Continuous remission in an infant with chest wall malignant rhabdoid tumor after relapse

Diverse outcomes in extra-cranial rhabdoid tumors: A single institute experience

Rhabdoid tumors (RTs) are a rare and aggressive pediatric cancer that commonly presents with alterations in the tumor suppressor gene SMARCB1. However, RT prognosis is still poor, with no standard treatment available. Moreover, no predictive biomarkers have been identified for determining its aggressiveness or chemo- and radio-sensitivities. Herein, four cases of extra-cranial RTs (ERTs) are described, two of whom are long-term survivors. These two surviving patients were positive for p16, whereas the other two were p16-negative. Our findings suggest that biologically distinct types of ERTs exist and that p16 expression may be a potential positive prognostic biomarker of ERTs. Nevertheless, further studies are required to confirm our findings.

A NOXA/MCL-1 Imbalance Underlies Chemoresistance of Malignant Rhabdoid Tumor Cells

Malignant rhabdoid tumor (MRT) is a rare aggressive pediatric cancer characterized by inactivation of SNF5, a core subunit of SWI/SNF complexes. Previously, we showed that SNF5 contributes to transcriptional activation of NOXA, a pro-apoptotic protein that binds and inhibits the anti-apoptotic protein MCL-1. In this study, we found that NOXA expression was downregulated in MRT cell lines as well as in clinical MRT samples and that ectopically expressed NOXA bound MCL-1 and increased the sensitivity of MRT cell lines to doxorubicin (DOX) by promoting apoptosis. Consistent with this finding, knockdown of MCL-1 in MRT cell lines induced apoptosis and increased DOX sensitivity in MRT cells, and the MCL-1 inhibitor TW-37 synergized with DOX to induce MRT cell death. Our results suggest that modulation of the NOXA/MCL-1 pathway may be a potential strategy for the treatment of patients with MRT. J. Cell. Physiol. 231: 1932-1940, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Long-term survivor of relapsed stage IV malignant rhabdoid tumor of the kidney

The prognosis for metastatic malignant rhabdoid tumor (MRT) is poor, and metastatic (stage IV) MRT was resistant to conventional treatment, with less than 20% of cure rate. Moreover, there have been no reports of patients who have survived relapsed stage IV MRT. Here we report a long-term survivor of relapsed MRT with lung metastasis at diagnosis. He was diagnosed as MRT of the kidney at 5-month-old. After resection of the renal tumor, he was treated with ICE (ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide), total abdominal irradiation 10.8 Gy and high-dose chemotherapy using thiotepa and melphalan. Six months after initial treatment, a relapse in the lung was detected, and he received chemotherapy including doxorubicin/pirarubicin for 78 weeks. He is alive at five years of follow up, without any evidence of disease. Our report suggests the important role of anthracycline in treatment of MRT.

Malignant rhabdoid tumour of the perineum in an adult-a rare presentation

Rhabdoid tumors of extrarenal origin are uncommon. This is the first report of rhabdoid tumor presenting as a perineal mass. Furthermore, it is a disease of childhood, with adult presentation being rare. We report a case of extrarenal rhabdoid tumor and discuss its presentation and possible treatment options.

Improved survival in patients with breast rhabdoid tumors with multi-agent adjuvant chemotherapy combined with irradiation

PURPOSE

Malignant rhabdoid tumors (MRT) have poor prognoses. Breast MRT is extremely rare; only three cases have been documented, with a mean prognosis of 7 months. Multi-agent chemotherapy with mastectomy and irradiation, as used in this case, may extend survival in breast MRT.

PATIENT AND METHODS

A 68-year-old woman who underwent a standard mastectomy was diagnosed with breast MRT. Postoperatively she received six cycles of cyclophosphamide/methotrexate/5-fluorouracil followed by oral administration of doxifluridine and anastrozole, after which no metastasis was detected. About 8 months postoperative, magnetic resonance imaging revealed cervical bone metastasis, and local irradiation and nine doses of "basic chemotherapy" consisting of biweekly paclitaxel and anastrozole were administered. About 4 months later, multiple lung metastases were revealed, and four doses of "basic chemotherapy" with added pirarubicin hydrochloride were administered. Four months after that, multiple large liver metastases were discovered, and five doses of "basic chemotherapy" with added carboplatin were administered.

RESULTS

The 19-month survival period of our case was almost three times that of reported breast MRT patients.

CONCLUSION

Multi-agent chemotherapy combined with irradiation may be associated with the relatively long survival of the present case.

The role of biotechnology in the production of the anticancer compound podophyllotoxin

Podophyllotoxin is a plant-derived compound found in Podophyllum sp. that is used to produce semi-synthetic anticancer pharmaceuticals such as etoposide, teniposide, and etoposide phosphate. This chapter describes the role of biotechnology to produce podophyllotoxin and our attempts to domesticate Podophyllum peltatum L., also known as the American mayapple. The domestication research on mayapple included surveys of the natural population, identification of high yielding genotypes, propagation, cultivation, sustainable harvest procedures and the development of protocols for in vitro germplasm bank.