients, tumor regression is characterized by a rapid biochemical normalization that precedes radiological regression.

Treatment of stage 4s neuroblastoma--report of 10 years' experience of the French Society of Paediatric Oncology (SFOP)

Stage 4s neuroblastoma (NB) is usually associated with a favourable outcome, despite a large tumour burden, as spontaneous regression frequently occurs. However, in some infants rapid disease progression can be observed with severe functional impairment. Thus, for all patients the potential risks of cytotoxic therapy must be weighed against the benefits of early medical intervention. We have retrospectively reviewed the charts of 94 infants treated for stage 4s NB in centres of the French Society of Paediatric Oncology between 1990 and 2000, and describe the different first-line treatment approaches that were, successively, liver irradiation, chemotherapy using a cyclophosphamide-vincristine regimen, and chemotherapy using a carboplatin-etoposide regimen. The overall survival was 88% (+/-7.6%), with a mean follow-up of 64 months. Elevated serum neuron-specific enolase (>100 nmol ml(-1)), ferritin (>280 ng ml(-1)) and urinary dopamine levels (>2500 nmol mmol(-1) creatinine) were associated with a poor outcome, as were the genetic markers N-myc amplification and chromosome 1p deletion (P<0.0005 and P=0.0016, respectively). Patients who required medical intervention at diagnosis fared worse than those who received supportive treatment only (P<0.005). The clinical evolution observed with the different successive treatment approaches suggests that if infants do require therapy, the prompt initiation of a more intensive regimen such as carboplatin-etoposide may be more beneficial.