Temporal trends in cause-specific late mortality among 5-year survivors of childhood cancer

Late mortality among 5-year survivors of childhood cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Childhood cancer survivors are at increased risk of late mortality (death ≥5 years after diagnosis) from cancer recurrence and treatment-related late effects. The authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to provide comprehensive estimates of late mortality risk among survivors internationally and to investigate differences in risk across world regions.

METHODS

Health sciences databases were searched for cohort studies comprised of 5-year childhood cancer survivors in which the risk of mortality was evaluated across multiple cancer types. Eligible studies assessed all-cause mortality risk in survivors relative to the general population using the standardized mortality ratio (SMR). The absolute excess risk (AER) was assessed as a secondary measure to examine excess deaths. Cause-specific mortality risk was also assessed, if reported. SMRs from nonoverlapping cohorts were combined in subgroup meta-analysis, and the effect of world region was tested in univariate meta-regression.

RESULTS

Nineteen studies were included, and cohort sizes ranged from 314 to 77,423 survivors. Throughout survivorship, SMRs for all-cause mortality generally declined, whereas AERs increased after 15-20 years from diagnosis in several cohorts. All-cause SMRs were significantly lower overall in North American studies than in European studies (relative SMR, 0.63; 95% confidence interval, 0.49-0.80). SMRs for subsequent malignant neoplasms and for cardiovascular, respiratory, and external causes did not vary significantly between world regions.

CONCLUSIONS

The current findings suggest that late mortality risk may differ significantly between world regions, but these conclusions are based on a limited number of studies with considerable heterogeneity. Reasons for regional differences remain unclear but may be better elucidated through future analyses of individual-level data.

Current Status and Physicians' Perspectives of Childhood Cancer Survivorship in Korea: A Nationwide Survey of Pediatric Hematologists/Oncologists

BACKGROUND

Data on the status of long-term follow-up (LTFU) care for childhood cancer survivors (CCSs) in Korea is lacking. This study was conducted to evaluate the current status of LTFU care for CCSs and relevant physicians' perspectives.

METHODS

A nationwide online survey of pediatric hematologists/oncologists in the Republic of Korea was undertaken.

RESULTS

Overall, 47 of the 74 board-certified Korean pediatric hematologists/oncologists currently providing pediatric hematology/oncology care participated in the survey (response rate = 63.5%). Forty-five of the 47 respondents provided LTFU care for CCSs five years after the completion of primary cancer treatment. However, some of the 45 respondents provided LTFU care only for CCS with late complications or CCSs who requested LTFU care. Twenty of the 45 respondents oversaw LTFU care for adult CCSs, although pediatric hematologists/oncologists experienced more difficulties managing adult CCSs. Many pediatric hematologists/oncologists did not perform the necessary screening test, although CCSs had risk factors for late complications, mostly because of insurance coverage issues and the lack of Korean LTFU guidelines. Regarding a desirable LTFU care system for CCSs in Korea, 27 of the 46 respondents (58.7%) answered that it is desirable to establish a multidisciplinary CCSs care system in which pediatric hematologists/oncologists and adult physicians cooperate.

CONCLUSION

The LTFU care system for CCS is underdeveloped in the Republic of Korea. It is urgent to establish an LTFU care system to meet the growing needs of Korean CCSs, which should include Korean CCSs care guidelines, provider education plans, the establishment of multidisciplinary care systems, and a supportive national healthcare policy.

Disparities in survival improvement for U.S. childhood and adolescent cancer between 1995 and 2019: An analysis of population-based data

BACKGROUND

Although treatment advances have increased childhood and adolescent cancer survival, whether patient subgroups have benefited equally from these improvements is unclear.

METHODS

Data on 42,865 malignant primary cancers diagnosed between 1995 and 2019 in individuals ≤ 19 years were obtained from 12 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registries. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) for cancer-specific mortality by age group (0-14 and 15-19 years), sex, and race/ethnicity were estimated using flexible parametric models with a restricted cubic spline function in each of the periods: 2000-2004, 2005-2009, 2010-2014 and 2015-2019, versus 1995-1999. Interactions between diagnosis period and age group (children 0-14 and adolescents 15-19 years at diagnosis), sex, and race/ethnicity were assessed using likelihood ratio tests. Five-year cancer-specific survival rates for each diagnosis period were further predicted.

RESULTS

Compared with the 1995-1999 cohort, the risk of dying from all cancers combined decreased in subgroups defined by age, sex and race/ethnicity with HRs ranging from 0.50 to 0.68 for the 2015-2019 comparison. HRs were more variable by cancer subtype. There were no statistically significant interactions by age group (P_interaction=0.05) or sex (P_interaction=0.71). Despite non-significant differences in cancer-specific survival improvement across different races and ethnicities (P_interaction=0.33) over the study period, minorities consistently experienced inferior survival compared with non-Hispanic Whites.

CONCLUSIONS

The substantial improvements in cancer-specific survival for childhood and adolescent cancer did not differ significantly by different age, sex, and race/ethnicity groups. However, persistent gaps in survival between minorities and non-Hispanic Whites are noteworthy.

Myocardial Strain during Surveillance Screening Is Associated with Future Cardiac Dysfunction among Survivors of Childhood, Adolescent and Young Adult-Onset Cancer

Cardiovascular disease is a leading contributor to mortality among childhood, adolescent and young adult (C-AYA) cancer survivors. While serial cardiovascular screening is recommended in this population, optimal screening strategies, including the use of echocardiography-based myocardial strain, are not fully defined. Our objective was to determine the relationship between longitudinal and circumferential strain (LS, CS) and fractional shortening (FS) among survivors. This single-center cohort study retrospectively measured LS and CS among C-AYAs treated with anthracycline/anthracenedione chemotherapy. The trajectory of LS and CS values over time were examined among two groups of survivors: those who experienced a reduction of >5 fractional shortening (FS) units from pre-treatment to the most recent echocardiogram, and those who did not. Using mixed modeling, LS and CS were used to estimate FS longitudinally. A receiver operator characteristic curve was generated to determine the ability of our model to correctly predict an FS ≤ 27%. A total of 189 survivors with a median age of 14 years at diagnosis were included. Among the two survivor groups, the trajectory of LS and CS differed approximately five years from cancer diagnosis. A statistically significant inverse relationship was demonstrated between FS and LS -0.129, p = 0.039, as well as FS and CS -0.413, p < 0.001. The area under the curve for an FS ≤ 27% was 91%. Among C-AYAs, myocardial strain measurements may improve the identification of individuals with cardiotoxicity, thereby allowing earlier intervention.

Polyneuropathy in Adolescent Childhood Cancer Survivors: The PACCS Study

BACKGROUND

Childhood cancer survivors (CCS) are at risk of polyneuropathy due to chemotherapy, but studies in young survivors are scarce and diagnosis is challenging. We aimed to study the presence of polyneuropathy and the possible effect of cumulative doses of chemotherapeutic agents in a representative group of adolescent survivors.

METHODS

CCS aged nine to 18 years and age- and sex-matched controls were recruited from the cross-sectional Physical Activity and Fitness among Childhood Cancer Survivors (PACCS) study. CCS with various cancer diagnoses who had ended cancer treatment one year or more before study were included. Polyneuropathy was evaluated clinically and with nerve conduction studies (NCSs) in three motor and five sensory nerves. We used mixed-effects linear regression models to compare CCS and controls, and investigate possible associations between cumulative chemotherapy doses and NCS amplitudes.

RESULTS

A total of 127 CCS and 87 controls were included, with 14% CCS having probable or confirmed polyneuropathy. NCS amplitudes were lower in survivors compared with controls in all nerves. The largest mean difference was 3.47 μV (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.18 to 4.75) in the tibial plantar medial sensory and 1.91 mV (95% CI, 0.78 to 3.04) in the tibial motor nerve. The cumulative dose of platinum derivatives was associated with lower tibial motor nerve amplitude (-0.20; 95% CI, -0.35 to -0.04 mV for 100 mg/m² dose increase) but not in other nerves. We found no significant associations between vinca alkaloids cumulative dose and amplitudes.

CONCLUSIONS

CCS without clinical signs or symptoms of polyneuropathy may have subtle nerve affection. The clinical long-term impact of this novel observation should be evaluated in larger, longitudinal studies.

Late Mortality in Childhood Cancer Survivors according to Pediatric Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Era in the Dutch LATER Cohort

This multi-center cohort-study examined late mortality among 6,165 Dutch five-year childhood cancer survivors diagnosed 1963-2001. Clinical details and cause of death were based on medical records. Mortality was 12-fold that of the general population, with 51.3 additional deaths per 10,000 person-years (21.9 yrs median follow-up). Cumulative mortality 15 yrs post-diagnosis was 6.9%, predominantly from late recurrences; thereafter the absolute contribution of other health outcomes increased. Cumulative all-cause and recurrence-related mortality were highest for Central Nervous System and bone tumor survivors. All-cause, but not subsequent tumor and circulatory disease-related cumulative mortality, was highest for patients diagnosed 1963-1979 vs. later (p-trend <0.001).

Impact of era of diagnosis on cause-specific late mortality among 77 423 five-year European survivors of childhood and adolescent cancer: The PanCareSurFup consortium

Late mortality of European 5-year survivors of childhood or adolescent cancer has dropped over the last 60 years, but excess mortality persists. There is little information concerning secular trends in cause-specific mortality among older European survivors. PanCareSurFup pooled data from 12 cancer registries and clinics in 11 European countries from 77 423 five-year survivors of cancer diagnosed before age 21 between 1940 and 2008 followed for an average age of 21 years and a total of 1.27 million person-years to determine their risk of death using cumulative mortality, standardized mortality ratios (SMR), absolute excess risks (AER), and multivariable proportional hazards regression analyses. At the end of follow-up 9166 survivors (11.8%) had died compared to 927 expected (SMR 9.89, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 9.69-10.09), AER 6.47 per 1000 person-years, (95% CI 6.32-6.62). At 60 to 68 years of attained age all-cause mortality was still higher than expected (SMR = 2.41, 95% CI 1.90-3.02). Overall cumulative mortality at 25 years from diagnosis dropped from 18.4% (95% CI 16.5-20.4) to 7.3% (95% CI 6.7-8.0) over the observation period. Compared to the diagnosis period 1960 to 1969, the mortality hazard ratio declined for first neoplasms (P for trend <.0001) and for infections (P < .0001); declines in relative mortality from second neoplasms and cardiovascular causes were less pronounced (P = .1105 and P = .0829, respectively). PanCareSurFup is the largest study with the longest follow-up of late mortality among European childhood and adolescent cancer 5-year survivors, and documents significant mortality declines among European survivors into modern eras. However, continuing excess mortality highlights survivors' long-term care needs.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Outcomes Among Long-Term Survivors of Childhood Cancer: A Scoping Review

The five-year survival rate of childhood cancer has increased substantially over the past 50 yr; however, racial/ethnic disparities in health outcomes of survival have not been systematically reviewed. This scoping review summarized health disparities between racial/ethnic minorities (specifically non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic) and non-Hispanic White childhood cancer survivors, and elucidated factors that may explain disparities in health outcomes. We used the terms “race”, “ethnicity”, “childhood cancer”, “pediatric cancer”, and “survivor” to search the title and abstract for the articles published in PubMed and Scopus from inception to February 2021. After removing duplicates, 189 articles were screened, and 23 empirical articles were included in this review study. All study populations were from North America, and the mean distribution of race/ethnicity was 6.9% for non-Hispanic Black and 4.5% for Hispanic. Health outcomes were categorized as healthcare utilization, patient-reported outcomes, chronic health conditions, and survival status. We found robust evidence of racial/ethnic disparities over four domains of health outcomes. However, health disparities were explained by clinical factors (e.g., diagnosis, treatment), demographic (e.g., age, sex), individual-level socioeconomic status (SES; e.g., educational attainment, personal income, health insurance coverage), family-level SES (e.g., family income, parent educational attainment), neighborhood-level SES (e.g., geographic location), and lifestyle health risk (e.g., cardiovascular risk) in some but not all articles. We discuss the importance of collecting comprehensive social determinants of racial/ethnic disparities inclusive of individual-level, family-level, and neighborhood-level SES. We suggest integrating these variables into healthcare systems (e.g., electronic health records), and utilizing information technology and analytics to better understand the disparity gap for racial/ethnic minorities of childhood cancer survivors. Furthermore, we suggest national and local efforts to close the gap through improving health insurance access, education and transportation aid, racial-culture-specific social learning interventions, and diversity informed training.

Trends in Late Mortality Among Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors

BACKGROUND

Over the past several decades, treatment of cancer in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) has evolved substantially, leading to steady improvements in estimated 5-year survival at diagnosis. However, the impact on late mortality in this population is largely unexamined. We investigated temporal trends in mortality among 5-year AYA cancer survivors.

METHODS

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was used to identify AYAs (age 15-39 years) diagnosed with cancer during 1975-2011 who survived at least 5 years beyond diagnosis. Survival months were accrued from 5 years postdiagnosis until death or the end of 2016. Cumulative mortality from all causes, the primary cancer, other cancers, and noncancer or nonexternal causes (ie, excluding accidents, suicide, homicide) were estimated according to diagnosis era.

RESULTS

Among 282 969 five-year AYA cancer survivors, 5-year mortality (ie, from 5 through 10 years postdiagnosis) from all-causes decreased from 8.3% (95% confidence interval = 8.0% to 8.6%) among those diagnosed in 1975-1984 to 5.4% (95% confidence interval = 5.3% to 5.6%) among those diagnosed in 2005-2011. This was largely explained by decreases in mortality from the primary cancer (6.8% to 4.2%) between these periods. However, for specific cancer types, including colorectal, bone, sarcomas, cervical/uterine, and bladder, cumulative mortality curves demonstrated little improvement in primary cancer mortality over time. Some reduction in late mortality from noncancer or nonexternal causes was apparent for Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, kidney cancer, head and neck cancers, and trachea, lung, and bronchus cancers.

CONCLUSION

Over the past four decades, all-cause and cancer-specific mortality have decreased among 5-year AYA cancer survivors overall, but several cancer types have not shared in these improvements.

Diversity of genetic alterations of primary central nervous system lymphoma in Hispanic versus non-Hispanic patients

PURPOSE

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Previous studies have identified MYD88, CD79b and PIM1 as the most common genetic mutations in PCNSL. The extent to which mutations vary by ethnicity is unknown. The purpose of this study was to describe differences in genetic mutations and survival by Hispanic ethnicity in PCNSL.

METHODS

30 patients with PCNSL were examined for mutations in 275 genes by DNA analysis and 1408 genes by RNA analysis utilizing next generation sequencing.

RESULTS

60% of patients were Hispanic. 125 different mutated genes were detected. The most commonly affected genes were: MYD88 (44%), CARD11 (21%), CD79b (17%), PIM1 (17%) and KMT2D (17%) . MYD88 mutation was less frequent in Hispanic patients (27% vs 66%, P=.02). More Hispanic patients had >3 mutated genes (89% vs 55 %. P=.03). Two-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in Hispanic vs. non-Hispanic patients (PFS 60% vs 27%, P=.09), (OS 60% vs 36%, P=.23). MYD88, CARD11, PIM1, and KMT2D were not associated with significant differences in OS or PFS. CD79b mutation correlated with superior 2-yr PFS (P=.04).

CONCLUSIONS

We identified highly recurrent genetic alterations in PCNSL. Our data suggest that heterogeneity in some mutations may be related to ethnicity. There was no statistically significant difference in 2-yr PFS and OS in our Hispanic patients. Studies on larger population may further help to describe differences in tumor biology, and outcomes in Hispanic patients.

Life Expectancy of Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer Over 3 Decades

Importance

Advances in childhood and adolescent cancer treatment have been associated with increased rates of cure during the past 3 decades; however, improvement in adult life expectancy for these individuals has not yet been reported.

Objectives

To project long-term survival and assess whether life expectancy will improve among adult survivors of childhood cancer who were treated in more recent decades.

Design, Setting, and Participants

A microsimulation model of competing mortality risks was developed using data from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study on 5-year survivors of childhood cancer diagnosed between 1970 and 1999. The model included (1) late recurrence, (2) treatment-related late effects (health-related [subsequent cancers, cardiac events, pulmonary conditions, and other] and external causes), and (3) US background mortality rates.

Exposures

Treatment subgroups (no treatment or surgery only, chemotherapy alone, radiotherapy alone, and radiotherapy with chemotherapy) and individuals with acute lymphoblastic leukemia during childhood by era (1970-1979, 1980-1989, and 1990-1999).

Main Outcomes and Measures

Conditional life expectancy (defined as the number of years a 5-year survivor can expect to live), cumulative cause-specific mortality risk, and 10-year mortality risks conditional on attaining ages of 30, 40, 50, and 60 years.

Results

Among the hypothetical cohort of 5-year survivors of childhood cancer representative of the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study participants (44% female and 56% male; mean [SD] age at diagnosis, 7.3 [5.6] years), conditional life expectancy was 48.5 years (95% uncertainty interval [UI], 47.6-49.6 years) for 5-year survivors diagnosed in 1970-1979, 53.7 years (95% UI, 52.6-54.7 years) for those diagnosed in 1980-1989, and 57.1 years (95% UI, 55.9-58.1 years) for those diagnosed in 1990-1999. Compared with individuals without a history of cancer, these results represented a gap in life expectancy of 25% (95% UI, 24%-27%) (16.5 years [95% UI, 15.5-17.5 years]) for those diagnosed in 1970-1979, 19% (95% UI, 17%-20%) (12.3 years [95% UI, 11.3-13.4 years]) for those diagnosed in 1980-1989, and 14% (95% UI, 13%-16%) (9.2 years [95% UI, 8.3-10.4 years]) for those diagnosed in 1990-1999. During the 3 decades, the proportion of survivors treated with chemotherapy alone increased (from 18% in 1970-1979 to 54% in 1990-1999), and the life expectancy gap in this chemotherapy-alone group decreased from 11.0 years (95% UI, 9.0-13.1 years) to 6.0 years (95% UI, 4.5-7.6 years). In contrast, during the same time frame, only modest improvements in the gap in life expectancy were projected for survivors treated with radiotherapy (21.0 years [95% UI, 18.5-23.2 years] to 17.6 years [95% UI, 14.2-21.2 years]) or with radiotherapy and chemotherapy (17.9 years [95% UI, 16.7-19.2 years] to 14.8 years [95% UI, 13.1-16.7 years]). For the largest group of survivors by diagnosis-those with acute lymphoblastic leukemia-the gap in life expectancy decreased from 14.7 years (95% UI, 12.8-16.5 years) in 1970-1979 to 8.0 years (95% UI, 6.2-9.7 years).

Conclusions and Relevance

Evolving treatment approaches are projected to be associated with improved life expectancy after treatment for pediatric cancer, in particular among those who received chemotherapy alone for their childhood cancer diagnosis. Despite improvements, survivors remain at risk for shorter lifespans, especially when radiotherapy was included as part of their childhood cancer treatment.

Cardiovascular Toxicities in Pediatric Cancer Survivors

Advances in cancer therapies have significantly improved patient outcomes. However, with improvements in survival, the toxicities associated with cancer therapy have become of paramount importance and oncologists are faced with the challenge of establishing therapeutic efficacy while minimizing toxicity. Cardiovascular disease represents a significant risk to survivors of childhood cancer and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. This article outlines the current state of knowledge regarding cardiotoxicity in children undergoing cancer therapies, including the impact of specific oncologic therapies, recommendations for cardiovascular screening, the management of established cardiac disease, and the evolving field of pediatric cardio-oncology.

A Quality Improvement Approach to Increase Exercise Assessment in Survivors of Childhood Leukemia

Introduction:

Survivors of childhood cancer are at increased risk of treatment-related cardiovascular disease, the severity of which is impacted by the level of regular exercise. Exercise assessments (EAs) are not a routine component of follow-up care.

Methods:

We incorporated a quantitative EA tool into the clinic triage during follow-up visits for survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The nursing staff was surveyed on the use of the EA tool to gauge understanding and level of comfort with addressing patient questions.

Results:

Over 27 months, the percentage of off-therapy acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients with documented EA increased from 0% to 80%. We noted degradation in EA completions in the last 6 months of the project, which we attributed to project nursing staff transition and failure to maintain education. Interventions that improved the percentage of completed EA included the incorporation the assessment tool into the electronic medical record and weekly reminders of scheduled eligible patients. A nurse incentive plan did not impact project success. Survey results revealed that the nursing staff were comfortable with the EA and did not view the new process as hurting patient flow.

Conclusion:

Implementation of an EA tool into routine clinic follow-up was successful. We met the project goal of assessing greater than 50% of the follow-up patients. This work will serve as the foundation for the next phase of the project, which will be to provide education on the importance of exercise and earlier intervention when a sedentary lifestyle is identified.

Hospitalization and mortality among pediatric cancer survivors: a population-based study

PURPOSE

We examined serious long-term outcomes among childhood cancer survivors using population-based data.

METHODS

We used 1982-2014 Washington State data to compare hospitalization and/or death (including cause-specific) during up to 27 years follow-up among all 5+ year childhood cancer survivors < 20 years at diagnosis (n = 3,152) and a sample of comparison children within birth cohorts, with assessment by cancer type and child/family characteristics.

RESULTS

During follow-up (9 years median), 12% of survivors had hospitalizations; 4% died. Greatest absolute risks/1,000 person-years were for hospitalization/deaths due to cancers (8.1), infection (6.2), injuries (6.0), and endocrine/metabolic disorders (5.8). Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for hospitalization (2.7, 95% CI 2.4-3.0) and any-cause death (14.7, 95% CI 11.3-19.1) were increased, and for all cause-specific outcomes examined, most notably cancer- (35.1, 95% CI 23.7-51.9), hematological- (6.7, 95% CI 5.3-8.5), nervous system- (6.4, 95% CI 5.2-7.8), and circulatory- (5.2, 95% CI 4.1-6.5) related outcomes. Hospitalizations occurred more often among females and those receiving radiation, with modest differences by urban/rural birth residence and race/ethnicity. Cause-specific outcomes varied by cancer type.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests increased risks for the rarely-studied outcomes of long-term fracture and injury, and confirms increased risks of selected other conditions among survivors. Multi-state pooling of population-based data would increase the ability to evaluate outcomes for uncommon cancer types and by racial/ethnic groups under-represented in many studies.

Delayed Metastasis of Clear Cell Sarcoma of Kidney to Bladder After 7 Disease-Free Years

INTRODUCTION

Clear cell sarcoma of the kidney (CCSK) is childhood neoplasm with its own distinctive pattern of metastasis and may appear after a disease free interval of 5 years or more.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Histopathology and immunohistochemistry were available from the radical nephrectomy and the later partial cystectomy, which was performed after a seven disease-free interval.

RESULTS

The pathologic features of the primary tumor were those of a classic CCSK with a monotypic pattern of uniform rounded to ovoid tumor cells with a background network of delicate blood vessels. By contrast, the bladder recurrence had a myxoid hypocellular appearance (one of the known variant patterns of CCSK). Both tumors displayed immunopositivity for Cyclin-D1 and CD117 with a less intense reaction in the bladder metastasis.

CONCLUSIONS

This case demonstrates that CCSK has the potential to metastasize after a prolonged disease-free interval and may have deceptively bland histopathologic features.

Long-term neurologic health and psychosocial function of adult survivors of childhood medulloblastoma/PNET: a report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study

Background

Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant childhood brain tumor, although long-term risks for chronic neurologic health and psychosocial functioning in aging adult survivors are incompletely characterized.

Methods

The Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) includes 380 five-year survivors of medulloblastoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET; median age at follow-up: 30 y, interquartile range 24-36) and sibling comparison (n = 4031). Cumulative incidence of neurologic health conditions was reported. Cox regression models provided hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs. Cross-sectional outcomes were assessed using generalized linear models.

Results

Compared with siblings, survivors were at increased risk of late-onset hearing loss (HR: 36.0, 95% CI: 23.6-54.9), stroke (HR: 33.9, 95% CI: 17.8-64.7), seizure (HR: 12.8, 95% CI: 9.0-18.1), poor balance (HR: 10.4, 95% CI: 6.7-15.9), tinnitus (HR: 4.8, 95% CI: 3.5-6.8), and cataracts (HR: 31.8, 95% CI: 16.7-60.5). Temporal/frontal lobe radiotherapy of 50 Gy or more increased risk for hearing loss (HR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.1-1.3), seizure (HR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.1-3.9), stroke (HR: 3.5, 95% CI: 1.3-9.1), and tinnitus (HR: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.0-3.9). Survivors were less likely than siblings to earn a college degree (relative risk [RR]: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.39-0.60), marry (RR: 0.35, 95% CI: 0.29-0.42), and live independently (RR: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.52-0.66).

Conclusions

Adult survivors of childhood medulloblastoma/PNET demonstrate pronounced risk for hearing impairment, stroke, lower educational attainment, and social independence. Interventions to support survivors should be a high priority.

Opportunities and challenges in the immunological therapy of pediatric malignancy: a concise snapshot

Over the last 50 years, collaborative clinical trials have reduced the number of children dying from pediatric cancer significantly. Unfortunately, certain tumor types have remained resistant to conventional surgical, radiotherapy and chemotherapy combinations, and relapsing and/or refractory disease remains associated with dismal outcomes. Recently, renewed attention has been given to the role for immunotherapies in pediatric oncology. In fact, these combine several attractive features, including (but possibly not limited to) the specificity for cancer cells, potentially in vivo persistence and longevity, and potency against refractory disease. In this narrative review designed for the academic pediatrician, we will concisely review the biological underpinnings behind the immunological therapy of pediatric neoplasms and illustrate the current humoral, cellular approaches, and novel drugs targeting the immune checkpoint, oncolytic viruses, and tumor vaccines. We will also comment on the future directions, challenges, and open questions faced by the field. What is Known: • Cancer immunotherapy drives immune cells and its humoral weaponry to eliminate tumor cells. • This occurs by recognizing antigens ideally expressed only on tumoral, but not normal/healthy, cells. What is New: • Clinical immunotherapy trials have shown responses in children with relapsing/refractory neoplasms. • Novel humoral/cellular immunotherapies, immune checkpoint inhibitors, oncolytic viruses, and tumor vaccines are currently being investigated in pediatric oncology.

Novel approaches to the prediction, diagnosis and treatment of cardiac late effects in survivors of childhood cancer: a multi-centre observational study

Background

Anthracycline-induced cardiac toxicity is a cause of significant morbidity and early mortality in survivors of childhood cancer. Current strategies for predicting which children are at greatest risk for toxicity are imperfect and diagnosis of cardiac injury is usually made relatively late in the natural history of the disease. This study aims to identify genomic, biomarker and imaging parameters that can be used as predictors of risk or aid in the early diagnosis of cardiotoxicity.

Methods

This is a prospective longitudinal cohort study that recruited two cohorts of pediatric cancer patients at six participating centres: (1) an Acute Cohort of children newly diagnosed with cancer prior to starting anthracycline therapy (n = 307); and (2) a Survivor Cohort of long-term survivors of childhood cancer with past exposure to anthracycline (n = 818). The study team consists of three collaborative cores. The Genomics Core is identifying genomic variations in anthracycline metabolism and in myocardial response to injury that predispose children to treatment-related cardiac toxicity. The Biomarker Core is identifying existing and novel biomarkers that allow for early diagnosis and prognosis of anthracycline-induced cardiac toxicity. The Imaging Core is identifying echocardiographic and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging parameters that correspond to early signs of cardiac dysfunction and remodeling and precede global dysfunction and clinical symptoms. The data generated by the cores will be combined to create an integrated risk-prediction model aimed at more accurate identification of children who are most susceptible to anthracycline toxicity.

Discussion

We aim to identify genomic risk factors that predict risk for anthracycline cardiotoxicity pre-exposure and imaging and biomarkers that facilitate early diagnosis of cardiac injury. This will facilitate a personalized approach to identifying at-risk children with cancer who may benefit from cardio- protective strategies during therapy, and closer surveillance and earlier initiation of medications to preserve heart function after cancer therapy.

Trial registration

NCT01805778. Registered 28 February 2013; retrospectively registered.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12885-017-3505-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Racial Differences in 20-Year Cardiovascular Mortality Risk Among Childhood and Young Adult Cancer Survivors

PURPOSE

Whether cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk differs according to race and cancer type among survivors of childhood or young adulthood cancers is unknown.

METHODS

Data from the years 1973-2011 were analyzed using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registries. Cases were categorized by ICD-0-3/WHO 2008 Adolescent and Young Adult classification. CVD death was determined by ICD-10 codes for diseases of the heart, atherosclerosis, cerebrovascular diseases, or other diseases of the arteries. Cox proportional hazards models were fitted to evaluate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the effects of race on time-to-event outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 164,316 cases of childhood and young adult primary cancers were identified. There were 43,335 total and 1466 CVD deaths among Black and White survivors. Black survivors had higher risks of all-cause mortality (HR: 1.75, 95% CI: 1.70-1.7) and CVD mortality (HR: 2.13, 95% CI: 1.85-2.46) compared to White survivors. The increased risk of CVD for Black survivors compared to White survivors persisted at 5-years (HR: 2.38, 95% CI: 1.83-3.10), 10-years (HR: 2.59, 95% CI: 2.09-3.21), and 20-years (HR: 2.31, 95% CI: 1.95-2.74) postdiagnosis, and varied by cancer type, with the highest HRs for melanoma (HR: 8.16, 95% CI: 1.99-33.45) and thyroid cancer (HR: 3.43, 95% CI: 1.75-6.73).

CONCLUSIONS

Black survivors of childhood or young adulthood cancers have a higher risk of CVD mortality compared to Whites that varies by cancer type. Knowledge of at-risk populations is important to guide surveillance recommendations and behavioral interventions. Further study is needed to understand the etiology of racial differences in CVD mortality in this population.

Population-Based Long-Term Cardiac-Specific Mortality Among 34 489 Five-Year Survivors of Childhood Cancer in Great Britain

BACKGROUND

Increased risks of cardiac morbidity and mortality among childhood cancer survivors have been described previously. However, little is known about the very long-term risks of cardiac mortality and whether the risk has decreased among those more recently diagnosed. We investigated the risk of long-term cardiac mortality among survivors within the recently extended British Childhood Cancer Survivor Study.

METHODS

The British Childhood Cancer Survivor Study is a population-based cohort of 34 489 five-year survivors of childhood cancer diagnosed from 1940 to 2006 and followed up until February 28, 2014, and is the largest cohort to date to assess late cardiac mortality. Standardized mortality ratios and absolute excess risks were used to quantify cardiac mortality excess risk. Multivariable Poisson regression models were used to evaluate the simultaneous effect of risk factors. Likelihood ratio tests were used to test for heterogeneity and trends.

RESULTS

Overall, 181 cardiac deaths were observed, which was 3.4 times that expected. Survivors were 2.5 times and 5.9 times more at risk of ischemic heart disease and cardiomyopathy/heart failure death, respectively, than expected. Among those >60 years of age, subsequent primary neoplasms, cardiac disease, and other circulatory conditions accounted for 31%, 22%, and 15% of all excess deaths, respectively, providing clear focus for preventive interventions. The risk of both overall cardiac and cardiomyopathy/heart failure mortality was greatest among those diagnosed from 1980 to 1989. Specifically, for cardiomyopathy/heart failure deaths, survivors diagnosed from 1980 to 1989 had 28.9 times the excess number of deaths observed for survivors diagnosed either before 1970 or from 1990 on.

CONCLUSIONS

Excess cardiac mortality among 5-year survivors of childhood cancer remains increased beyond 50 years of age and has clear messages in terms of prevention strategies. However, the fact that the risk was greatest in those diagnosed from 1980 to 1989 suggests that initiatives to reduce cardiotoxicity among those treated more recently may be having a measurable impact.

Effect of Temporal Changes in Therapeutic Exposure on Self-reported Health Status in Childhood Cancer Survivors

BACKGROUND

The effect of temporal changes in cancer therapy on health status among childhood cancer survivors has not been evaluated.

OBJECTIVE

To compare proportions of self-reported adverse health status outcomes among childhood cancer survivors across 3 decades.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01120353).

SETTING

27 North American institutions.

PARTICIPANTS

14 566 adults, who survived for 5 or more years after initial diagnosis (median age, 27 years; range, 18 to 48 years), treated from 1970 to 1999.

MEASUREMENTS

Patient report of poor general or mental health, functional impairment, activity limitation, or cancer-related anxiety or pain was evaluated as a function of treatment decade, cancer treatment exposure, chronic health conditions, demographic characteristics, and health habits.

RESULTS

Despite reductions in late mortality and the proportions of survivors with severe, disabling, or life-threatening chronic health conditions (33.4% among those treated from 1970 to 1979 and 21.0% among those treated from 1990 to 1999), those reporting adverse health status did not decrease by treatment decade. Compared with survivors diagnosed in 1970 to 1979, those diagnosed in 1990 to 1999 were more likely to report poor general health (11.2% vs. 13.7%; P < 0.001) and cancer-related anxiety (13.3% vs. 15.0%; P < 0.001). From 1970 to 1979 and 1990 to 1999, the proportions of survivors reporting adverse outcomes were higher (P < 0.001) among those with leukemia (poor general health, 9.5% and 13.9%) and osteosarcoma (pain, 23.9% and 36.6%). Temporal changes in treatment exposures were not associated with changes in the proportions of survivors reporting adverse health status. Smoking, not meeting physical activity guidelines, and being either underweight or obese were associated with poor health status.

LIMITATION

Considerable improvement in survival among children diagnosed with cancer in the 1990s compared with those diagnosed in the 1970s makes it difficult to definitively determine the effect of risk factors on later self-reported health status without considering their effect on mortality.

CONCLUSION

Because survival rates after a diagnosis of childhood cancer have improved substantially over the past 30 years, the population of survivors now includes those who would have died in earlier decades. Self-reported health status among survivors has not improved despite evolution of treatment designed to reduce toxicities.

PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE

The National Cancer Institute.

Long term cause specific mortality among 34 489 five year survivors of childhood cancer in Great Britain: population based cohort study

OBJECTIVE

 To determine whether modern treatments for cancer are associated with a net increased or decreased risk of death from neoplastic and non-neoplastic causes among survivors of childhood cancer.

DESIGN

 Population based cohort study.

SETTING

 British Childhood Cancer Survivor Study.

PARTICIPANTS

 Nationwide population based cohort of 34 489 five year survivors of childhood cancer with a diagnosis from 1940 to 2006 and followed up until 28 February 2014.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

 Cause specific standardised mortality ratios and absolute excess risks are reported. Multivariable Poisson regression models were utilised to evaluate the simultaneous effect of risk factors. Likelihood ratio tests were used to test for heterogeneity or trend.

RESULTS

 Overall, 4475 deaths were observed, which was 9.1 (95% confidence interval 8.9 to 9.4) times that expected in the general population, corresponding to 64.2 (95% confidence interval 62.1 to 66.3) excess deaths per 10 000 person years. The number of excess deaths from all causes declined among those treated more recently; those treated during 1990-2006 experienced 30% of the excess number of deaths experienced by those treated before 1970. The corresponding percentages for the decline in excess deaths from recurrence or progression and non-neoplastic causes were 30% and 60%, respectively. Among survivors aged 50-59 years, 41% and 22% of excess deaths were attributable to subsequent primary neoplasms and circulatory conditions, respectively, whereas the corresponding percentages among those aged 60 years or more were 31% and 37%.

CONCLUSIONS

 The net effects of changes in cancer treatments, and surveillance and management for late effects, over the period 1940 to 2006 was to reduce the excess number of deaths from both recurrence or progression and non-neoplastic causes among those treated more recently. Among survivors aged 60 years or more, the excess number of deaths from circulatory causes exceeds the excess number of deaths from subsequent primary neoplasms. The important message for the evidence based surveillance aimed at preventing excess mortality and morbidity in survivors aged 60 years or more is that circulatory disease overtakes subsequent primary neoplasms as the leading cause of excess mortality.

The Effects of Physical Activity on Health and Quality of Life in Adolescent Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review

Background

There are numerous published controlled trials assessing the safety and the benefits of physical activity (PA) for child and adult cancer survivors. However, trials exclusively comprised of adolescent cancer survivors aged 13-19 years, who may experience different health and quality of life (QOL) effects as a function of their developmental status, are lacking. Rather, some trials have included both adolescent and child cancer survivors together.

Objective

The aim of this systematic review was to synthesize the findings from randomized controlled trails (RCTs) and controlled clinical trials (CCTs) investigating the effects of PA on health and QOL outcomes in samples comprised of >50% adolescent cancer survivors to summarize the current state of evidence, identify knowledge gaps, and highlight areas in need of additional research within this population.

Methods

Using a search strategy developed for this review, 10 electronic databases were searched for RCTs and CCTs that reported on the effects of PA on at least 1 health and/or QOL outcome in samples comprised of >50% adolescent cancer survivors.

Results

From the 2249 articles identified, 2 CCTs met the predetermined eligibility criteria and were included in this review. Combined, 28 adolescents (of 41 participants) who were receiving active treatment participated in the 2 studies reviewed. A total of 4 health and QOL outcomes (ie, bone mass, fatigue, grip strength, QOL) were assessed pre- and post-PA intervention.

Conclusions

On the basis of the 2 studies reviewed, PA appears to be safe and feasible. PA also shows promise to mitigate reductions in bone mass and might be a viable strategy to improve fatigue, grip strength, and QOL. High-quality controlled trials with larger samples exclusively comprised of adolescent cancer survivors that assess a wide range of outcomes are needed to determine the effects of PA on health and QOL outcomes in this population.

Cause-specific long-term mortality in survivors of childhood cancer in Switzerland: A population-based study

Survivors of childhood cancer have a higher mortality than the general population. We describe cause‐specific long‐term mortality in a population‐based cohort of childhood cancer survivors. We included all children diagnosed with cancer in Switzerland (1976–2007) at age 0–14 years, who survived ≥5 years after diagnosis and followed survivors until December 31, 2012. We obtained causes of death (COD) from the Swiss mortality statistics and used data from the Swiss general population to calculate age‐, calendar year‐, and sex‐standardized mortality ratios (SMR), and absolute excess risks (AER) for different COD, by Poisson regression. We included 3,965 survivors and 49,704 person years at risk. Of these, 246 (6.2%) died, which was 11 times higher than expected (SMR 11.0). Mortality was particularly high for diseases of the respiratory (SMR 14.8) and circulatory system (SMR 12.7), and for second cancers (SMR 11.6). The pattern of cause‐specific mortality differed by primary cancer diagnosis, and changed with time since diagnosis. In the first 10 years after 5‐year survival, 78.9% of excess deaths were caused by recurrence of the original cancer (AER 46.1). Twenty‐five years after diagnosis, only 36.5% (AER 9.1) were caused by recurrence, 21.3% by second cancers (AER 5.3) and 33.3% by circulatory diseases (AER 8.3). Our study confirms an elevated mortality in survivors of childhood cancer for at least 30 years after diagnosis with an increased proportion of deaths caused by late toxicities of the treatment. The results underline the importance of clinical follow‐up continuing years after the end of treatment for childhood cancer.

What's new?

As survivors of childhood cancer age, they are more likely to die prematurely than their peers. The causes of early death, however, are not fully understood, particularly for recently diagnosed children, who may benefit from newer treatment strategies. This study shows that for at least three decades after diagnosis, childhood cancer survivors suffer increased mortality. Disease recurrence initially accounts for the greatest proportion of deaths but is supplanted over time by late treatment‐related toxicities, including second cancers. The findings draw attention to the significance of lifelong follow‐up among survivors of childhood cancer, especially for high‐risk individuals.

A Systematic Review Protocol to Assess the Effects of Physical Activity on Health and Quality of Life Outcomes in Adolescent Cancer Survivors

Background

The benefits of physical activity for child and adult cancer survivors have been summarized in previous systematic reviews. However, no review has summarized the evidence for adolescent cancer survivors.

Objective

This paper describes the design of a protocol to conduct a systematic review of published studies examining the effects of physical activity on health and quality of life outcomes for adolescent cancer survivors.

Methods

Several guidelines informed the development of this protocol. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols guidelines provided the structure by which to conduct and report the protocol; though some adaptations were made with regards to search terms, data synthesis, and evaluating the risk of bias. The Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions was used to guide research question development, search term selection, and the data extraction form. The Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials guidelines helped inform the data extraction form. Lastly, the Guidance on the Conduct of Narrative Synthesis in Systematic Reviews informed the data synthesis. Ten electronic databases were identified and a search strategy was developed using a combination of Medical Subject Headings terms and keywords that were developed by the authors and peer reviewed by a university librarian. Both authors independently screened eligible studies for final inclusion, and data were abstracted using a form developed by the research team. A decision was made to synthesize all data narratively.

Results

The review has now been completed, peer-reviewed, and accepted for publication in a forthcoming issue of JMIR Cancer.

Conclusions

As this will be the first systematic review on this topic, outlining the protocol ensures transparency for the completed review. Further, this protocol illustrates how elements from several guidelines were incorporated to answer the research question (ie, what is the effect of physical activity on health and quality of life outcomes in adolescent cancer survivors). This flexible approach was necessary as a function of the paucity of available research on this topic.

Minimal Residual Disease Evaluation in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: An Economic Analysis

BACKGROUND

Minimal residual disease (MRD) testing by higher performance techniques such as flow cytometry and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be used to detect the proportion of remaining leukemic cells in bone marrow or peripheral blood during and after the first phases of chemotherapy in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The results of MRD testing are used to reclassify these patients and guide changes in treatment according to their future risk of relapse. We conducted a systematic review of the economic literature, cost-effectiveness analysis, and budget-impact analysis to ascertain the cost-effectiveness and economic impact of MRD testing by flow cytometry for management of childhood precursor B-cell ALL in Ontario.

METHODS

A systematic literature search (1998-2014) identified studies that examined the incremental cost-effectiveness of MRD testing by either flow cytometry or PCR. We developed a lifetime state-transition (Markov) microsimulation model to quantify the cost-effectiveness of MRD testing followed by risk-directed therapy to no MRD testing and to estimate its marginal effect on health outcomes and on costs. Model input parameters were based on the literature, expert opinion, and data from the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario Networked Information System. Using predictions from our Markov model, we estimated the 1-year cost burden of MRD testing versus no testing and forecasted its economic impact over 3 and 5 years.

RESULTS

In a base-case cost-effectiveness analysis, compared with no testing, MRD testing by flow cytometry at the end of induction and consolidation was associated with an increased discounted survival of 0.0958 quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and increased discounted costs of $4,180, yielding an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of $43,613/QALY gained. After accounting for parameter uncertainty, incremental cost-effectiveness of MRD testing was associated with an ICER of $50,249/QALY gained. In the budget-impact analysis, the 1-year cost expenditure for MRD testing by flow cytometry in newly diagnosed patients with precursor B-cell ALL was estimated at $340,760. We forecasted that the province would have to pay approximately $1.3 million over 3 years and $2.4 million over 5 years for MRD testing by flow cytometry in this population.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with no testing, MRD testing by flow cytometry in newly diagnosed patients with precursor B-cell ALL represents good value for money at commonly used willingness-to-pay thresholds of $50,000/QALY and $100,000/QALY.

Reduction in Late Mortality among 5-Year Survivors of Childhood Cancer

BACKGROUND

Among patients in whom childhood cancer was diagnosed in the 1970s and 1980s, 18% of those who survived for 5 years died within the subsequent 25 years. In recent decades, cancer treatments have been modified with the goal of reducing life-threatening late effects.

METHODS

We evaluated late mortality among 34,033 patients in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study cohort who survived at least 5 years after childhood cancer (i.e., cancer diagnosed before the age of 21 years) for which treatment was initiated during the period from 1970 through 1999. The median follow-up was 21 years (range, 5 to 38). We evaluated demographic and disease factors that were associated with death from health-related causes (i.e., conditions that exclude recurrence or progression of the original cancer and external causes but include the late effects of cancer therapy) using cumulative incidence and piecewise exponential models to estimate relative rates and 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

Of the 3958 deaths that occurred during the study period, 1618 (41%) were attributable to health-related causes, including 746 deaths from subsequent neoplasms, 241 from cardiac causes, 137 from pulmonary causes, and 494 from other causes. A reduction in 15-year mortality was observed for death from any cause (from 12.4% in the early 1970s to 6.0% in the 1990s, P<0.001 for trend) and from health-related causes (from 3.5% to 2.1%, P<0.001 for trend). These reductions were attributable to decreases in the rates of death from subsequent neoplasm (P<0.001), cardiac causes (P<0.001), and pulmonary causes (P=0.04). Changes in therapy according to decade included reduced rates of cranial radiotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (85% in the 1970s, 51% in the 1980s, and 19% in the 1990s), of abdominal radiotherapy for Wilms' tumor (78%, 53%, and 43%, respectively), of chest radiotherapy for Hodgkin's lymphoma (87%, 79%, and 61%, respectively), and of anthracycline exposure. Reduction in treatment exposure was associated with reduced late mortality among survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and Wilms' tumor.

CONCLUSIONS

The strategy of lowering therapeutic exposure has contributed to an observed decline in late mortality among 5-year survivors of childhood cancer. (Funded by the National Cancer Institute and the American Lebanese-Syrian Associated Charities.).

Cardiac Outcomes in Survivors of Pediatric and Adult Cancers

More than 80% of children and 60% of adults with cancer will become long-term survivors, emphasizing the importance of late effects of cancer therapy. Cardiotoxicity due to chemotherapy and radiation is a frequent cause of serious morbidity and premature mortality in survivors. Anthracyclines, a core component of many treatment regimens, have been implicated as a principal cause of irreversible cardiomyopathy. Approximately 60% of anthracycline-treated children will develop echocardiographic evidence of cardiac dysfunction, and 10% of those treated with high-dose anthracyclines will develop congestive heart failure within the 20 years after therapy. Adults treated with trastuzumab are at risk of a cardiomyopathy that is usually reversible. As many as 12% of adults treated with trastuzumab and 20% of those who have also received an anthracycline will develop cardiotoxicity within 5 years. Risk factors for cardiomyopathy include patient (eg, age, sex, genetic predisposition) and treatment characteristics (eg, cumulative anthracycline dose). Radiotherapy to a field involving the heart increases the risk of cardiomyopathy, coronary artery disease, valvular dysfunction, arrhythmias, and pericardial disease. Surveillance guidelines are available to guide long-term cardiac follow-up of childhood cancer survivors, but not for survivors of adult cancers; however, periodic follow-up to detect cardiac dysfunction may be reasonable. Modifiable cardiac risk factors such as hypertension, smoking, and dyslipidemia interact with cancer therapies to increase the risk of cardiac disease, emphasizing the importance of risk-factor control. Coordination of care between oncologists and cardiologists would optimize care for those individuals at high risk of cardiotoxicity who would benefit from appropriate surveillance and treatment strategies.

Comparative Toxicity by Sex Among Children Treated for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Report From the Children's Oncology Group

BACKGROUND

Epidemiologic studies find sex-based differences in incidence, survival, and long-term outcomes for children with cancer. The purpose of this study was to determine whether male and female patients differ with regard to acute treatment-related toxicities.

PROCEDURES

We reviewed data collected on the Children's cancer group (CCG) high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL-HR) study (CCG-1961), and compared male and female patients' toxicity incidence and related variables in the first four phases of treatment. Similar analyses were performed with standard-risk ALL (ALL-SR) patients enrolled in CCG-1991.

RESULTS

Among ALL-HR patients, females had significantly more hospital days, delays in therapy, grade 3 or 4 toxicities (e.g., gastrointestinal, liver), and supportive care interventions (e.g., transfusions, intravenous antibiotics) than males. Females were significantly more likely to have died of treatment-related causes than males (Hazard ratio = 2.8, 95%CI = 1.5-5.3, P = 0.002). Five months after beginning the treatment, the cumulative incidence of treatment-related deaths was 2.6% for females and 1.2% for males. Similar disparities were found among ALL-SR patients, with females experiencing significantly more hospital days and treatment-related toxicities than males.

CONCLUSIONS

This study complements cancer survivorship studies that also report an increase in treatment-related late effects among females. Risk profiles appear to be different for male and female patients, with females having greater risk of developing both acute and long-term treatment-related toxicities. The underlying biological mechanisms for these sex differences are poorly understood and warrant further study in order to determine how sex-based outcome disparities can be addressed in future clinical trials and practice.

Obesity and Metabolic Disease After Childhood Cancer

As care for the childhood cancer patient has improved significantly, there is an increasing incidence of treatment-related late effects. Obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus are common and significant metabolic conditions in some populations of adult survivors of childhood cancer. Results from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study and other large cohorts of childhood cancer survivors reveal that long-term survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and those who received total body irradiation or abdominal radiotherapy are at highest risk. The potential mechanisms for the observed increase in risk, including alterations in leptin and adiponectin, pancreatic insufficiency, poor dietary habits, sedentary lifestyle, and perhaps changes in the composition of the gut microbiota, are reviewed. Discussion of exercise and diet intervention studies shows that further research about the barriers to a healthy lifestyle and other interventions in childhood cancer survivors is warranted.

Self-reported endocrine late effects in adults treated for brain tumours, Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a registry based study in Northern Germany

OBJECTIVE

Due to the increasing success and survival rates in the primary treatment of malignancies derived from the CNS as well as the hematopoietic system, endocrine late effects of cancer and its therapy are of growing importance. Despite evaluation of these late effects in patients treated for cancer in childhood, the impact on adults remains largely unclear.

METHODS

1035 adult patients primarily diagnosed with a CNS malignancy, a Hodgkin (HL) or non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) between 1998 and 2008 were recruited via the regional epidemiological cancer registry covering ∼ 2.8 million inhabitants in the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein, Northern Germany. The prevalence of endocrine disorders and current psychosocial impairment was assessed employing several questionnaires (SF-36v1, WHO-5).

RESULTS

Fully completed questionnaires of 558 patients were available for subsequent analysis showing markedly reduced overall performance and psychological status when compared to German reference data. Thyroid disorders were reported in 16.3% of patients with 10.4% suffering from hypo- and 5.9% from hyperthyroidism. Overall, 17.6% stated to be affected by diabetes mellitus with an increased rate of 21.1% among NHL patients and 11.5% of participants were affected by osteoporosis.

CONCLUSION

Compared to German population based studies on the prevalence of diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis and thyroid disorders the frequency of all these endocrine problems was significantly increased in CNS, HL, and NHL cancer survivors. These data confirm that not only children and adolescents but also adult cancer patients are at risk for therapy associated endocrine late effects.

Conditional survival in pediatric malignancies: analysis of data from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program

BACKGROUND

Long-term survivors of pediatric cancer are at risk of life-threatening late effects of their cancer. Previous studies have shown excesses in long-term mortality within high-risk groups defined by demographic and treatment characteristics.

METHODS

To investigate conditional survival in a pediatric cancer population, the authors performed an analysis of conditional survival in the original Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) cohort and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database registry. The overall probability of death for patients at 5 years and 10 years after they survived 5, 10, 15, and 20 years since cancer diagnosis and cause-specific death in 10 years for 5-year survivors were estimated using the cumulative incidence method.

RESULTS

Among patients in the CCSS and SEER cohorts who were alive 5 years after their cancer diagnosis, within each diagnosis group at least 92% were alive in the subsequent 5 years, except for patients with leukemia, of whom only 88% of 5-year survivors remained alive in the subsequent 5 years. The probability of all-cause mortality in the next 10 years among patients who survived at least 5 years after diagnosis was 8.8% in CCSS and 10.6% in SEER, approximately 75% of which was due to neoplasms as the cause of death.

CONCLUSIONS

The risk of death among survivors of pediatric cancer in 10 years can vary between diagnosis groups by at most 12%, even up to 20 years after diagnosis. This information is clinically significant when counseling patients regarding their conditional survival, particularly when survivors are seen in long-term follow-up.

Clinical Guidelines for the Care of Childhood Cancer Survivors

The Long-Term Follow-Up Guidelines for survivors of childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancers are evidence- and consensus-based guidelines that have been developed and published by the Children's Oncology Group (COG) Late Effects Committee, Nursing Discipline, and the Patient Advocacy Committee. Originally published in 2004, the guidelines are currently in version 3.0. While the COG guidelines have been praised as a model for providing risk-based survivorship care, adherence has not been uniform. Reasons for this gap include unawareness on the part of the survivor and/or care team as well as disagreement about the individual recommendations. In some cases, the burden of testing (such as annual echocardiography or repeat pulmonary function testing) may be too great. A small number of intervention studies have documented improved adherence to guideline recommendations with dissemination of informational material. Future studies should focus on individualizing screening recommendations, as well as identifying unnecessary testing.

Necrosis, and then stress induced necrosis-like cell death, but not apoptosis, should be the preferred cell death mode for chemotherapy: clearance of a few misconceptions

Cell death overarches carcinogenesis and is a center of cancer researches, especially therapy studies. There have been many nomenclatures on cell death, but only three cell death modes are genuine, i.e. apoptosis, necrosis and stress-induced cell death (SICD). Like apoptosis, SICD is programmed. Like necrosis, SICD is a pathological event and may trigger regeneration and scar formation. Therefore, SICD has subtypes of stress-induced apoptosis-like cell death (SIaLCD) and stress-induced necrosis-like cell death (SInLCD). Whereas apoptosis removes redundant but healthy cells, SICD removes useful but ill or damaged cells. Many studies on cell death involve cancer tissues that resemble parasites in the host patients, which is a complicated system as it involves immune clearance of the alien cancer cells by the host. Cancer resembles an evolutionarily lower-level organism having a weaker apoptosis potential and poorer DNA repair mechanisms. Hence, targeting apoptosis for cancer therapy, i.e. killing via SIaLCD, will be less efficacious and more toxic. On the other hand, necrosis of cancer cells releases cellular debris and components to stimulate immune function, thus counteracting therapy-caused immune suppression and making necrosis better than SIaLCD for chemo drug development.

Cost-effectiveness of the children's oncology group long-term follow-up screening guidelines for childhood cancer survivors at risk for treatment-related heart failure

BACKGROUND

Childhood cancer survivors treated with anthracyclines are at high risk for asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction (ALVD), subsequent heart failure, and death. The consensus-based Children's Oncology Group (COG) Long-Term Follow-up Guidelines recommend lifetime echocardiographic screening for ALVD.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the COG guidelines and to identify more cost-effective screening strategies.

DESIGN

Simulation of life histories using Markov health states.

DATA SOURCES

Childhood Cancer Survivor Study; published literature.

TARGET POPULATION

Childhood cancer survivors.

TIME HORIZON

Lifetime.

PERSPECTIVE

Societal.

INTERVENTION

Echocardiographic screening followed by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and β-blocker therapies after ALVD diagnosis.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), costs, incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) in dollars per QALY, and cumulative incidence of heart failure.

RESULTS OF BASE-CASE ANALYSIS

The COG guidelines versus no screening have an ICER of $61 500, extend life expectancy by 6 months and QALYs by 1.6 months, and reduce the cumulative incidence of heart failure by 18% at 30 years after cancer diagnosis. However, less frequent screenings are more cost-effective than the guidelines and maintain 80% of the health benefits.

RESULTS OF SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS

The ICER was most sensitive to the magnitude of ALVD treatment efficacy; higher treatment efficacy resulted in lower ICER.

LIMITATION

Lifetime non-heart failure mortality and the cumulative incidence of heart failure more than 20 years after diagnosis were extrapolated; the efficacy of ACE inhibitor and β-blocker therapy in childhood cancer survivors with ALVD is undetermined (or unknown).

CONCLUSION

The COG guidelines could reduce the risk for heart failure in survivors at less than $100 000/QALY. Less frequent screening achieves most of the benefits and would be more cost-effective than the COG guidelines.

Comparison of survival between the UK and US after surgery for most common pediatric CNS tumors

BACKGROUND

We report a population-based study examining long-term outcomes for common pediatric CNS tumors comparing results from the UK with the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data set and with the literature. No such international study has previously been reported.

METHODS

Data between 1996 and 2005 from the UK National Registry of Childhood Tumours (NRCT) and the SEER registry were analyzed. We calculated actuarial survival at each time point from histological diagnosis, with death from any cause as the endpoint. Kaplan-Meier estimation and log-rank testing (Cox proportional hazards regression analysis) were used to calculate survival differences among tumor subtypes, adjusting for age at diagnosis.

RESULTS

Population-based outcomes for each tumor type are presented. Overall age-adjusted survival, stratifying for histology (combining pilocytic astrocytoma, anaplastic astrocytoma, glioblastoma, primitive neuroectodermal tumor, medulloblastoma, and ependymoma), is significantly lower for NRCT than SEER (hazard ratio 0.71, P < .001) and at 1, 5, and 10 years. Both NRCT and SEER outcomes are worse than those reported from trials.

CONCLUSION

Analyzing data from comprehensive registries minimizes bias associated with trials and institutional studies. The reasons for the poorer outcomes in children treated in the UK are unclear. Likewise, the differences in outcomes between patients in trials and those not in trials need further investigation. We recommend that all children with CNS tumors be recruited into studies-even if these are observational studies. We also suggest that registries be suitably funded to publish independent outcome data (including morbidity) at both a national and an institutional level.

Noncancer-related mortality risks in adult survivors of pediatric malignancies: the childhood cancer survivor study

PURPOSE

We sought to identify factors, other than cancer-related treatment and presence/severity of chronic health conditions, which may be associated with late mortality risk among adult survivors of pediatric malignancies.

METHODS

Using the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study cohort and a case-control design, 445 participants who died from causes other than cancer recurrence/progression or non-health-related events were compared with 7,162 surviving participants matched for primary diagnosis, age at baseline questionnaire, time from diagnosis to baseline questionnaire, and time at-risk. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for overall/cause-specific mortality. Independent measures included number/severity of chronic conditions, medical care, health-related behaviors, and health perceptions/concerns.

RESULTS

Adjusting for education, income, chemotherapy/radiation exposures, and number/severity of chronic health conditions, an increased risk for all-cause mortality was associated with exercising fewer than 3 days/week (OR = 1.72, CI 1.27-2.34), being underweight (OR = 2.58, CI 1.55-4.28), increased medical care utilization (P < 0.001), and self-reported fair to poor health (P < 0.001). Physical activity was associated with a higher risk of death among males (OR = 3.26, CI 1.90-5.61) reporting no exercise compared to those who exercised ≥3 times per week. Ever consuming alcohol was associated with a reduced risk of all-cause (OR = 0.61, CI 0.41-0.89) and other nonexternal causes of death (OR = 0.40, CI 0.20-0.79). Concerns/worries about future health (OR = 1.54, CI 1.10-2.71) were associated with increased all-cause mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Factors independent of cancer treatment and chronic health conditions modify the risk of death among adult survivors of pediatric cancer.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

Continued cohort observation may inform interventions to reduce mortality.

Survivors of childhood and adolescent cancer: life-long risks and responsibilities

Survival rates for most paediatric cancers have improved at a remarkable pace over the past four decades. In developed countries, cure is now the probable outcome for most children and adolescents who are diagnosed with cancer: their 5-year survival rate approaches 80%. However, the vast majority of these cancer survivors will have at least one chronic health condition by 40 years of age. The burden of responsibility to understand the long-term morbidity and mortality that is associated with currently successful treatments must be borne by many, including the research and health care communities, survivor advocacy groups, and governmental and policy-making entities.

Educational paper: decreasing the burden of cardiovascular disease in childhood cancer survivors: an update for the pediatrician

The cardiovascular impact of cancer therapies on the heart is one of the major concerns in the long-term follow-up of childhood cancer survivors (CCSs). Long-term cardiovascular effects include the development of left ventricular dysfunction resulting in congestive heart failure and ischemic heart disease, as well as valvular and pericardial disease. This is mainly ascribed to the cardiotoxic side effects of chemotherapeutic agents (especially anthracyclines) and radiotherapy, but other factors such as radiation and inflammation play a role in the effect of childhood cancer on the cardiovascular health. The most concerning effect is the high incidence of symptomatic heart failure in CCS patients treated with anthracyclines. More than 50 % of CCSs treated with anthracyclines develop asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction after cancer therapy, with approximately 5 % developing clinical signs of heart failure during long-term follow-up. Once CCS patients develop congestive heart failure, prognosis is poor and is not influenced by current medical treatment strategies. To reduce the long-term burden of cardiovascular disease in pediatric cancer patients, a diversified approach will be necessary. In the acute phase, prevention of cardiac damage through the use of cardioprotective agents (e.g., dexrazoxane) or by administering less cardiotoxic chemotherapeutic agents is to be considered. A recent randomized trial suggested that the use of dexrazoxane reduced cardiac toxicity without affecting cancer outcomes. Especially patients requiring high doses of chemotherapeutic agents could benefit from this approach. Recent data suggest that genetic testing might identify patients at higher risk for cardiotoxicity. This seems mainly related to genes involved in drug metabolism. This would allow personalized approach adjusting chemotherapy based on cardiovascular risk profiling. This could be combined with newer monitoring strategies in the acute phase using newer echocardiographic techniques and biomarker screening to identify patients with early damage to the myocardium. For the long-term CCS cohort, early detection and treatment of early dysfunction prior to the development of congestive heart failure could potentially improve long-term outcomes. Promoting healthy lifestyles and controlling additional cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., obesity, diabetes, arterial hypertension) is an important task for every physician involved in the care of this growing cohort.

Late causes of death in children treated for CNS malignancies

As the outcome for pediatric central nervous system (CNS) malignancies improves, data regarding long term effects and risk of early mortality are needed. Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database, we evaluated the causes of mortality in 5-year survivors of a CNS tumor diagnosed prior to the age of 20 years. Using United States population data, standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated to compare number of deaths observed to the expected number for the cohort. Cumulative incidence of subsequent malignant neoplasms (SMNs) and standardized incidence ratios of observed to expected SMNs were calculated. 3,627 patients were included in the study. 20-year overall survival (OS) was 85.7 % compared to an expected rate of 98.5 % (p < 0.001). Death from the primary brain tumor accounted for 51 % of deaths, while death from a SMN accounted for 10 % of deaths. Patients were at an increased risk of death due to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease (SMRs = 2.5, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.2-4.8 and 7.9, 2.6-19.0, respectively). Cumulative incidence of SMN at 30 years was 6.4 % (95 % CI 4.8-7.7). Patients treated after 1986 enjoyed a small improvement in mortality (20-year OS 86.5 vs 83.8 %, p = 0.005). Five-year survivors of a childhood CNS tumor experienced a nearly 13-fold increased risk of death compared to their peers. Patients were at an increased risk of death due to recurrent disease, SMNs, cerebrovascular and cardiovascular events.

Subsequent mortality experience in five-year survivors of childhood, adolescent and young adult cancer in Scotland: a population based, retrospective cohort study

AIM

To assess the risk of death in patients who survive at least 5 years after diagnosis of childhood, adolescent or young adult cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a population-based retrospective cohort study using linked national cancer registry and mortality records in Scotland. The study population consisted of 5229 individuals who were diagnosed with cancer before the age of 25 years between 1981 and 2003, and who survived at least 5 years after the date of diagnosis of their primary cancer. Indirect standardisation was used to calculate mortality ratios standardised for age and sex and absolute excess risks (AERs) compared to the general Scottish population.

RESULTS

During 58,358 person-years of follow-up, there were 359 deaths among the cohort of cancer survivors. The overall SMR was 6.1 (95% confidence interval (CI) 5.5-6.7) and AER 51 (45-58) per 10,000 person-years. Largely because of age- and sex-related differences in background mortality, SMRs were higher in patients diagnosed at 0-14 years (SMR 11.0, 95% CI 9.3-12.9) than 15-24 years (4.7, 4.1-5.3), and in females (9.2, 7.8-10.8) than males (4.8, 4.2-5.5). SMRs and AERs varied substantially by primary cancer and by underlying cause of death. In general, SMRs were little altered by standardisation for an area-based indicator of socio-economic deprivation. Adjusted for age and sex, the risk of death was significantly lower in five-year survivors diagnosed during 1998-2003 compared to those diagnosed during 1981-1985 (Relative hazard ratio, 0.54, 95% CI 0.36-0.81).

CONCLUSION

Long-term survivors of cancer in childhood and young adulthood remain at higher risk of mortality than the general population, although the absolute risk of death is low and the excess risk has decreased over time.

Survival and cure trends for European children, adolescents and young adults diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia from 1982 to 2002

Proportion cured is a potentially more informative cancer outcome measurement than 5-year survival. We present population-based estimates of cure for young patients diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Europe from 1982 to 2002. Thirty-five European cancer registries provided data. Survival was estimated by age, period of diagnosis and European region, and used as input for parametric cure models, which assume cured patients have the same mortality as the general population. For acute lymphoblastic leukemia diagnosed in 1-14 year olds in 2000-2002, over 77% were estimated cured. The proportion cured improved significantly over the study period: an impressive 26-58% in infants (up to 1 year), 70-90% in 1-4 year olds, 63-86% in 5-9 year olds, 52-77% in 10-14 year olds, and 44-50% in 15-24 year olds. Regional variations in proportion cured reduced over time for 1-14 year-olds, but persisted in infants and 15-24 year olds. Five-year survival was always slightly higher than proportion cured. Considerable proportions of young patients were estimated cured of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Nevertheless, a small excess risk of death persisted beyond five years after diagnosis when patients remained at risk for late treatment effects, late relapses and second primaries.

Racial disparities in Hodgkin's lymphoma: a comprehensive population-based analysis

BACKGROUND

Racial disparity has been investigated in a number of cancers; however, there remains a comparative paucity of data in Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We examined time-, age-, and gender-specific incidence, disease characteristics, and survival across and within races for adolescent/adult HL (age 10-79 years) diagnosed during 1992-2007 in the SEER 13 registries.

RESULTS

A total of 15 662 HL cases were identified [11,211 non-Hispanic whites, 2067 Hispanics, 1662 blacks, and 722 Asian/Pacific Islanders (A/PI)]. Similar to whites, A/PIs had bimodal age-specific incidence, while blacks and Hispanics did not. Further, HL was significantly more common in Hispanics versus whites age>65 years (7.0/1×10(6) versus 4.5/1×10(6), respectively, P<0.01). By place of birth, US-born Hispanics and A/PIs age 20-39 years had higher incidence of HL versus their foreign-born counterparts (P<0.05), however, rates converged age>40 years. Interestingly, from 1992-1997 to 2003-2007, A/PI incidence rates increased >50% (P<0.001). Moreover, this increase was restricted to US-born A/PI. We also identified a number of disease-related differences based on race. Finally, 5-, 10-, and 15-year overall survival rates were inferior for blacks and Hispanics compared with whites (P<0.005 and P<0.001, respectively) and A/PI (P<0.018 and P<0.001, respectively). These differences persisted on multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, we identified multiple racial disparities, including survival, in adolescent/adult HL.

Long-term results in childhood rhabdomyosarcoma: a report from the Italian Cooperative Study RMS 79

BACKGROUND

The results obtained by protocols for children with rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) have improved in recent decades. Survival curves usually reach a plateau 3 years after the diagnosis, suggesting that long-term survival can be expected, but late events are known to occur. We analyzed the long-term results of the RMS 79 protocol to investigate the type and impact of such events.

PROCEDURE

From 1979 to 1987, 163 children with RMS diagnosed at 21 Italian institutions were registered. Each institution was contacted every year to record patients' status after the end of treatment. When patients were lost to follow-up, their status was checked by inquiring at the Registry Offices of the towns of residence and the cause of death or occurrence of second cancers was investigated by contacting the patients or their family by phone.

RESULTS

Overall, 16 patients had late events, that is, 7 tumor recurrences, 6 second tumors, and 3 deaths due to treatment-related complications. The overall survival rates dropped from 62.6 at 3 years to 52.8 at 20 years. By multivariate analysis, the characteristics influencing long-term survival were histology, tumor site and size, and IRS group. Factors predictive of any kind of late event were tumor site and IRS group.

CONCLUSIONS

Major late events can significantly affect the long-term survival of children with RMS. Modern protocols should provide for a much longer follow-up than is usually considered to confirm the results achieved and enable possible correlations between primary treatment and late events to be investigated.

Late and very late mortality in 5-year survivors of childhood cancer: changing pattern over four decades--experience from the Nordic countries

Long-term survivors of childhood cancer suffer from a higher mortality than the general population. Here we evaluate late and very late mortality, and patterns of causes of death, in 5-year survivors after childhood and adolescent cancer in cases diagnosed during four decades in the five Nordic countries. The study is population-based and uses data of the nationwide cancer registries and the cause of death registers. There were in all 37,515 incident cases, diagnosed with cancer before the age of 20 years, between 1960 and 1999. The 5-year survivor cohort used in the mortality analyses consisted of 21,984 patients who were followed up for vital status until December 31, 2005 (Norway, Sweden) or 2006 (Denmark, Finland, Iceland). At the latest follow-up, 2,324 patients were dead. The overall standardized mortality ratio was 8.3 and the absolute excess risk was 6.2 per 1,000 person-years. The pattern of causes of death varied markedly between different groups of primary cancer diagnosis, and was highly dependent on time passed since diagnosis. With shorter follow-up the mortality was mainly due to primary cancer, while with longer follow-up, mortality due to second cancer and noncancer causes became more prominent. Mortality between 5 and 10 years after diagnosis continued to decrease in patients treated during the most recent period of time, 1990-1999, compared to previous periods, while mortality after 10 years changed very little with time period. We conclude that improvement of definite survival demands not only reducing early but also late and very late mortality.