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Sutthatarn P, Davidoff AM, Bahrami A, Richard C, Shalini B, Santiago TC, Shulkin BL, Pappo AS, Abdelhafeez A. Regional lymph node evaluation in pediatric conventional melanoma subtype: a single-center 10-year review. Pediatr Surg Int 2024; 40:68. [PMID: 38441654 PMCID: PMC10914839 DOI: 10.1007/s00383-024-05646-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE To assess the prognostic and therapeutic significance of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and completion lymph node dissection (CLND) in pediatric conventional melanoma (CM), while evaluating potential predictive factors for outcomes. METHODS We conducted a retrospective analysis of medical records spanning 2009-2020, focusing on patients aged 18 or younger with localized cutaneous conventional melanoma. RESULTS Among the 33 patients, SLNB detected metastasis in 57.6% of cases, with 52.6% undergoing CLND. Positive SLN patients had higher relapse risk (HR 5.92; 95% CI 1.27-27.7; P = 0.024) but similar overall survival (HR 3.19; 95% CI 0.31-33.1, P = 0.33). No significant differences in disease-free survival (DFS) and OS were found between patients who underwent CLND and those who did not (HR 1.91; 95% CI 0.49-7.43, P = 0.35, and HR 0.52; 95% CI 0.03-8.32, P = 0.64, respectively). Univariate analysis showed age at diagnosis (P = 0.02) correlated with higher recurrence risk, with a 21% hazard increase per additional year of age. CONCLUSIONS Positive SLN status and age at diagnosis were associated with worse DFS in CM patients. Our study did not find any prognostic or therapeutic value in CLND for pediatric melanoma. Further multicenter trials are needed to confirm our single-institution experience. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level IV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pattamon Sutthatarn
- Department of Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University and King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Andrew M Davidoff
- Department of Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Armita Bahrami
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Celine Richard
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine, Memphis, USA.
- Division of Otolaryngology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA.
| | - Bhatia Shalini
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Teresa C Santiago
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Barry L Shulkin
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, United States
| | - Alberto S Pappo
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, United States
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2
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Liebmann A, Admard J, Armeanu-Ebinger S, Wild H, Abele M, Gschwind A, Seibel-Kelemen O, Seitz C, Bonzheim I, Riess O, Demidov G, Sturm M, Schadeck M, Pogoda M, Bien E, Krawczyk M, Jüttner E, Mentzel T, Cesen M, Pfaff E, Kunc M, Forchhammer S, Forschner A, Leiter-Stöppke U, Eigentler TK, Schneider DT, Schroeder C, Ossowski S, Brecht IB. UV-radiation and MC1R germline mutations are risk factors for the development of conventional and spitzoid melanomas in children and adolescents. EBioMedicine 2023; 96:104797. [PMID: 37716236 PMCID: PMC10511785 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genomic characterisation has led to an improved understanding of adult melanoma. However, the aetiology of melanoma in children is still unclear and identifying the correct diagnosis and therapeutic strategies remains challenging. METHODS Exome sequencing of matched tumour-normal pairs from 26 paediatric patients was performed to study the mutational spectrum of melanomas. The cohort was grouped into different categories: spitzoid melanoma (SM), conventional melanoma (CM), and other melanomas (OT). FINDINGS In all patients with CM (n = 10) germline variants associated with melanoma were found in low to moderate melanoma risk genes: in 8 patients MC1R variants, in 2 patients variants in MITF, PTEN and BRCA2. Somatic BRAF mutations were detected in 60% of CMs, homozygous deletions of CDKN2A in 20%, TERTp mutations in 30%. In the SM group (n = 12), 5 patients carried at least one MC1R variant; somatic BRAF mutations were detected in 8.3%, fusions in 25% of the cases. No SM showed a homozygous CDKN2A deletion nor a TERTp mutation. In 81.8% of the CM/SM cases the UV damage signatures SBS7 and/or DBS1 were detected. The patient with melanoma arising in giant congenital nevus (CNM) demonstrated the characteristic NRAS Q61K mutation. INTERPRETATION UV-radiation and MC1R germline variants are risk factors in the development of conventional and spitzoid paediatric melanomas. Paediatric CMs share genomic similarities with adult CMs while the SMs differ genetically from the CM group. Consistent genetic characterization of all paediatric melanomas will potentially lead to better subtype differentiation, treatment, and prevention in the future. FUNDING Found in Acknowledgement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Liebmann
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jakob Admard
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Sorin Armeanu-Ebinger
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Hannah Wild
- Paediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Michael Abele
- Paediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Axel Gschwind
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Olga Seibel-Kelemen
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christian Seitz
- Paediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Irina Bonzheim
- Institute of Pathology and Neuropathology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Olaf Riess
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - German Demidov
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Marc Sturm
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Malou Schadeck
- SYNLAB MVZ Human Genetics Freiburg GmbH, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Michaela Pogoda
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; NGS Competence Center Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ewa Bien
- Department of Paediatrics, Hematology, Oncology, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland
| | - Malgorzata Krawczyk
- Department of Paediatrics, Hematology, Oncology, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland
| | - Eva Jüttner
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
| | - Thomas Mentzel
- Dermatohistopathology Friedrichshafen, Friedrichshafen, Germany
| | - Maja Cesen
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, University Hospital Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Elke Pfaff
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michal Kunc
- Department of Pathomorphology, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland
| | - Stephan Forchhammer
- Department of Dermatology, Center for Dermatooncology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Andrea Forschner
- Department of Dermatology, Center for Dermatooncology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Leiter-Stöppke
- Department of Dermatology, Center for Dermatooncology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Thomas K Eigentler
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Charite Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Christopher Schroeder
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Stephan Ossowski
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ines B Brecht
- Paediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
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Pampena R, Piccolo V, Muscianese M, Kyrgidis A, Lai M, Russo T, Briatico G, Di Brizzi EV, Cascone G, Pellerone S, Longo C, Moscarella E, Argenziano G. Melanoma in children: A systematic review and individual patient meta-analysis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2023; 37:1758-1776. [PMID: 37210654 DOI: 10.1111/jdv.19220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The current evidence on paediatric melanoma is heterogeneous, especially regarding the prognosis of different histological subtypes. We sought to systematically review the evidence on paediatric melanoma, highlighting the major sources of heterogeneity and focusing on available data on single patients. A systematic search was performed from 1948 to 25 January 2021. Only studies reporting at least one case of cutaneous melanoma in patients aged ≤18 years were included. Unknown primary and uncertain malignant melanomas were excluded. Three couples of authors independently performed title/abstract screening and two different authors reviewed all the relevant full texts. The selected articles were manually cross-checked for overlapping data for qualitative synthesis. Subsequently data on single patients were extracted to perform a patient-level meta-analysis. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021233248. The main outcomes were melanoma-specific survival (MSS) and progression-free survival (PFS) outcomes. Separate analyses were done of cases with complete information on histologic subtype, focusing on superficial spreading (SSM), nodular (NM) and spitzoid melanomas, as well as of those classified as de-novo (DNM) and acquired or congenital nevus-associated melanomas (NAM). The qualitative synthesis covered 266 studies; however, data on single patients were available from 213 studies including 1002 patients. Among histologic subtypes, NM had a lower MSS than both SSM and spitzoid melanoma, and a lower PFS than SSM. Spitzoid melanoma had a significantly higher progression risk than SSM and trended toward lower mortality. Focusing on nevus-associated status, DNM demonstrated better MSS after progression than congenital NAM, and no differences were highlighted in PFS. Our findings describe the existence of different biological patterns in paediatric melanoma. Specifically, spitzoid melanomas demonstrated intermediate behaviour between SSM and NM and showed a high risk of nodal progression but low mortality. This raises the question of whether spitzoid lesions are being over-diagnosed as melanoma in childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Pampena
- Centro Oncologico ad Alta Tecnologia Diagnostica, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale - IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | | | | | - Athanassios Kyrgidis
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Michela Lai
- Centro Oncologico ad Alta Tecnologia Diagnostica, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale - IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
- Department of Dermatology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- Clinical and Experimental Medicine PhD Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Teresa Russo
- Dermatology Unit, University of Campania, Naples, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Caterina Longo
- Centro Oncologico ad Alta Tecnologia Diagnostica, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale - IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
- Department of Dermatology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
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4
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El Sharouni MA, Rawson RV, Potter AJ, Paver EC, Wilmott JS, Witkamp AJ, Sigurdsson V, van Diest PJ, Scolyer RA, Thompson JF, Lo SN, van Gils CH. Melanomas in children and adolescents: Clinicopathologic features and survival outcomes. J Am Acad Dermatol 2023; 88:609-616. [PMID: 36509217 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2022.08.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Melanomas in the first 2 decades of life are uncommon and poorly understood. OBJECTIVE To assess clinicopathologic features and survival of children (≤11 years) and adolescents (12-19 years) diagnosed with melanoma. METHODS A pooled cohort of 514 patients was analyzed (397 Dutch, 117 Australian; 62 children, 452 adolescents). Pathology reports were reevaluated to determine melanoma subtypes. Multivariable Cox models were generated for recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS Melanoma subtypes were conventional melanoma (superficial spreading, nodular, desmoplastic, and acral lentiginous), spitzoid melanoma, and melanoma associated with a congenital nevus in 428, 78, and 8 patients, respectively. Ten-year RFS was 91.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 82.4%-100%) in children and 86.4% (95% CI, 82.7%-90.3%) in adolescents (P = .32). Ten-year OS was 100% in children and 92.7% (95% CI, 89.8%-95.8%) in adolescents (P = .09). On multivariable analysis possible only for the adolescent cohort due to the small number of children, ulceration status, and anatomic site were associated with RFS and OS, whereas age, sex, mitotic index, sentinel node status and melanoma subtype were not. Breslow thickness >4 mm was associated with worse RFS. LIMITATIONS Retrospective study. CONCLUSIONS Survival rates for children and adolescents with melanomas were high. Ulceration, head or neck location and Breslow thickness >4 mm predicted worse survival in adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary-Ann El Sharouni
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Robert V Rawson
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Department of Tissue Oncology and Diagnostic Pathology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and NSW Health Pathology, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Alison J Potter
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Department of Tissue Oncology and Diagnostic Pathology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and NSW Health Pathology, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Elizabeth C Paver
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Department of Tissue Oncology and Diagnostic Pathology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and NSW Health Pathology, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - James S Wilmott
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Arjen J Witkamp
- Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Vigfús Sigurdsson
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Paul J van Diest
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Richard A Scolyer
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Department of Tissue Oncology and Diagnostic Pathology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and NSW Health Pathology, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - John F Thompson
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Department of Melanoma and Surgical Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
| | - Serigne N Lo
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Carla H van Gils
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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5
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Farrow NE, Kim J, Wolf S, Thomas SM, Olson L, Mosca PJ, Beasley GM, Tracy ET. Examining the role of wide excision margins in pediatric melanoma: A National Cancer Database analysis. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2022; 69:e29884. [PMID: 35969119 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.29884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although adult guidelines are often applied to children, age-specific surgical margins have not been defined for pediatric melanoma. PROCEDURE Patients <20 years of age with invasive, cutaneous melanoma were identified using the 2004-2016 National Cancer Database and categorized as undergoing wide (>1 cm) or narrow (≤1 cm) excision. Unadjusted overall survival (OS) was compared using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the effect of excision margin on OS after adjustment for available covariates. RESULTS In total, 2081 patients met study criteria: 1338 (64.3%) patients underwent wide excision whereas 743 (35.7%) underwent narrow excision. Unadjusted OS was improved in the narrow-excision group (log-rank p = .01), which was consistent among patients with thicker (>1 mm) and thinner (≤1 mm) tumors. After adjustment for patient and tumor characteristics, we found no evidence of a difference in OS for patients who underwent narrow excision compared to patients who underwent wide excision (adjusted hazard ratio 0.57, 95% confidence interval 0.32-1.01, p = .053). There was no interaction between excision margin width and Breslow depth (p = .85), indicating that the effect of excision margin width on OS does not differ based on Breslow depth. CONCLUSIONS In this analysis, wide excision (>1 cm) does not appear to be associated with improved survival in children with melanoma regardless of tumor characteristics. Although further studies are needed to define optimal excision margins in pediatric melanoma, this study suggests that more narrow margins (≤1 cm) may be acceptable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norma E Farrow
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jina Kim
- Inova Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, Virginia, USA
| | - Steven Wolf
- Duke Cancer Institute, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Samantha M Thomas
- Duke Cancer Institute, Durham, North Carolina, USA.,Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lindsay Olson
- Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Paul J Mosca
- Duke Cancer Institute, Durham, North Carolina, USA.,Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Georgia M Beasley
- Duke Cancer Institute, Durham, North Carolina, USA.,Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Elisabeth T Tracy
- Duke Cancer Institute, Durham, North Carolina, USA.,Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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6
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Children and Ultraviolet Radiation. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 9:children9040537. [PMID: 35455581 PMCID: PMC9028979 DOI: 10.3390/children9040537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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7
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Rare pediatric tumors in Germany - not as rare as expected: a study based on data from the Bavarian Cancer Registry and the German Childhood Cancer Registry. Eur J Pediatr 2022; 181:2723-2730. [PMID: 35478271 PMCID: PMC9192393 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-022-04484-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Very rare pediatric tumors (VRTs) pose a challenge for treating physicians as little is known about the best diagnostic assessment and therapeutic decision-making in these malignancies. A large proportion of these cancers occur in adolescence. Therefore, the established structures of pediatric oncology including cancer registration may partly be circumvented. This may lead to an underregistration in clinical cancer registries of yet unclear extent. The aim of this study is to increase the knowledge on the occurrence of VRTs in pediatric patients in Germany. Pseudonymized data of cases recorded in the Bavarian Cancer Registry (BCR) between 2002 and 2014 were retrieved. VRTs according to the definition of the European Cooperative Study Group for Pediatric Rare Tumors were identified using the ICD and ICD-O classification. The numbers of registered patients were compared to those reported to the German Childhood Cancer Registry (GCCR). 6.3% (n = 290) of all malignancies (n = 4615) in the age below 18 years were classified as VRTs. Median age at diagnosis was 15 years (range 0-17 years). The most common tumor types included malignant melanoma, skin carcinoma, and gonadal tumors. During the same period, 49 pediatric patients from Bavaria with matchable VRTs were reported to the GCCR, accounting for 17% of cases reported to the BCR. CONCLUSIONS The frequency of VRTs in Germany is underestimated in the national GCCR. With this study, we present population-based data on the incidence of VRTs in Germany for the first time. In order to gain additional knowledge about these malignancies, registration of VRTs must be improved through enhanced data exchange between the GCCR, the public cancer registries, and the clinical Registry for Rare Pediatric Tumors (STEP). WHAT IS KNOWN • Rare pediatric tumors pose a challenge for treating physicians as limited knowledge is available on these malignancies for diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making. • Little is known about the frequency of these rare tumors in pediatric patients. WHAT IS NEW • The frequency of rare pediatric tumors in Germany is distinctly underestimated in the German Childhood Cancer Registry. • We present population-based data on the incidence of these rare pediatric cancers for the first time.
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8
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Ferrari A, Lopez Almaraz R, Reguerre Y, Cesen M, Bergamaschi L, Indini A, Schneider DT, Godzinski J, Bien E, Stachowicz-Stencel T, Eigentler TK, Chiaravalli S, Krawczyk MA, Pappo A, Orbach D, Bisogno G, Brecht IB. Cutaneous melanoma in children and adolescents: The EXPeRT/PARTNER diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2021; 68 Suppl 4:e28992. [PMID: 34174159 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.28992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Cutaneous melanoma is rare in children and, like other very rare pediatric tumors, it suffers from a shortage of knowledge and clinical expertise. The clinical management of pediatric melanoma is often challenging. Its clinical and pathological diagnosis may be difficult, and there is no standard treatment. In the absence of specific treatment guidelines, young patients are generally treated following the same principle as for adults, but concern remains about their access to clinical trials and new drugs, which have been shown to dramatically change the natural history of advanced melanoma. This paper presents the internationally recognized recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of children and adolescents with cutaneous melanoma, established by the European Cooperative Study Group for Pediatric Rare Tumors (EXPeRT) within the EU-funded project called PARTNER (Paediatric Rare Tumours Network - European Registry). Main recommendations for melanoma are to discuss pediatric patients in multidisciplinary teams that include both pediatric oncologists and specialists in adult melanoma; to enroll patients in prospective trials, if available; to collect data in national-international databases; and to develop an effective international collaboration between pediatric and adult melanoma groups in order to facilitate the transfer of potentially effective new agents from the adult to the pediatric setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Ferrari
- Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Yves Reguerre
- Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Department, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Saint Denis de La Réunion, France
| | - Maja Cesen
- University Medical Center, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Luca Bergamaschi
- Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Alice Indini
- Medical Oncology Unit, IRCCS Foundation Ca' Granda Maggiore Hospital Policlinic, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Jan Godzinski
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Marciniak Hospital, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Ewa Bien
- Department of Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology, Medical University, Gdansk, Poland
| | | | - Thomas K Eigentler
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Stefano Chiaravalli
- Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Malgorzata A Krawczyk
- Department of Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology, Medical University, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Alberto Pappo
- Department of Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Daniel Orbach
- SIREDO Oncology Center (Care, Innovation and Research for Children, Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer), Institut Curie, PSL University, Paris, France
| | - Gianni Bisogno
- Hematology-Oncology Division, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Padova University Hospital, Padua, Italy
| | - Ines B Brecht
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital, Eberhard-Karls-University, Tuebingen, Germany
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9
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Ryan AL, Burns C, Gupta AK, Samarasekera R, Ziegler DS, Kirby ML, Alvaro F, Downie P, Laughton SJ, Cross S, Hassall T, McCowage GB, Hansford JR, Kotecha RS, Gottardo NG. Malignant Melanoma in Children and Adolescents Treated in Pediatric Oncology Centers: An Australian and New Zealand Children's Oncology Group (ANZCHOG) Study. Front Oncol 2021; 11:660172. [PMID: 33996584 PMCID: PMC8117414 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.660172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Unlike adults, malignant melanoma in children and adolescents is rare. In adult melanoma, significant progress in understanding tumor biology and new treatments, including targeted therapies and immunotherapy have markedly improved overall survival. In sharp contrast, there is a paucity of data on the biology and clinical behavior of pediatric melanoma. We report a national case series of all pediatric and adolescent malignant melanoma presenting to ANZCHOG Childhood Cancer Centers in Australia and New Zealand. METHODS A retrospective, descriptive, multi-center study was undertaken to identify patients less than 18 years of age treated for cutaneous malignant melanoma over a twenty-year period (1994 to 2014). Data on clinical characteristics, histopathology, and extent of disease, treatment and follow-up are described. RESULTS A total of 37 cases of malignant melanoma were identified from all of the Australasian tertiary Childhood Cancer Centers. The median age was 10 years (range 1 month - 17 years). Clinically, the most common type of lesion was pigmented, occurring in sixteen (57%) patients, whilst amelanotic was seen in 7 patients (25%). In 11 (27.9%) the Breslow thickness was greater than 4mm. A total of 11 (29.7%) patients relapsed and 90% of these died of disease. Five-year event free survival (EFS) and overall survival were 63.2 (95% CI: 40.6 - 79.1) and 67.7% (95% CI: 45.1 - 82.6) respectively. CONCLUSION Our data confirms that melanoma is a rare presentation of cancer to tertiary Australasian Childhood Cancer Centers with only 37 cases identified over two decades. Notably, melanoma managed in Childhood Cancer Centers is frequently at an advanced stage, with a high percentage of patients relapsing and the majority of these patients who relapsed died of disease. This study confirms previous clinical and prognostic information to support the early multidisciplinary management in Childhood Cancer Centers, in conjunction with expert adult melanoma centers, of this rare and challenging patient group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne L. Ryan
- Department of Haematology, Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant, Perth Children’s Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Charlotte Burns
- Children’s Cancer Centre, The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Aditya K. Gupta
- Cancer Centre for Children, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | | | - David S. Ziegler
- Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, NSW, Australia
| | - Maria L. Kirby
- Department of Haematology/Oncology, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Frank Alvaro
- Department of Haematology/Oncology, John Hunter Children’s Hospital, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - Peter Downie
- Children’s Cancer Centre, The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Haematology/Oncology, Monash Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Stephen J. Laughton
- Starship Blood and Cancer Centre, Starship Children’s Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Siobhan Cross
- Children’s Haematology/Oncology Centre, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Timothy Hassall
- Department of Haematology/Oncology, Queensland Children’s Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Geoff B. McCowage
- Cancer Centre for Children, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Jordan R. Hansford
- Children’s Cancer Centre, The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute; Department of Pediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Rishi S. Kotecha
- Department of Haematology, Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant, Perth Children’s Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia
- Telethon Kids Cancer Centre, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, WA, Australia
- Curtin Medical School, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Nicholas G. Gottardo
- Department of Haematology, Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant, Perth Children’s Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia
- Telethon Kids Cancer Centre, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, WA, Australia
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10
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Abstract
Melanoma is the most common skin cancer in children, often presenting in an atypical fashion. The incidence of melanoma in children has been declining. The mainstay of therapy is surgical resection. Sentinel lymph node biopsy often is indicated to guide therapy and determine prognosis. Completion lymph node dissection is recommended in selective cases after positive sentinel lymph node biopsy. Those with advanced disease receive adjuvant systemic treatment. Because children are excluded from melanoma clinical trials, management is based on pediatric retrospective data and adult clinical trials. This review focuses on epidemiology, presentation, surgical management, adjuvant therapy, and outcomes of pediatric melanoma.
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11
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AlZahrani F, Kuzel P, Metelitsa A, Smylie M, Dover D, Fiorillo L. A Clinicoepidemiological Study of Melanoma in Young Patients (20 Years of Age or Less) in Alberta, Canada, From 1992 to 2011. J Cutan Med Surg 2020; 25:133-141. [PMID: 33095029 DOI: 10.1177/1203475420963658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The epidemiological trends of malignant melanoma have been well described in the literature. However, there remains a paucity of population-based studies assessing melanoma epidemiology in our younger patients (20 years of age or less). Other studies indicate that melanoma incidence has risen in pediatric populations over the last several decades and that these tumors may display different clinical characteristics from those arising in adult populations. We conducted a retrospective, population-based analysis of all incident cases of melanoma occurring in young patients aged ≤20 years in Alberta from 1992 to 2011. Information, including patient age, sex, anatomical location, date of diagnosis, histological subtype (if available), level of invasion, and date of death (if applicable), was obtained from the Alberta Cancer Registry. All cases occurring during a 10-year period from 1993 to 2011 have been reviewed. A total of 71 cases were diagnosed during this time (63% female and 37% male). Age range was 0-20 years (mean of 17.5 years). Truncal melanomas made up 36% of cases, while 28% occurred on the lower limbs, 17% on the upper limbs, and 18% in the head and neck region. Average Breslow thickness was 1.97 mm; 67% of tumors were less than 1 mm thick. Unfortunately, 8 of 71 patients died from their disease. Overall, the incidence of melanoma in patients aged ≤20 years appeared to decrease in Alberta in the past 20 years; however, there has been an increase in the thickness of melanoma at diagnosis, which needs to be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatmah AlZahrani
- 3158 Division of Dermatology and Cutaneous Sciences, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Paul Kuzel
- 3158 Division of Dermatology and Cutaneous Sciences, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Andrei Metelitsa
- 2129 Division of Dermatology, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.,Department of Dermatology, Beacon Dermatology, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Michael Smylie
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Douglas Dover
- Alberta Health and Wellness, Community and Population Health Division, Surveillance and Assessment, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Loretta Fiorillo
- 3158 Division of Dermatology and Cutaneous Sciences, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
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12
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Aldrink JH, Polites S, Lautz TB, Malek MM, Rhee D, Bruny J, Christison-Lagay ER, Tracy ET, Abdessalam S, Ehrlich PF, Dasgupta R, Austin MT. What's new in pediatric melanoma: An update from the APSA cancer committee. J Pediatr Surg 2020; 55:1714-1721. [PMID: 31699434 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2019.09.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE Melanoma is the most common skin cancer in children and often presents in an atypical fashion when compared to adults. The purpose of this review is to present an update on the epidemiology, surgical and medical management and prevention strategies in pediatric melanoma. METHODS A comprehensive review of the current literature on the epidemiology, surgical and medical management and prevention of adult and pediatric melanoma was performed by the authors and the results of this review are summarized in the manuscript. RESULTS Most recently, the incidence of melanoma in children has been declining, possibly owing to increased awareness and sun exposure prevention. The mainstay of therapy is surgical resection, often with sentinel lymph node biopsy. A positive sentinel node has prognostic value; however, completion node dissection is no longer recommended in the absence of clinically or radiographically positive nodes. Those with advanced disease also receive adjuvant systemic therapy using increasingly targeted immunologic therapies. CONCLUSIONS Sentinel lymph node positive patients no longer require completion lymph node dissection and instead may be followed by ultrasound. However, it is important to note that children have been excluded from most melanoma clinical trials to date, and therefore, recommendations for management are based on existing pediatric retrospective data and extrapolation from adult studies. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer H Aldrink
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH
| | - Stephanie Polites
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR
| | - Timothy B Lautz
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
| | - Marcus M Malek
- Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Daniel Rhee
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Jennifer Bruny
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, University of Colorado, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO
| | | | - Elisabeth T Tracy
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
| | - Shahab Abdessalam
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE
| | - Peter F Ehrlich
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Roshni Dasgupta
- Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery, Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Mary T Austin
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
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13
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The prognostic value of tumor mitotic rate in children and adolescents with cutaneous melanoma: A retrospective cohort study. J Am Acad Dermatol 2020; 82:910-919. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2019.10.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Revised: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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14
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Children with malignant melanoma: a single center experience from Turkey. Turk Arch Pediatr 2020; 55:39-45. [PMID: 32231448 PMCID: PMC7096563 DOI: 10.14744/turkpediatriars.2019.90022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Aim: Malignant melanoma is the most frequent skin cancer in children and adolescents. It comprises 1–3% of all malignancies. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical aspects, histopathologic features, and treatment outcomes of our patients with malignant melanoma. Material and Methods: Patients aged <15 years who were treated between 2003 and 2018 for malignant melanoma were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Seventeen patients (10 females, 7 males), with a median age of 7 years (range, 7 months-13 years) were evaluated. Five patients had congenital melanocytic nevi. All had cutaneous melanoma except one with mucosal (conjunctival) melanoma. The most frequent primary tumor site was the lower extremities (35%). Sentinel lymphoscintigraphy, sentinel node biopsy, and PET/CT were performed as the staging procedures at initial diagnosis. Localized disease was present in eight patients; nine had regional lymph node metastasis. The only treatment was surgery in localized disease; surgery and adjuvant interferon treatment was given in patients with regional lymph node metastasis. Three developed distant metastasis (bone, lung, brain) at a median of 9 months. A three-year-old patient received a BRAF inhibitor (vemurafenib), and a 13-year-old patient received a check point inhibitor (ipilimumab); both died of progressive disease. The median follow-up for all patients was 25 months. The 5-year overall survival was 76.6%. Conclusion: Although malignant melanoma is rare in children, prognosis is good if diagnosed early. Physicians should be aware of skin lesions and full-layer biopsy should be obtained in suspicious skin lesions. Patients with congenital melanocytic nevi should also be followed up cautiously.
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15
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Identification of prognostic biomarkers for malignant melanoma using microarray datasets. Oncol Lett 2019; 18:5243-5254. [PMID: 31620197 PMCID: PMC6788168 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2019.10914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Malignant melanoma is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide. Efforts have been made to elucidate the pathology of malignant melanoma. However, its molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, the microarray datasets GSE3189, GSE4570 and GSE4587 from the Gene Expression Omnibus database were used for the elucidation of candidate genes involved in the initiation and progression of melanoma. Assessment of the microarray datasets led to the identification of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were subsequently used for function enrichment analysis. These data were utilized in the construction of the protein-protein interaction network and module analysis was conducted using STRING and Cytoscape software. The results of these analyses led to the identification of a total of 182 DEGs, including 52 downregulated and 130 upregulated genes. The functions and pathways found to be enriched in the DEGs were GTPase activity, transcription from RNA polymerase II promoter, apoptotic processes, cell adhesion, membrane related pathways, calcium signaling cascade and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. The identified genes were demonstrated to belong to a set of 10 hub genes biologically involved in proliferation, apoptosis, cytokinesis, adhesion and migration. Survival analysis and Oncomine database analysis revealed that the calmodulin gene family, BAX and VEGFA genes, may be associated with the initiation, invasion or recurrence of melanoma. In conclusion, the DEGs and hub genes identified in the present study may be used to understand the molecular pathways involved in the initiation and progression of malignant melanoma. Furthermore, the present study may aid in the identification of possible targets for the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma.
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16
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Quinlan CS, Capra M, Dempsey M. Paediatric malignant melanoma in Ireland: A population study and review of the literature. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 2019; 72:1388-1395. [PMID: 31101426 DOI: 10.1016/j.bjps.2019.03.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Revised: 11/18/2018] [Accepted: 03/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Malignant melanoma is increasing in frequency worldwide; however, this disease is rare in children. As large-scale studies on paediatric melanoma are lacking, management is currently often based upon the understanding of the disease process in adults. The aim of this study was to characterise cases of paediatric melanoma diagnosed in the Republic of Ireland over a 21-year period. METHODS This was a retrospective, multicentre study using national data provided by the National Cancer Registry of Ireland and individual practitioners. RESULTS Twenty-four cases of melanoma treated in 11 different centres were included in the study. The median patient age at diagnosis was 15 years. The majority of cases arose on the limbs. The median Breslow thickness in patients of the pre-pubertal age group was 8.25 mm, while in children more than 13 years, it was 1.65 mm. Eight patients had disease recurrence and five patients died. CONCLUSION The diagnosis of melanoma remains rare in children. This study contributes to our current understanding of malignant melanoma in paediatric patients; however, further investigation of the disease characteristics in this group is necessary to achieve optimal management of these cases and therefore improve outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine S Quinlan
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin 12, Ireland.
| | - Michael Capra
- Department of Paediatric Oncology, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin 12, Ireland
| | - Marlese Dempsey
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin 12, Ireland
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17
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Rose K, Grant-Kels JM. Pediatric melanoma-The whole (conflicts of interest) story. Int J Womens Dermatol 2019; 5:110-115. [PMID: 30997384 PMCID: PMC6451736 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijwd.2018.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2018] [Revised: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 10/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Klaus Rose
- klausrose Consulting, Riehen, Switzerland
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18
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Rose K. The Challenges of Pediatric Drug Development. CURRENT THERAPEUTIC RESEARCH 2019; 90:128-134. [PMID: 31388368 PMCID: PMC6677568 DOI: 10.1016/j.curtheres.2019.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2018] [Revised: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND "Pediatric Drug Development" is being used to describe not the development of drugs for children, but rather the planning & conducting separate efficacy and safety (E&S) studies requested/demanded by regulatory authorities designed to produce pediatric labels. Pediatric studies required for drug approval enroll "children"; defined as <17 years of age (US Food and Drug Administration [FDA])/ <18 years (European Union [EU]). The medical rationale for study designs was examined. MATERIAL & METHODS International industry-sponsored pediatric E&S studies registered in www.clinicaltrials.gov were analysed along with the history of US/EU laws, published literature, internet-retrieved regulatory documents, and regulatory/ American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) justifications for doing separate pediatric E&S studies. RESULTS US/EU regulators utilize an official, but non-physiological definition of childhood based on an age limit of 17/18 years. This definition, which blurs the interface between medicine and law, emerged after clinical studies became required for drug approval in 1962 prompting drug manufacturers to insert pediatric warnings into product information. Intended largely as legal protection against liability, they were interpreted medically. Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion mature rapidly. Drug toxicities seen in newborns during the first months of life were cited by AAP/FDA in warnings of dangers of drugs in all "children" including in adolescents who are physiologically no longer children. Warnings were/are exaggerated, exploit/ed parents' protective instincts and fears, and increase/d pediatric clinical trial activity. Conflicts of interest created by this increased activity involve research funding, career status & advancement, commercial profits. DISCUSSION FDA/EMA-requested/demanded "pediatric" studies were identified which lack medical sense at best, others actually harm young patients by impeding use of superior, effective treatments. Separate labels for different indications make medical sense; separate approval in persons above/below 17/18 years of age does not. CONCLUSIONS Pediatric medical research should be restricted to studies which meet important medical needs of all recruited young patients, which generate information that cannot be obtained by other study designs, and do not limit access to superior alternative therapies. Clinical centers, investigators, and IRBs/ECs should more carefully examine studies for unjustified regulatory demands, prevention of subjects' access to superior treatments, and undeclared COI's. Questionable studies should not be approved and ongoing ones should be suspended.
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19
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Indini A, Brecht I, Del Vecchio M, Sultan I, Signoroni S, Ferrari A. Cutaneous melanoma in adolescents and young adults. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2018; 65:e27292. [PMID: 29968969 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.27292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2018] [Revised: 05/21/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Cutaneous melanoma is rare in children, but has greater incidence in adolescents and young adults (AYAs). Diagnosis may be challenging due to its rarity in these age groups. Few studies have specifically addressed the topic of AYA melanoma. Though young-age melanoma may have particular biological characteristics, available data suggest that its clinical history is similar to that of adults. However, advances in treatment of adult melanoma have not been reflected in the treatment of AYAs. There is no standard treatment, and access to clinical trials is difficult for AYAs. Further efforts are needed to overcome these issues by improving cooperation with experts on adult melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Indini
- Melanoma Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Ines Brecht
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University of Tubingen, Tubingen, Germany
| | - Michele Del Vecchio
- Melanoma Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Iyad Sultan
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, King Hussein Cancer Center, Amman, Jordan
| | - Stefano Signoroni
- Unit of Hereditary Digestive Tract Tumours, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Ferrari
- Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy
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20
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Parikh PP, Tashiro J, Rubio GA, Sola JE, Neville HL, Hogan AR, Perez EA. Incidence and outcomes of pediatric extremity melanoma: A propensity score matched SEER study. J Pediatr Surg 2018; 53:1753-1760. [PMID: 29602554 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2018.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2017] [Revised: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 03/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a paucity of literature on treatment of melanoma in children with surgical management extrapolated from adult experience. The incidence and clinical outcomes of pediatric extremity melanoma were studied. METHODS SEER registry was analyzed between 1973 and 2010 for patients <20years old with extremity melanoma. Multivariate and propensity-score matched analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of survival. RESULTS Overall, 917 patients were identified with an age-adjusted incidence of 0.2/100,000 persons, annual percent change 0.96. Most had localized disease (77%), histology revealing melanoma-not otherwise specified (52%). Surgical procedures performed included wide local excision (50%), excisional biopsy (32%), lymphadenectomy (LA) (28%), and sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) (15%). Overall, 30-year disease specific mortality was 7% with lower survival for extremity melanoma (90%), males (89%), nodular histology (69%), and distant disease (36%) (all P<0.05). Post-treatment multivariate analysis revealed localized disease (HR 9.76; P=0.006) as an independent prognosticator of survival; earlier diagnostic years 1988-1999 (HR 2.606; P=0.017) were a negative prognosticator of survival. Propensity-score matched analysis found no difference in survival between SLNB/LA vs no sampling for regional/distant disease. CONCLUSIONS Pediatric extremity melanoma in SEER demonstrate no survival advantage between children undergoing sampling procedures vs no sampling for regional/distant disease. TYPE OF STUDY Retrospective, prognostic study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III.
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Affiliation(s)
- Punam P Parikh
- DeWitt-Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida.
| | - Jun Tashiro
- DeWitt-Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Gustavo A Rubio
- DeWitt-Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Juan E Sola
- DeWitt-Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Holly L Neville
- DeWitt-Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Anthony R Hogan
- DeWitt-Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Eduardo A Perez
- DeWitt-Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
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21
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Brecht IB, De Paoli A, Bisogno G, Orbach D, Schneider DT, Leiter U, Offenmueller S, Cecchetto G, Godzinski J, Bien E, Stachowicz-Stencel T, Ben-Ami T, Chiaravalli S, Maurichi A, De Salvo GL, Sorbara S, Bodemer C, Garbe C, Reguerre Y, Ferrari A. Pediatric patients with cutaneous melanoma: A European study. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2018; 65:e26974. [PMID: 29350487 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.26974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2017] [Revised: 12/10/2017] [Accepted: 12/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cutaneous melanoma is rare in childhood and published studies have mainly been retrospective single-institution series or small case series. Given the absence of clinical protocols dedicated to pediatric melanoma, the treatment approach is generally extrapolated from the ones applied to adults. METHODS Coordinated by the European Cooperative Study Group for Pediatric Rare Tumors (EXPeRT), this study collected patients prospectively registered between 2002 and 2012 under national cooperative projects dedicated to rare pediatric tumors in Italy, Poland, Germany, and France. Additional cases were collected from dermatology registries in Germany and Israel. RESULTS A total of 219 patients aged 0-18 years (median 14.4) were included in the analysis. Sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed in 112 patients (76% of those with Breslow thickness > 0.75 mm) and was positive in 37.5%. Systemic therapy was used in 33 cases. In stage III cases, survival rates were similar for patients who received (23 cases) or not (21 cases) adjuvant therapy. For the whole series, 3-year overall and disease-free survival rates were 91.4% and 84.0%, respectively (median follow-up 41.8 months). Tumor site, tumor stage, and ulceration influenced survival rates. Patients treated by pediatric oncologists (n = 140) were more likely to have advanced disease than those treated by dermatologists (n = 79). DISCUSSION This study would suggest that the clinical history of melanoma in children and adolescents might resemble that of adult counterpart. Cooperative efforts are needed to make new drugs more readily available to pediatric patients to increase the outcome of patient with advanced disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ines B Brecht
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University of T, bingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Angela De Paoli
- Clinical Trials and Biostatistics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Oncologico Veneto, Padova, Italy
| | - Gianni Bisogno
- Hematology-Oncology Division, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Padova University Hospital, Padova, Italy
| | - Daniel Orbach
- SIREDO Oncology Center (Care, Innovation and Research for Children, Adolescents and Young Adults with cancer), Institut Curie, Paris, France
| | | | - Ulrike Leiter
- Center for Dermato-Oncology, Department of Dermatology, Central Malignant Melanoma Registry of the German Dermatological Society, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Sonja Offenmueller
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Giovanni Cecchetto
- Pediatric Surgery, Department of Pediatrics, Padova University Hospital, Padova, Italy
| | - Jan Godzinski
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Marciniak Hospital, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Ewa Bien
- Department of Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology, Medical University, Gdansk, Poland
| | | | - Tal Ben-Ami
- Department of Pediatrics, Hadassah University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Stefano Chiaravalli
- Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Andrea Maurichi
- Melanoma and Sarcoma Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Gian Luca De Salvo
- Clinical Trials and Biostatistics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Oncologico Veneto, Padova, Italy
| | - Silvia Sorbara
- Hematology-Oncology Division, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Padova University Hospital, Padova, Italy
| | - Christine Bodemer
- Pediatric Dermatology Department, Necker Hospital Assistance Publique, Paris, France
| | - Claus Garbe
- Center for Dermato-Oncology, Department of Dermatology, Central Malignant Melanoma Registry of the German Dermatological Society, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Yves Reguerre
- Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Department, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Saint Denis de La Réunion, France
| | - Andrea Ferrari
- Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
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22
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Eggen C, Durgaram V, van Doorn R, Mooi W, Pardo L, Pasmans S, Hollestein L. Incidence and relative survival of melanoma in children and adolescents in the Netherlands, 1989-2013. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2018; 32:956-961. [DOI: 10.1111/jdv.14665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C.A.M. Eggen
- Department of Dermatology; Erasmus MC Cancer Institute; Rotterdam The Netherlands
| | - V.V.L. Durgaram
- Department of Dermatology; Erasmus MC Cancer Institute; Rotterdam The Netherlands
| | - R. van Doorn
- Department of Dermatology; Leiden University Medical Centre; Leiden The Netherlands
| | - W.J. Mooi
- Department of Pathology; VU University medical center; Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - L.M. Pardo
- Department of Dermatology; Erasmus MC Cancer Institute; Rotterdam The Netherlands
| | - S.G.M.A. Pasmans
- Department of Dermatology; Erasmus MC Cancer Institute; Rotterdam The Netherlands
| | - L.M. Hollestein
- Department of Dermatology; Erasmus MC Cancer Institute; Rotterdam The Netherlands
- Department of Research; Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Center; Utrecht The Netherlands
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23
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Rose K, Grant-Kels JM. Pediatric Melanoma and Drug Development. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2018; 5:E43. [PMID: 29558389 PMCID: PMC5867502 DOI: 10.3390/children5030043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Revised: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Importance-Pediatric melanoma occurs, albeit rarely. Should patients be treated by today's medical standards, or be subjected to medically unnecessary clinical studies? Observations-We identified international, industry-sponsored pediatric melanoma studies triggered by regulatory demands in www.clinicaltrials.gov and further pediatric melanoma studies demanded by European Union pediatric investigation plans. We retrieved related regulatory documents from the internet. We analyzed these studies for rationale and medical beneficence on the basis of physiology, pediatric clinical pharmacology and rationale. Regulatory authorities define children by chronological age, not physiologically. Newborns' organs are immature but they develop and mature rapidly. Separate proof of efficacy in underage patients is justified formally/regulatorily but lacks medical sense. Children-especially post-puberty-and adults vis-a-vis medications are physiologically very similar. Two adolescent melanoma studies were terminated in 2016 because of waning recruitment, while five studies in pediatric melanoma and other solid tumors, triggered by European Union pediatric investigation plans, continue recruiting worldwide. Conclusions and Relevance-Regulatory-demanded pediatric melanoma studies are medically superfluous. Melanoma patients of all ages should be treated with effective combination treatment. Babies need special attention. Children need dose-finding and pharmacokinetic studies but adolescents metabolize and respond to drugs similarly to adults. Institutional Review Boards/ethics committees should suspend ongoing questionable pediatric melanoma studies and reject newly submitted questionable studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klaus Rose
- klausrose Consulting, Pediatric Drug Development & More, 4125 Riehen, Switzerland.
| | - Jane M Grant-Kels
- Department of Dermatology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06030, USA.
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24
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Abstract
The acquired melanocytic nevus is the most common lesion encountered by pediatric pathologists and dermatopathologists in their daily practice. In most cases, there are few difficulties in histopathologic diagnosis. However, it is the acquired melanocytic lesion known as the Spitz nevus, with its intrinsic atypical features which becomes the challenge since it exists along a histopathologic and biologic continuum from the atypical Spitz tumor to spitzoid melanoma. The frustration with some of these spitzoid lesions is that even the "experts" cannot agree as to the differentiation of one from the other even at the level of molecular genetics. Other melanocytic lesions are discussed including the congenital melanocytic nevus with its proliferative nodule(s) and melanoma as the ultimate complication. Although uncommon, cutaneous melanoma in the first 2 decades is emerging as a clinical problem especially in young women in the second decade of life. These are ultraviolet-associated neoplasms whose histopathologic and prognostic features are identical to the adult experience. Considerable progress has been made over the past 15 to 20 years in our understanding of cutaneous melanocytic lesions, but gaps still exist in the important group of spitzoid lesions. It can also be anticipated that more cutaneous melanomas in children will be seen in the future based upon epidemiologic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Yang
- 1 Lauren V. Ackerman Laboratory of Surgical Pathology, St. Louis Children's Hospital, Washington University Medical Center, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Alejandro A Gru
- 2 Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Louis P Dehner
- 1 Lauren V. Ackerman Laboratory of Surgical Pathology, St. Louis Children's Hospital, Washington University Medical Center, St. Louis, Missouri
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25
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Rose K, Grant-Kels JM. Most adolescents' melanomas are conventional malignant adult-type melanomas. Eur J Cancer 2018; 95:117-119. [PMID: 29475773 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2018.01.080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Klaus Rose
- University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA.
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26
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Teramoto Y, Keim U, Gesierich A, Schuler G, Fiedler E, Tüting T, Ulrich C, Wollina U, Hassel JC, Gutzmer R, Goerdt S, Zouboulis C, Leiter U, Eigentler TK, Garbe C. Acral lentiginous melanoma: a skin cancer with unfavourable prognostic features. A study of the German central malignant melanoma registry (CMMR) in 2050 patients. Br J Dermatol 2018; 178:443-451. [PMID: 28707317 DOI: 10.1111/bjd.15803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) is one of the four major subtypes in cutaneous melanoma (CM). Although ALM has a poorer prognosis than other CM subtypes, the prognostic factors associated with ALM have only been verified in small-sized cohorts because of the low incidence of ALM worldwide. OBJECTIVES To investigate the clinical characteristics of ALM and to evaluate their prognostic values based on a large dataset from the Central Malignant Melanoma Registry (CMMR) of the German Dermatologic Society. METHODS The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the potential influence of clinical and histological parameters on ALM disease-specific survival (DSS) curves, which were compared using the log-rank test. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify independent prognostic factors for DSS. RESULTS In total, 2050 patients with ALM were identified from 58 949 patients with CM recorded by the CMMR with follow-up data. In multivariate analyses, age (P = 0·006), ulceration (P = 0·013), tumour thickness (P < 0·001) and tumour spread (P < 0·001) turned out to be significant prognostic factors for DSS in ALM whereas sex, nevus association and level of invasion were not independent factors. CONCLUSIONS ALM has the same prognostic factors as other subtypes of melanoma. Unfavourable prognosis probably derives from the delay in diagnosis in comparison with other melanoma subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Teramoto
- Division for Dermatooncology, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
- Department of Skin Oncology/Dermatology, Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Saitama Medical University International Medical Centre, Saitama, Japan
| | - U Keim
- Division for Dermatooncology, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
- Central Malignant Melanoma Registry, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - A Gesierich
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - G Schuler
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - E Fiedler
- Skin Cancer Centre, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Halle, Halle, Germany
| | - T Tüting
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - C Ulrich
- Skin Cancer Centre, Department of Dermatology, Charité Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - U Wollina
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Hospital Dresden Friedrichsstadt, Dresden, Germany
| | - J C Hassel
- Department of Dermatology and National Centre for Tumour Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - R Gutzmer
- Skin Cancer Centre, Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - S Goerdt
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | - C Zouboulis
- Departments of Dermatology, Venereology, Allergology and Immunology, Dessau Medical Centre, Medical University of Brandenburg, Dessau, Germany
| | - U Leiter
- Division for Dermatooncology, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - T K Eigentler
- Division for Dermatooncology, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - C Garbe
- Division for Dermatooncology, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
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27
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Carrera C, Scope A, Dusza SW, Argenziano G, Nazzaro G, Phan A, Tromme I, Rubegni P, Malvehy J, Puig S, Marghoob AA. Clinical and dermoscopic characterization of pediatric and adolescent melanomas: Multicenter study of 52 cases. J Am Acad Dermatol 2018; 78:278-288. [PMID: 29024734 PMCID: PMC7344877 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.09.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2017] [Revised: 09/07/2017] [Accepted: 09/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Knowledge regarding the morphologic spectrum of pediatric melanoma (PM) is sparse, and this may in part contribute to delay in detection and thicker tumors. OBJECTIVE To analyze the clinicodermoscopic characteristics of PM. METHODS Retrospective study of 52 melanomas diagnosed in patients before the age of 20 years. RESULTS On the basis of its clinical, dermoscopic, and histopathologic characteristics, PM can be classified as spitzoid or nonspitzoid. The nonspitzoid melanomas (n = 37 [72.3%]) presented in patients with a mean age of 16.3 years (range, 8-20) and were associated with a high-risk phenotype and a pre-existing nevus (62.2%). The spitzoid melanomas (n = 15 [27.7%]) were diagnosed in patients at a mean age of 12.5 years (range, 2-19) and were mostly de novo lesions (73.3%) located on the limbs (73.3%). Whereas less than 25% of PMs fulfilled the modified clinical ABCD criteria (amelanotic, bleeding bump, color uniformity, de novo at any diameter), 40% of spitzoid melanomas did. Dermoscopic melanoma criteria were found in all cases. Nonspitzoid melanomas tended to be multicomponent (58.3%) or have nevus-like (25%) dermoscopic patterns. Spitzoid melanomas revealed atypical vascular patterns with shiny white lines (46.2%) or an atypical pigmented spitzoid pattern (30.8%). There was good correlation between spitzoid subtype histopathologically and dermoscopically (κ = 0.66). LIMITATIONS A retrospective study without re-review of pathologic findings. CONCLUSION Dermoscopy in addition to conventional and modified clinical ABCD criteria helps in detecting PM. Dermoscopy assists in differentiating spitzoid from nonspitzoid melanomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Carrera
- Melanoma Unit, Department of Dermatology, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en red de enfermedades raras (CIBERER), Barcelona, Spain; Dermatology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Alon Scope
- Dermatology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York; Sheba Medical Center and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Stephen W Dusza
- Dermatology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | | | - Gianluca Nazzaro
- Dipartimento di Fisiopatologia e dei Trapianti, Università degli Studi di Milano-UOC Dermatologia, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Alice Phan
- Department of Dermatology, Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Pierre Bénite Cedex, France
| | - Isabelle Tromme
- Department of Dermatology, King Albert II Institute, Cliniques Universitaires St Luc, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Pietro Rubegni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Chirurgiche e Neuroscienze, Sezione di Dermatologia, Università di Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Josep Malvehy
- Melanoma Unit, Department of Dermatology, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en red de enfermedades raras (CIBERER), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Susana Puig
- Melanoma Unit, Department of Dermatology, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en red de enfermedades raras (CIBERER), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ashfaq A Marghoob
- Dermatology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.
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28
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Stefanaki C, Chardalias L, Soura E, Katsarou A, Stratigos A. Paediatric melanoma. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2017; 31:1604-1615. [PMID: 28449284 DOI: 10.1111/jdv.14299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2016] [Accepted: 04/03/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Paediatric melanoma, although rare, is the most common skin cancer in children. Our current knowledge on paediatric melanoma incidence trends is expanding, as several studies have addressed this issue with conflicting results. Known risk factors for paediatric melanoma include family history of melanoma, a previous history of malignancy, large congenital nevi, numerous melanocytic nevi, sunburns, increased UV exposure and a sun-sensitive phenotype. In younger children, melanoma more often presents with atypical features, such as a changing, amelanotic or uniformly coloured, often bleeding lesion, not fulfilling in most cases the conventional ABCDE criteria. The major differential diagnoses are melanocytic nevi, proliferative nodules in congenital nevi and atypical Spitz tumours. Moreover, in the younger age group non-Caucasian children are over-represented, tumours tend to be thicker and lymph nodes are often involved. Despite the frequent diagnosis at an advanced stage, the overall survival is fair in paediatric melanoma. Specific guidelines for management of melanoma in children do not exist, and most often the disease is treated similarly to melanoma in adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Stefanaki
- University Department of Dermatology - Venereology, "Andreas Sygros" Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - L Chardalias
- University Department of Dermatology - Venereology, "Andreas Sygros" Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - E Soura
- University Department of Dermatology - Venereology, "Andreas Sygros" Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - A Katsarou
- University Department of Dermatology - Venereology, "Andreas Sygros" Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - A Stratigos
- University Department of Dermatology - Venereology, "Andreas Sygros" Hospital, Athens, Greece
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29
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Saiyed FK, Hamilton EC, Austin MT. Pediatric melanoma: incidence, treatment, and prognosis. Pediatric Health Med Ther 2017; 8:39-45. [PMID: 29388632 PMCID: PMC5774597 DOI: 10.2147/phmt.s115534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this review is to outline recent advancements in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of pediatric melanoma. Despite the recent decline in incidence, it continues to be the deadliest form of skin cancer in children and adolescents. Pediatric melanoma presents differently from adult melanoma; thus, the traditional asymmetry, border irregularity, color variegation, diameter >6 mm, and evolution (ABCDE) criteria have been modified to include features unique to pediatric melanoma (amelanotic, bleeding/bump, color uniformity, de novo/any diameter, evolution of mole). Surgical and medical management of pediatric melanoma continues to derive guidelines from adult melanoma treatment. However, more drug trials are being conducted to determine the specific impact of drug combinations on pediatric patients. Alongside medical and surgical treatment, prevention is a central component of battling the incidence, as ultraviolet (UV)-related mutations play a central role in the vast majority of pediatric melanoma cases. Aggressive prevention measures targeting sun safety and tanning bed usage have shown positive sun-safety behavior trends, as well as the potential to decrease melanomas that manifest later in life. As research into the field of pediatric melanoma continues to expand, a prevention paradigm needs to continue on a community-wide level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faiez K Saiyed
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, McGovern Medical School
| | | | - Mary T Austin
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, McGovern Medical School
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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30
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Ferrari A, Schneider DT, Bisogno G, Orbach D, Villarroel M, Giron V, Rodriguez-Galindo C, Sorbara S, Magni C, Chiaravalli S, Casanova M, Cecchetto G, Godzinski J, Bien E, Stachowicz-Stencel T, Brennan B, Reguerre Y, Sultan I, Brecht IB. The challenge of very rare childhood cancers in developed and developing countries. Expert Opin Orphan Drugs 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/21678707.2017.1298440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Ferrari
- Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | | | - Gianni Bisogno
- Hematology-Oncology Division, Department of Pediatrics, Padova University Hospital, Padova, Italy
| | - Daniel Orbach
- Department of Pediatrics, Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology, Institut Curie, Paris, France
| | | | - Veronica Giron
- National Pediatric Oncology Unit/Unidad Nacional de Oncologia Pediatrica, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | | | - Silvia Sorbara
- Hematology-Oncology Division, Department of Pediatrics, Padova University Hospital, Padova, Italy
| | - Chiara Magni
- Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Stefano Chiaravalli
- Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Michela Casanova
- Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Giovanni Cecchetto
- Pediatric Surgery, Department of Pediatrics, Padova University Hospital, Padova, Italy
| | - Jan Godzinski
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Marciniak Hospital, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Ewa Bien
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical University, Gdansk, Poland
| | | | - Bernadette Brennan
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Manchester, UK
| | - Yves Reguerre
- Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Department, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Angers, France
| | - Iyad Sultan
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, King Hussein Cancer Center, Amman, Jordan
| | - Ines B. Brecht
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
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31
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Réguerre Y, Vittaz M, Orbach D, Robert C, Bodemer C, Mateus C, Plantaz D, Plouvier E, Lutz P, Rakotonjanahary J, Fraitag S, Martin L. Cutaneous malignant melanoma in children and adolescents treated in pediatric oncology units. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2016; 63:1922-7. [PMID: 27348579 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.26113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2016] [Revised: 06/01/2016] [Accepted: 06/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Recent progress in the understanding of tumor biology and new targeted therapies has led to improved survival in adults with malignant melanoma (MM). MM is rare in children, especially before puberty. We report here our experience with pediatric patients with MM, describe the clinical presentation, treatment and evolution, and compare prepubescent and postpubescent disease. METHODS A retrospective, descriptive, national multicenter study was undertaken of 52 cases of MM in children and adolescents. Demographic, histopathology, treatment evolution data, and survival distributions are described. RESULTS Median age was 15 years (5-18). The tumors were often amelanotic (45%) and raised (83%), and Breslow thickness was greater than 4 mm in 35% of cases. Histological examination showed superficial spreading (n = 16) or spitzoid (n = 16) or nodular (n = 9) pattern. Twelve children (23%) were less than 10 years of age. The spitzoid histotype was more frequent in prepubescent children (seven of 12). Seventeen patients relapsed, of whom four had skin lesions initially diagnosed as benign. Ten patients died after relapse. Five-year event-free survival and overall survival were 62.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 45.3-76) and 75.5% (95% CI: 56.8-87.1), respectively. CONCLUSIONS MM appears to be different in prepubescent children, of whom most had a spitzoid histotype. Diagnosis can be difficult, leading to delay in treatment. New biological tools to identify targets for treatment in MM and to differentiate spitzoid melanomas from Spitz nevi now exist. As effective targeted therapies are now available, we recommend requesting biological examination of all melanocyte-derived skin lesions in children that could be malignant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yves Réguerre
- Oncology and Hematology Unit, CHU de Saint Denis de La Réunion, Saint Denis, France. French Pediatric Rare Tumor Group (groupe Fracture).
| | - Marie Vittaz
- Pediatric Departement, CH Le Mans, Le Mans, France
| | - Daniel Orbach
- Department of Pediatrics, Adolescent, Young Adult Oncology, Institut Curie, Paris, France. French Pediatric Rare Tumor group (groupe Fracture)
| | - Caroline Robert
- Dermatology Department, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France
| | - Christine Bodemer
- Dermatology Department, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Christina Mateus
- Dermatology Department, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France
| | - Dominique Plantaz
- Oncology and Hematology Unit, Grenoble University Hospital, Grenoble, France
| | - Emmanuel Plouvier
- Oncology and Hematology Unit, Besançon University Hospital, Besançon, France
| | - Patrick Lutz
- Oncology and Hematology Unit, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Sylvie Fraitag
- Pathology Department, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Ludovic Martin
- Dermatology Department, Angers University Hospital, Angers, France
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32
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Mitkov M, Chrest M, Diehl NN, Heckman MG, Tollefson M, Jambusaria-Pahlajani A. Pediatric melanomas often mimic benign skin lesions: A retrospective study. J Am Acad Dermatol 2016; 75:706-711.e4. [PMID: 27430613 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2016.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2015] [Revised: 04/30/2016] [Accepted: 05/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Childhood melanoma can be misdiagnosed because of its rarity and atypical presentation. OBJECTIVE We sought to correlate the clinical appearance of pediatric melanomas with Breslow depth and clinical behavior, and to identify diagnostic errors made by dermatologists and nondermatologist physicians. METHODS This was a retrospective review of Mayo Clinic records of children and young adults 21 years of age or younger with a diagnosis of primary cutaneous melanoma between January 2000 and January 2015. RESULTS Pediatric melanomas that mimicked benign skin lesions were more often deeper (>1 mm; odds ratio 5.48; P = .002) and had a higher T stage (odds ratio [T2, T3, or T4] 6.28; P = .001) than melanomas with a clinically malignant appearance. Of pediatric melanomas, 66% originally diagnosed as benign melanocytic lesions exhibited changes in size, shape, and color. LIMITATIONS Sample size and retrospective design are limitations. CONCLUSIONS Benign-appearing pediatric skin lesions with a history of evolution, bleeding, or ulceration should raise suspicion for melanoma. Melanomas demonstrating these features are associated with a higher Breslow depth and T stage. Although biopsy of all lesions that exhibit change in children is not practical, safe, or desired, close monitoring is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Mitkov
- Mayo Clinic Department of Dermatology, Jacksonville, Florida.
| | - Marie Chrest
- Mayo Clinic Department of Cancer Biology, Jacksonville, Florida
| | - Nancy N Diehl
- Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Jacksonville, Florida
| | - Michael G Heckman
- Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Jacksonville, Florida
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33
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Volejnikova J, Bajciova V, Sulovska L, Geierova M, Buriankova E, Jarosova M, Hajduch M, Sterba J, Mihal V. Bone marrow metastasis of malignant melanoma in childhood arising within a congenital melanocytic nevus. Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub 2016; 160:456-60. [PMID: 27049531 DOI: 10.5507/bp.2016.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2015] [Accepted: 03/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malignant melanoma in childhood is infrequent and can arise within congenital melanocytic nevi. Spread of malignant melanoma to the bone marrow, especially in children, is extremely rare. METHODS AND RESULTS Reported is a case of a 5-year-old boy with a congenital large melanocytic nevus of the head and neck who presented with a short history of low back and leg pain, fever and cervical lymphadenopathy. Despite regular follow-up by a dermatologist and plastic surgeon and repeatedly negative histology of previous partial excisions, diffuse bone marrow infiltration with malignant melanoma was diagnosed. The primary site was identified in the post-excision area. The disease progressed rapidly on ipilimumab immunotherapy and led to death at four months from the diagnosis. CONCLUSION Surveillance is indispensable in children with a predisposition to melanoma and nonspecific symptoms such as bone pain, gait impairment or cytopenia, should always be taken into account.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Volejnikova
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc and University Hospital Olomouc, Czech Republic.,Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Viera Bajciova
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Masaryk University, Brno and University Hospital Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lucie Sulovska
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc and University Hospital Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Marie Geierova
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc and University Hospital Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Buriankova
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc and University Hospital Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Marie Jarosova
- Department of Hemato-Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc and University Hospital Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Marian Hajduch
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Jaroslav Sterba
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Masaryk University, Brno and University Hospital Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Vladimir Mihal
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc and University Hospital Olomouc, Czech Republic.,Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Czech Republic
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