Prognosis of atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors (AT/RT) treated with multimodal therapy protocols. Report of our series

Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumor: Proposal of a Diagnostic Pathway Based on Clinical Features and Neuroimaging Findings

PURPOSE

To assess the main imaging and clinical features in adult- and pediatric-onset atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (ATRT) in order to build a predefined pathway useful for the diagnosis.

METHODS

We enrolled 11 ATRT patients (10 children, one adult) and we conducted a literature search on PubMed Central using the key terms "adult" or "pediatric" and "atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor". We collected clinical and neuroradiological data reported in previous studies and combined them with those from our case series. A three step process was built to reach diagnosis by identifying the main distinctive clinical and imaging features.

RESULTS

Clinical evaluation: neurological symptoms were nonspecific. ATRT was more frequent in children under 3 years of age (7 out of 10 children) and infratentorial localization was reported more frequently in children under the age of 24 months. Midline/off-midline localization was influenced by the age.

IMAGING FINDINGS

Preferential location near the ventricles and liquor spaces and the presence of eccentric cysts were hallmark for ATRT; higher frequency of peripheral cysts was detected in children and in the supratentorial compartment (five out of eight patients with solid-cystic ATRT). Leptomeningeal dissemination at diagnosis was common (5 out of 10 children), while intratumoral hemorrhage, calcifications, and high cellularity were non-specific findings. Histopathological analysis: specific immunohistochemical markers were essential to confirm the diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

In younger children, a bulky, heterogeneous mass with eccentric cystic components and development near ventricles or cisternal spaces may be suggestive of ATRT. ATRT diagnosis is more challenging in adults and relies exclusively on neuropathological examination.

Relapsing cerebral atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor after trimodality therapy: A case report

INTRODUCTION

Atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) is a high-grade embryonal malignant neoplasm of the central nervous system. It is rare and most often diagnosed in children <4 years of age. The biological manifestations of AT/RTs are highly malignant and have a very poor prognosis. Here, we present the case of a 16-year-old boy with AT/RT in the right parietal lobe and with a dismal outcome.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 16-year-old male boy presented with a headache after waking up for 1 year without obvious cause. The pain was persistent and dull, mainly in the right orbital, and was slightly relieved after pressing the orbital. Occasionally, nausea and vomiting occurred, and the vomiting was gastric contents. Examination and head computed tomography performed at a local hospital revealed a space-occupying lesion in the right parietal lobe. The patient was then transferred to our hospital for further diagnosis and treatment.

DIAGNOSIS

The patient underwent craniotomy and gross total excision of the tumor. Further histologic examination of the tumor was identified (space-occupying lesion in the right parietal lobe) AT/RT, World Health Organization grade IV.

INTERVENTIONS

The patient was transferred to the oncology department for radiotherapy and chemotherapy after surgery recovery.

OUTCOMES

The patient did not comply with the advice for adjuvant chemotherapy regularly and the tumor recurred rapidly. Finally, the patient died after 18 months after the definitive surgery.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, in the presence of a tumor with peripheral cystic components or hemorrhage in young children, a diagnosis of AT/RT must always be considered. Patients must follow the doctor's advice for active treatment. All relevant data are within the paper and its Supporting Information files.

Disulfiram potentiates the anticancer effect of cisplatin in atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors (AT/RT)

Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) is the most malignant tumor of the central nervous system that generally occurs in young children. Despite the use of intensive multimodal therapy for AT/RT, the prognosis is still poor. The brain tumor initiating cells in AT/RT cells has been suggested as one of the challenges in AT/RT treatment. These cells have high expression of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). We investigated the combination effect of the ALDH inhibitor, disulfiram and cisplatin in the treatment of AT/RT cells. Isobologram analysis revealed that the combination therapy synergistically increases AT/RT cell death. The enzyme activity of ALDH AT/RT cells was effectively reduced by the combination therapy. We proposed that the synergistic augmentation occurs, at least partially through an increase in cleaved Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)-dependent apoptosis mediated by activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3). In the AT/RT mouse model, the combination therapy decreased tumor volume and prolonged survival. Immunofluorescence assay in mouse brain tissues were consistent with the expression of ATF3 and cleaved PARP. Our study demonstrates enhanced anti-cancer effect of combination therapy of disulfiram and cisplatin. This combination might provide a viable therapeutic strategy for AT/RT patients.

Clinicopathological features and microsurgical outcomes for giant pediatric intracranial tumor in 60 consecutive cases

PURPOSE

Giant pediatric intracranial tumor (GPIT) remains to be a challenging disease with high morbidity and mortality.

METHODS

The clinical data of 60 patients under 18 years of age operated on with GPIT (≥5 cm in diameter) were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

Gross total resection was achieved in 46 cases (77%) and subtotal resection was obtained in 14 cases (23%). Ninety percent (47/52) of the cases with obstructive hydrocephalus were resolved remarkably and only 10% (5/52) of the patients needed a ventriculoperitoneal shunt after tumor resection. Postoperative histopathological type revealed malignant brain tumors in 51 cases (85%). The most common neoplasm was medulloblastoma; other types include the following: ependymoma, pilocytic astrocytoma, mixed glioma, primitive neuroectoderm tumor (PNET), subependymal giant cell astrocytoma, gangliocytoma, gliosarcoma, choroid plexus carcinoma, and atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT). Benign histopathological categories include the following: craniopharyngioma, choroid plexus papilloma, and meningioma. No death or serious complications occurred after the operation. However, transient subcutaneous effusion occurred in 14 patients postoperatively, nerve injury including the posterior cranial nerve in two cases and abduction nerve in one case, and mutism and pulmonary infection were observed in two cases, respectively. The follow-up period ranged from 1 to 72 months, with an average of 32 months. Poor prognosis occurred significantly in the high-grade malignant tumors and PNET, AT/RT, and gliosarcoma were implicated in the death of patients within 1 year.

CONCLUSIONS

To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first description of clinicopathological features and the largest case analysis for GPIT. Optimal outcomes for GPIT were achieved by strict evaluation and perioperative management as well as microsurgical skills.