Locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma in childhood and adolescence: Analysis of 95 patients treated with combined chemotherapy and intensity-modulated radiotherapy

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma in children: Multimodal treatment and long-term outcome of 92 patients in a single center over a 28-year period

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to evaluate the long-term outcome and late effects in pediatric patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT), followed by radiotherapy (RT).

METHODS

Ninety-two children (65 male, 27 female) diagnosed with NPC between 1989 and 2017 in the Istanbul University, Institute of Oncology were evaluated retrospectively. NACT consisted of three cycles of cisplatin-containing regimen every 3 weeks, followed by RT.

RESULTS

The median age was 13 years (5-18 years). Most had locoregionally advanced disease (stage III/IVA/IVB) and five had distant metastases at presentation. At a median follow-up of 108 months (3-332 months), 5- and 10-year overall survival rates and event-free survival rates were 87.5%, 79.7% and 82.1%, 78.9%, respectively. Three patients with distant metastasis are long-term survivors. Thirteen patients relapsed at a median of 8 months (2-23 months). Hypothyroidism (36%) and xerostomia (25%) were the most frequent long-term treatment-related toxicities. Nine second malignancies developed in eight patients, eight in the irradiated field at a median of 14 years (range 5-26 years), five of whom are long-term survivors after curative surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Three courses of cisplatin-containing NACT, followed by RT lead to high survival and locoregional control rate in advanced stage NPC in children. Patients with distant metastasis should also be treated with curative intent by systemic chemotherapy and locoregional radiotherapy. Patients should be followed closely for recurrences and long-term morbidities including second malignancies, which may be treated with curative surgeries if diagnosed early.

Comparison of Prognosis Between Juvenile and Adult Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis

Purpose

To investigate whether juvenile patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in China have better prognosis than their adult counterparts in the intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) era, after controlling for potential confounding variables.

Methods

Data pertaining to 1139 patients with newly diagnosed NPC without metastasis, who were treated with IMRT at our hospital, were retrospectively analyzed. Of these, 60 patients were juvenile (age ≤18 years) diagnosed between January 2003 and December 2018, while 1079 patients were adults (≤65 years) diagnosed between January 2013 and December 2014. To minimize the influence of selection and confounding bias, 1:2 propensity score matching (PSM) was used. Overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), locoregional relapse-free survival (LRFS), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method and between-group differences assessed using the Log rank test. The long-term toxicity of the juvenile patients was evaluated according to the criteria of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) and the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 5.0.

Results

Five-year OS of juvenile and adult patients were 88.07% and 85.08%, respectively. Before PSM, OS, PFS, DMFS, or LRFS were comparable in the two groups (all P > 0.05). After PSM, OS, DFS, and LRFS in the juvenile group were markedly longer than that in adults (P = 0.005, P = 0.027, and P = 0.024, respectively). With respect to long-term toxicity, the most common adverse effects in juvenile patients were cervix fibrosis, ototoxicity, and xerostomia. However, except for two patients who developed grade 3 ototoxicity, all adverse effects were within grade 2.

Conclusion

In the IMRT era, juvenile Chinese patients with NPC had better 5-year OS, DFS, and LRFS than their adult counterparts. The adverse events in the juvenile cohort were relatively mild; however, the risk of severe ototoxicity should not be neglected.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma in children and young adults-Beyond 5-year survival

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a rare and locally aggressive form of childhood cancer. Treatment of NPC includes chemotherapy and radiotherapy. With current treatment protocols, survival rates for patients with nonmetastatic disease is over 80%. Data regarding very late events including long-term treatment-related morbidities and second malignancies are scarce. We present our data on 42 patients with NPC treated in Israel between 1989 and 2014, and followed until 2019. During follow up, five patients had disease recurrence, and four children developed secondary malignancy. Median time to diagnosis of secondary malignancy was 105 months. Eighty-eight percent of patients have long-term treatment-related morbidities.

Prospective evaluation of multitarget treatment of pediatric patients with helical intensity-modulated radiotherapy

Background and purpose

Radiotherapy (RT) is persistently gaining significance in the treatment of pediatric tumors. However, individual features of a growing body and multifocal stages complicate this approach. Tomotherapy offers advantages in the treatment of anatomically complex tumors with low risks of side effects. Here we report on toxicity incidence and outcome of tomotherapy with a focus on multitarget RT (mtRT).

Materials and methods

From 2008 to 2017, 38 children diagnosed with sarcoma were treated with tomotherapy. The median age was 15 years (6–19 years). Toxicity was graded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v.4.03 and classified into symptoms during RT, acutely (0–6 months) and late (>6 months) after RT, and long-term sideeffects (>24 months).

Results

The main histologies were Ewing sarcoma (n = 23 [61%]) and alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (n = 5 [13%]). RT was performed with a median total dose of 54 Gy (40.5–66.0 Gy) and a single dose of 2 Gy (1.80–2.27 Gy). Twenty patients (53%) received mtRT. Median follow-up was 29.7 months (95% confidence interval 15.3–48.2 months) with a 5-year survival of 55.2% (±9.5%). The 5‑year survival rate of patients with mtRT (n = 20) was 37.1 ± 13.2%, while patients who received single-target RT (n = 18) had a 5-year survival rate of 75 ± 10.8%. Severe toxicities (grade 3 and 4) emerged in 14 patients (70%) with mtRT and 7 patients (39%) with single-target RT. Two non-hematological grade 4 toxicities occurred during RT: one mucositis and one radiodermatitis. After mtRT 5 patients had grade 3 toxicities acute and after single-target RT 4 patients. One patient had acute non-hematological grade 4 toxicities (gastritis, pericarditis, and pericardial effusion) after mtRT. Severe late effects of RT occurred in 2 patients after mtRT and in none of the single-target RT patients. No severe long-term side effects appeared.

Conclusion

Our results showed acceptable levels of acute and late toxicities, considering the highly advanced diseases and multimodal treatment. Hence, tomotherapy is a feasible treatment method for young patients with anatomically complex tumors or multiple targets. Especially mtRT is a promising and innovative treatment approach for pediatric sarcomas, delivering unexpectedly high survival rates for patients with multifocal Ewing sarcomas in this study, whereby the limited number of patients should invariably be considered in the interpretation.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s00066-020-01670-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Clinical Implications of Plasma Epstein-Barr Virus DNA in Children and Adolescent Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients Receiving Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy

Background: Plasma Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) DNA has been determined as a prognostic factor in adult nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients. This study was designed to evaluate the prognostic value of plasma pretreatment EBV DNA in children and adolescent NPC patients receiving intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).

Methods: Pretreatment EBV DNA was retrospectively assessed in 147 children with newly diagnosed, non-metastatic NPC. All patients were treated using IMRT. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to identify the optimal EBV DNA cutoff point. Prognostic value was examined using a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model.

Results: The median follow-up for the entire cohort was 58 months (range, 10–119 months), and the 5-year survival rates for all patients were as follows: overall survival (OS), 88.7%; locoregional relapse-free survival, 95.2%; distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), 84.8%; and disease-free survival (DFS), 81.5%. For ROC curve analysis, the optimal cutoff value of pretreatment EBV DNA load for DFS was 40,000 copies/mL. High plasma EBV DNA was significantly associated with poorer 5-year DMFS (70.6 vs. 89.1%, P = 0.003) and DFS (63.9 vs. 86.9%, P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, high plasma EBV DNA was an independent predictor for DMFS and DFS.

Conclusions: Pretreatment EBV DNA level was a powerful prognostic discriminator for DMFS and DFS in children and adolescent NPC patients treated with IMRT.

Update in pediatric nasopharyngeal undifferentiated carcinoma

Many of the principles established in adults with undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) apply to children, adolescents and young adults. However, NPC in young patients should be distinguished from the adult form by several points. This review focuses mainly on differences between adult and pediatric NPC. The role of biology and genetics in pediatric NPC is discussed. Systemic treatment modalities including type of chemotherapy induction, timing of treatment, role of immunotherapy as adjuvant treatment, or in relapsing/ metastatic diseases are reported. Radiation modalities (doses, techniques…) in children are also reviewed. Long-term effects including secondary cancers are finally be discussed in this young NPC population.

Adapted strategy to tumor response in childhood nasopharyngeal carcinoma: the French experience

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to retrospectively study survival and long-term morbidities of children with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated by induction chemotherapy and concurrent chemoradiation (CRT). The total dose of radiation was adapted to the response following neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

METHODS

Children with non-metastatic NPC treated in France between 1999 and 2015 were retrospectively included in the study. The strategy combined neoadjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy, followed by adapted CRT to tumor response.

RESULTS

In total, 95 patients (median age 15 years [range, 7-23 years], male-to-female ratio 1.8) with undifferentiated NPC were included; 59% of patients had TNM stage IV. Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) was delivered to 57 patients (60%), while the other patients were treated with conformal RT (3D-RT). After a median follow-up of 4.5 years [range, 3.6-5.5 years], 13 relapses and seven deaths had occurred. The 3‑year overall and relapse-free survival (RFS) were 94% [95% CI, 85-97%] and 86% [77-92%], respectively. The locoregional failure rate was 6% [95% CI, 2-14]. Long-term treatment-related sequelae of grade 2+ were reported by 37 (50%) patients; odynophagia was significantly reduced treated by IMRT vs. conventional 3D-RT (7% vs. 55%, p = 0.015). Using a reduction dose of 59.4 Gy, 54 Gy, and 45 Gy, respectively, to the primary, involved, and uninvolved neck nodes, after a favorable tumor response, was not associated with an increased locoregional failure rate.

CONCLUSIONS

The survival rates for NPC have been considerably improved by means of multimodal therapy, but long-term locoregional morbidity remains common. Use of IMRT may induce less residual odynophagia. Radiation dose reduction adapted to chemotherapy response does not have a negative impact on outcome. These findings support the use of an RT protocol adapted to the tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for a long-lasting improvement in the patient's quality of life.

Induction Chemotherapy Plus Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy Versus Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy Alone in Locoregionally Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in Children and Adolescents: A Matched Cohort Analysis

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term clinical outcome and toxicity of induction chemotherapy (IC) followed by concomitant chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) compared with CCRT alone for the treatment of children and adolescent locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LACANPC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 194 locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients youngerthan 21 years who received CCRT with or without IC before were included in the study population. Overall survival (OS) rate, progression-free survival (PFS) rate, locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRFS) rate, and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) rate were assessed by the Kaplan-Meier method and a log-rank test. Treatment toxicities were clarified and compared between two groups.

RESULTS

One hundred and thiry of 194 patients received IC+CCRT. Patients who were younger and with more advanced TNM stage were more likely to receive IC+CCRT and intensive modulated radiotherapy. The addition of IC before CCRT failed to improve survival significantly. The matched analysis identified 43 well-balanced patients in both two groups. With a median follow-up of 51.5 months, no differences were found between the IC+CCRT group and the CCRT group in 5-year OS (83.7% vs. 74.6%, p=0.153), PFS (79.2% vs. 73.4%, p=0.355), LRFS (97.7% vs. 88.2%, p=0.083), and DMFS (81.6% vs. 81.6%, p=0.860). N3 was an independent prognostic factor predicting poorer OS, PFS, and DMFS. The addition of IC was associated with increased rates of grade 3 to 4 neutropenia.

CONCLUSION

This study failed to demonstrate that adding IC before CCRT could provide a significant additional survival benefit for LACANPC patients. Further investigations are warranted.

Decreased Pituitary Height and Stunted Linear Growth After Radiotherapy in Survivors of Childhood Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cases

To examine the morphological changes of the pituitary glands and linear growth of childhood nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cases who accepted radiotherapy. A total of 90 children (i.e., age less than 18 years) who were diagnosed as NPC at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from January 2009 to January 2016 were identified by reviewing medical records. Two radiologists reviewed and measured the pre-radiation, post-radiation, and the latest available pituitary gland heights independently. Patients' current height information was collected by telephone interviews. We compared the pituitary height differences using paired t-tests and estimated the pituitary height trajectories within each sex by mixed regression models. Height-for-age Z-score was calculated for each patient using the WHO growth reference data for 5-19 years as reference. Most of the included participants were of male sex (75.6%) and over half were diagnosed at stage IV (58.4%). Among the 90 included participants, 89 had one repeated measurement of the pituitary height and 79 had two repeated measurements of the pituitary height. Seventy six of the 89 childhood NPC participants had reduced pituitary heights after radiation and accounted for 85.4% of the whole population. The means of the pituitary heights before and after radiotherapy were 6.4 ± 1.3 mm and 5.6 ± 1.2 mm (P < 0.001), respectively. The mean of height-for-age Z-score for childhood NPC cases was significantly below zero (-0.54, 95% CI = -0.74, -0.34). We concluded that childhood NPC cases had decreased pituitary heights and stunted linear growth after radiotherapy.

Induction Methotrexate, Cisplatin, and 5-Fluorouracil Versus Cisplatin and 5-Fluorouracil Followed by Radiotherapy in Pediatric Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Retrospective Analysis in a Tertiary Cancer Center

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to compare treatment outcomes of methotrexate, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil (MPF) or cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (PF) in pediatric NPC patients treated with sequential chemoradiotherapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 25 patients aged 18 years or below with stage II-IV NPC treated with IC using PF (n=16) or MPF (n=9) followed by radiotherapy between 2003 and 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. Radiotherapy dose was 61.2 to 66.6 Gy to the gross disease. Age, stage, radiation dose, and chemotherapy regimen were tested as prognostic factors for event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) on univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

The median age at diagnosis was 13.3 years. All patients completed planned chemotherapy. All patients who received MPF achieved PR whereas 15 patients (93.8%) who received PF achieved PR (P=1). There were no differences in EFS (68.75% vs. 66.67%; P=0.84) and OS (81.25% vs. 66.67%; P=0.39) at 5 years between PF and MPF, respectively. On multivariate analysis, only tumor stage (IV vs. II-III) predicted worse OS (hazard ratio, 10.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.197-88.974) but not EFS (hazard ratio, 4.805; 95% confidence interval, 0.95-24.336). Distant metastases was the predominant site of failure, seen in 5 patients (20%).

CONCLUSIONS

Omission of methotrexate from the induction chemotherapy regimen did not affect treatment outcome.

A retrospective study comparing the outcomes and toxicities of intensity-modulated radiotherapy versus two-dimensional conventional radiotherapy for the treatment of children and adolescent nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Purpose

To compare the clinical outcomes and toxicities of two-dimensional conventional radiotherapy (2D-CRT) and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for the treatment of children and adolescent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods

A total of 176 children with non-metastatic NPC treated at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between October 2003 and September 2013 were included in this study. Of the 176 patients, 74 received 2D-CRT and 102 were treated with IMRT. The clinical outcomes and acute and late toxicities were determined and compared.

Results

The IMRT group achieved significantly higher overall survival (OS) (90.4% vs. 76.1% at 5 year, P = 0.007) and disease-free survival (DFS) (85.7% vs. 71.2%, P = 0.029) mainly due to an improvement in locoregional relapse-free survival (LRRFS) (97.9 vs. 88.3%, P = 0.049). After stratification by disease stage, IMRT provided significant benefits for patients with stage III–IV disease in terms of OS, LRRFS and DFS. Multivariate analyses indicated that the treatment group (2D-CRT vs. IMRT) was a prognostic factor for OS, LRRFS and DFS. A significant reduction in Grade 2–4 xerostomia (52.7 vs. 34.3%, P = 0.015) and hearing loss (40.5 vs. 22.5%, P = 0.010) was observed in patients treated by IMRT.

Conclusion

IMRT provides better locoregional relapse-free survival and overall survival, especially in late-stage children and adolescent NPC patients, and is associated with a lower incidence of Grade 2–4 xerostomia as well as hearing loss compared with 2D-CRT. Distant metastasis remains a challenge in the treatment of children and adolescent NPC.

Pediatric Nasopharyngeal Cancer: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Pediatric nasopharyngeal carcinoma, also referred to as cavum carcinoma, is a rare pediatric disease with an infrequent incidence rate. We present the case of a pediatric patient with nasopharyngeal cancer who received an adult schedule of concomitant chemotherapy and conformal radiotherapy with a brachytherapy boost. Adult protocols with high radiotherapy doses are not commonly used in pediatric patients due to the high comorbidity associated with this practice. In this case, the patient displayed excellent overall survival, a longer disease-free period, and fewer side effects and comorbidities, even in the absence of interferon therapy, which is not easily available in low-income countries. In addition, this case shows that conformal radiotherapy and brachytherapy are options that can be used to escalate the radiotherapy dose and decrease side effects.

A 12-year-old female pediatric patient presented to our outpatient clinic with an eight-month history of moderate-to-severe otalgia, intermittent hyaline rhinorrhea, asthenia, adynamia, nasal congestion, epistaxis in the previous months, and local pruritus. Upon physical examination, a 60x60 mm mass was detected at level II of the neck, and a biopsy of the lesion confirmed a histopathological diagnosis of undifferentiated carcinoma compatible with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The patient was considered to have clinical Stage III cancer, and she received an adult Al-Sarraf protocol with chemoradiotherapy and an intracavitary brachytherapy boost. The patient had a complete response, and she remains without local or distance relapse.

Treating pediatric nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients with the Al-Sarraf protocol could be a feasible modality, as observed in this clinical case, despite the elevated cost of using interferon-beta in low-income countries when using more advanced radiotherapy techniques such as conformal radiotherapy and now, modulated intensity radiotherapy. It should be noted that brachytherapy boosts should be used with caution in pediatric patients; the potential side effects should be weighed against improved local control.