Stage 4S Neuroblastoma: What Are the Outcomes? A Systematic Review of Published Studies

Successful living-donor liver transplantation for sustained liver failure even after resolution of infiltrative massive hepatic invasion of stage 4S neuroblastoma: a case report

BACKGROUND

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor in childhood. Stage 4S neuroblastoma is a unique subset of neuroblastoma characterized by a favorable course and potentially low malignancy with a high rate of spontaneous tumor regression. However, recent reports have shown that there is a subgroup of patients with stage 4S neuroblastoma characterized by MYCN amplification, chromosomal aberrations, age of < 2 months at diagnosis, and significantly poorer outcomes.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 1-month-old male infant with a huge abdominal tumor was transferred to our hospital and diagnosed with stage 4S neuroblastoma. The patient showed respiratory distress due to abdominal compartment syndrome secondary to massive hepatic invasion, and he required a silo operation and mechanical ventilation. After chemotherapy using carboplatin and etoposide, the infiltrative massive hepatic invasion was resolved and the abdominal compartment syndrome gradually improved; however, liver dysfunction as evidenced by hyperbilirubinemia, coagulopathy, and hyperammonemia continued. At the age of 3 months, living-donor liver transplantation was performed for treatment of sustained liver failure using a reduced lateral segment graft from the patient's father. Post-transplant liver function recovered immediately. Examination of the explanted liver demonstrated that the majority of liver tissue had been replaced by fibroblastic cells after massive hepatocyte dropout. There were only small areas of residual neuroblastoma cells in the liver specimen. The patient was discharged from the hospital 5 months after transplantation with home intermittent respiratory support. At the time of this writing (23 months after liver transplantation), he was in good condition with no signs of recurrence of neuroblastoma.

CONCLUSIONS

We have herein presented a case of successful pediatric living-donor liver transplantation for sustained liver failure even after resolution of infiltrative massive hepatic invasion of stage 4S neuroblastoma. Our case clearly shows that liver transplantation can be added as an appropriate extended treatment option for liver failure after resolution of stage 4S neuroblastoma.

Management and Outcomes of Children with Stage 4S (MS) Neuroblastoma: A Single-Center Experience from a Resource-Challenged Nation

OBJECTIVES

To demonstrate the clinical profile, management options, and outcomes of children with stage 4S neuroblastoma (NB 4S) diagnosed at a tertiary care center in a resource-challenged nation. The authors also intend to highlight the factors associated with an unfavorable prognosis in this series of patients.

METHODS

The archives for children with NB 4S, diagnosed over a 24-y period (January 1996-December 2019), were retrospectively retrieved. Data on patient characteristics, management protocols, oncologic outcomes, and overall survival (OS) were reviewed. Multivariate logistic- regression analysis was performed to identify the factors independently predicting unfavorable outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 22 children (59% males) were included. Adrenal was the most common (82%) primary site. Liver involvement (100%), bone marrow infiltration (23%), and subcutaneous nodules (9%) were observed upon evaluation. Management involved supportive treatment (22%), chemotherapy only (41%), chemotherapy and tumor excision (28%). Ventral hernia was created in two children (9%) due to abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS). Four children died (4/22; 18%) due to ACS (n = 2) and refractory coagulopathy (n = 2). There were no recurrences and all survivors were disease-free. The 5-y OS was 81.8% with a median follow-up duration of 31 mo (range 9 mo-22 y). Age < 2 mo (p = 0.002), respiratory distress at presentation (p < 0.001), and chemotherapy nonresponsiveness (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with mortality. All three factors were independent predictors of mortality.

CONCLUSION

Children with NB 4S have a favorable outcome with 5-y OS of 81.8%. Age < 2 mo, respiratory distress at presentation, and chemotherapy nonresponsiveness are independent predictors of a poor outcome.

Clinical and biological features prognostic of survival after relapse or progression of INRGSS stage MS pattern neuroblastoma: A report from the International Neuroblastoma Risk Group (INRG) project

BACKGROUND

Outcomes for patients with INRGSS metastatic special (MS) metastatic pattern neuroblastoma at initial diagnosis are well described. Prognosis after an initial event (relapse, progression, secondary malignancy) is unclear.

METHODS

We investigated characteristics of MS pattern neuroblastoma patients in the International Neuroblastoma Risk Group database who subsequently experienced an event. Post-event overall survival (OS) ± standard error was calculated overall and by diagnosis era: before 2000 versus 2001 or after. Cox models were used to identify factors prognostic of post-event OS.

RESULTS

Among 209 patients with an event, 88% were less than 365 days old at diagnosis; tumors were MYCN amplified in 24% and diploid in 33%. The median (range) time from diagnosis to first event was 8.16 months (7 days to 11.24 years). Of 96 patients with known relapse/progression pattern, 75% were metastatic or primary plus metastatic. Five-year post-event OS was 53% ± 3.6% and was higher for 2001 and afterwards (62% ± 5.0%) compared to before 2001 (44% ± 4.9%; p = .0046). In patients diagnosed in 2001 and after, older age, Hispanic ethnicity, MYCN amplification, 1p LOH, diploidy, high Mitotic Karyorrhexis Index, high lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), unfavorable histology, and longer time to first event were prognostic of worse post-event OS. Independent adverse prognostic factors on multivariable testing were non-White race, MYCN amplification, and diploidy.

SUMMARY

Patients diagnosed in and after 2001 have substantially better post-event OS compared to before 2001. In those diagnosed in and after 2001, most well-accepted prognostic factors for OS at diagnosis are also prognostic of post-event OS. Future studies may evaluate strategies to improve outcomes in this rare population.

The proneural transcription factor ASCL1 regulates cell proliferation and primes for differentiation in neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma is believed to arise from sympathetic neuroblast precursors that fail to engage the neuronal differentiation programme, but instead become locked in a pro-proliferative developmental state. Achaete-scute homolog 1 (ASCL1) is a proneural master regulator of transcription which modulates both proliferation and differentiation of sympathetic neuroblast precursor cells during development, while its expression has been implicated in the maintenance of an oncogenic programme in MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma. However, the role of ASCL1 expression in neuroblastoma is not clear, especially as its levels vary considerably in different neuroblastoma cell lines. Here, we have investigated the role of ASCL1 in maintaining proliferation and controlling differentiation in both MYCN amplified and Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK)-driven neuroblastoma cells. Using CRISPR deletion, we generated neuroblastoma cell lines lacking ASCL1 expression, and these grew more slowly than parental cells, indicating that ASCL1 contributes to rapid proliferation of MYCN amplified and non-amplified neuroblastoma cells. Genome-wide analysis after ASCL1 deletion revealed reduced expression of genes associated with neuronal differentiation, while chromatin accessibility at regulatory regions associated with differentiation genes was also attenuated by ASCL1 knock-out. In neuroblastoma, ASCL1 has been described as part of a core regulatory circuit of developmental regulators whose high expression is maintained by mutual cross-activation of a network of super enhancers and is further augmented by the activity of MYC/MYCN. Surprisingly, ASCL1 deletion had little effect on the transcription of CRC gene transcripts in these neuroblastoma cell lines, but the ability of MYC/MYCN and CRC component proteins, PHOX2B and GATA3, to bind to chromatin was compromised. Taken together, our results demonstrate several roles for endogenous ASCL1 in neuroblastoma cells: maintaining a highly proliferative phenotype, regulating DNA binding of the core regulatory circuit genes to chromatin, while also controlling accessibility and transcription of differentiation targets. Thus, we propose a model where ASCL1, a key developmental regulator of sympathetic neurogenesis, plays a pivotal role in maintaining proliferation while simultaneously priming cells for differentiation in neuroblastoma.

Bilateral adrenal primary tumor in Stage 4S neuroblastoma: The Italian experience and review of the literature

Bilateral adrenal neuroblastoma (NB) is rare and is mainly stage 4S. Its incidence, presenting features, management, and outcome have not been fully defined yet. We searched the Italian NB Registry (RINB) for stage 4S NB infants with bilateral adrenal primary tumor to compare them with stage 4S NB with unilateral tumor. Between 1979 and 2016, the RINB enrolled 3731 NB patients aged 0-18 years including 317 infants (8.5%) diagnosed with stage 4S NB. Eleven/317 (3.5%) had a bilateral adrenal primary tumor (Group 1) and 190/317 (59.9%) had a unilateral tumor (Group 2). Group 1 infants were significantly younger (51 vs. 89 days) but were comparable with Group 2 for any other presenting features. In the absence of specific protocols, upfront treatment was based on symptoms, size of adrenal tumors, and biology, and consisted of observation in 5 cases, radiotherapy in one, chemotherapy in 2, and surgery in 3. Five/11 developed progression and 2 of them, both with MYCN amplification, died. The 5-year EFS rates of Group 1 and 2 were 54.5% vs. 73.3% (P=.14) and 5-year OSs were 81.8% and 89.4%, respectively (P=.44). Our data support the hypothesis that 4S NB infants with bilateral adrenal tumors can have favorable outcome with personalized therapeutic approach. The three patients with MYCN amplified tumor benefited from upfront aggressive chemotherapy, in accordance with current protocols. Because of the rarity of this intriguing form of neuroblastoma, collaborative prospective studies are warranted, especially in view of gaining a better insight on its biological and genetic features.

Omphalocele: national current birth prevalence and survival

PURPOSE

The increase in prenatal diagnosis together with the high rates of associated anomalies in omphalocele has led to increased rates of termination of pregnancies. The aim of this study was to examine the national Swedish birth prevalence and survival rates among these patients.

METHODS

This study is based on a nationwide population-based cohort of all children born in Sweden between 1/1/1997 and 31/12/2016. All omphalocele cases were identified though the Swedish National Patient Register and the Swedish Medical Birth Register. Outcome of malformations and deaths were retrieved from the Swedish Birth Defects Register and the Swedish Causes of Death Register.

RESULTS

The study included 207 cases of omphalocele (42% females). The birth prevalence for omphalocele was 1/10,000 live births. About 62% of the cases had associated malformations and/or genetic disorders; most common was ventricular septal defect. The mortality within the first year was 13%. The rate of termination of pregnancy was 59%.

CONCLUSION

The national birth prevalence for omphalocele in Sweden is 1/10,000 newborn, with high termination rates. Over half of the pregnancies with prenatally diagnosed omphalocele will be terminated. Among those who continue the pregnancy, 1-year survival rates are high.

TYPE OF STUDY

National register study LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Resection of primary tumor in stage 4S neuroblastoma: a second study by the Italian Neuroblastoma Group

PURPOSE

To clarify the role of primary tumor resection in stage 4S neuroblastoma.

METHODS

We investigated a cohort of 172 infants diagnosed with stage 4S neuroblastoma between 1994 and 2013. Of 160 evaluable patients, 62 underwent upfront resection of the primary tumor and 98 did not.

RESULTS

Five-year progression-free and overall survival were significantly better in those who had undergone upfront surgery (83.6% vs 64.2% and 96.8% vs 85.7%, respectively). One post-operative death and four non-fatal complications occurred in the resection group. Three patients who had not undergone resection died of chemotherapy-related toxicity. Thirteen patients underwent late surgery to remove a residual tumor, without complications: all but one alive. Outcomes were better in patients diagnosed from 2000 onwards.

CONCLUSION

Infants diagnosed with stage 4S neuroblastoma who underwent upfront tumor resection had a better outcome. However, this result cannot be definitely attributed to surgery, since these patients were selected on the basis of their favorable presenting features. Although the question of whether to operate or not at disease onset is still unsolved, this study confirms the importance of obtaining enough adequate tumor tissue to enable histological and biological studies to properly address treatment, to achieve the best possible outcome.