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Steinbügl M, Nemes K, Johann P, Kröncke T, Tüchert S, da Costa MJG, Ebinger M, Schüller U, Sehested A, Hauser P, Reinhard H, Sumerauer D, Hettmer S, Jakob M, Hasselblatt M, Siebert R, Witt O, Gerss J, Kerl K, Frühwald MC. Clinical evidence for a biological effect of epigenetically active decitabine in relapsed or progressive rhabdoid tumors. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2021; 68:e29267. [PMID: 34347371 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.29267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Refined therapy has helped to improve survival rates in rhabdoid tumors (RT). Prognosis for patients with chemoresistant, recurrent, or progressive RT remains dismal. Although decitabine, an epigenetically active agent, has mainly been evaluated in the management of hematologic malignancies in adults, safety in children has also been demonstrated repeatedly. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective series of patients who received decitabine upon relapse or progression following therapy according to the EU-RHAB regimen is presented. Due to the retrospective nature of analyses, response was defined as measurable regression of at least one lesion on imaging. 850k methylation profiling was done whenever tumor tissue was available. RESULTS A total of 22 patients with RT of any anatomical localization were included. Most patients (19/22) presented with metastases. All received low-dose decitabine with or preceding conventional chemotherapy. Patients received a median of two (1-6) courses of decitabine; 27.3% (6/22) demonstrated a radiological response. Molecular analyses revealed increased methylation levels in tumors from responders. No excessive toxicity was observed. Clinical benefits for responders included eligibility for early phase trials or local therapy. Responders showed prolonged time to progression and overall survival. Due to small sample size, statistical correction for survivorship bias demonstrated no significant effect on survival for responders. CONCLUSIONS Patients with RT demonstrate promising signs of antitumor activity after multiagent relapse therapy including decitabine. Analyses of methylation data suggest a specific effect on an epigenetic level. We propose to consider decitabine and other epigenetic drugs as candidates for further clinical investigations in RT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona Steinbügl
- University Medical Center Augsburg, Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Swabian Children's Cancer Center, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Karolina Nemes
- University Medical Center Augsburg, Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Swabian Children's Cancer Center, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Pascal Johann
- University Medical Center Augsburg, Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Swabian Children's Cancer Center, Augsburg, Germany.,Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Kröncke
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Stefanie Tüchert
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Maria Joao Gil da Costa
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Division, University Hospital S. João Alameda Hernani Monteiro, Porto, Portugal
| | - Martin Ebinger
- Department of General Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology, Children's University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ulrich Schüller
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Research Institute Children's Cancer Center Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.,Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Astrid Sehested
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Peter Hauser
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, 2nd Department of Pediatrics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Harald Reinhard
- Department of Pediatrics, Asklepios Kinderklinik Sankt Augustin, Sankt Augustin, Germany
| | - David Sumerauer
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Simone Hettmer
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Marcus Jakob
- Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Martin Hasselblatt
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Reiner Siebert
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Ulm and Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | - Olaf Witt
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Joachim Gerss
- Institute of Biostatistics and Clinical Research, University of Münster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Kornelius Kerl
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Michael C Frühwald
- University Medical Center Augsburg, Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Swabian Children's Cancer Center, Augsburg, Germany
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