CONSERVATIVE MANAGEMENT OF CHYLOUS ASCITES AFTER ONCOLOGICAL SURGERY FOR PERIPHERAL NEUROBLASTIC TUMORS IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS

Chylous ascites may complicate the postoperative course of abdominal surgery mainly due to the iatrogenic disruption of the lymphatic channels during extensive retroperitoneal dissection. Sparse data are available regarding treatment; however, in many cases a recommended first-line treatment approach is by way of enteral feeding, consisting of a formula high in medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) together with a complete total parenteral nutrition teamed with somatostatin (or an equivalent). Nonetheless, the ligation of chylous fistulae, together with the application of Fibrin glue, as well as the creation of peritoneal-venous shunts have also been documented. The aims of this study are to document incidence of postoperative chylous ascites following resection of abdominal peripheral neuroblastic tumors, evaluate efficacy of the management of chylous ascites, and investigate the main risk factors. A survey was carried out over a span of six years, from March 2010 to March 2016 at Giannina Gaslini Children's Hospital involving seventy-seven children with resections of peripheral neuroblastic tumors. Incidence rate of postoperative chylous ascites following a normal diet was 9% (n=7). Treatment using total parenteral nutrition with octreotide resulted in a complete recovery from chylous ascites within a 20 day period without recurrence. Length of operative time, nephrectomy, and the extension of lymphadenectomy were all significantly associated with a higher incidence of postoperative chylous ascites (p<0.05) which also lengthened hospital stay (p<0.05) and possibly delayed beginning adjuvant chemotherapy.

Conservative management of chylous ascites after oncological surgery for peripheral neuroblastic tumors in pediatric patients

Chylous ascites may complicate the postoperative course of abdominal surgery mainly due to the iatrogenic disruption of the lymphatic channels during extensive retroperitoneal dissection. Sparse data are available regarding treatment; however, in many cases a recommended first-line treatment approach is by way of enteral feeding, consisting of a formula high in medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) together with a complete total parenteral nutrition teamed with somatostatin (or an equivalent). Nonetheless, the ligation of chylous fistulae, together with the application of Fibrin glue, as well as the creation of peritoneal-venous shunts have also been documented. The aims of this study are to document incidence of postoperative chylous ascites following resection of abdominal peripheral neuroblastic tumors, evaluate efficacy of the management of chylous ascites, and investigate the main risk factors. A survey was carried out over a span of six years, from March 2010 to March 2016 at Giannina Gaslini Children's Hospital involving seventy-seven children with resections of peripheral neuroblastic tumors. Incidence rate of postoperative chylous ascites following a normal diet was 9% (n=7). Treatment using total parenteral nutrition with octreotide resulted in a complete recovery from chylous ascites within a 20 day period without recurrence. Length of operative time, nephrectomy, and the extension of lymphadenectomy were all significantly associated with a higher incidence of postoperative chylous ascites (p<0.05) which also lengthened hospital stay (p<0.05) and possibly delayed beginning adjuvant chemotherapy.

Massively Diffuse Multifocal Granulocytic Sarcoma in a Child with Acute Myeloid Leukemia

A case of granulocytic sarcoma in an 8-year-old boy with acute myeloid leukemia and t (8; 21) is reported. The case is of interest due to massive extension of the tumor, which may raise different diagnostic difficulties with other solid tumors such as lymphoma, Ewing sarcoma, and soft tissue sarcoma. Furthermore, the tumor was localized in some sites, such as the parotid region and peripheral nerves, which are not usually involved in granulocytic sarcoma. The case points out the diagnostic difficulties with this kind of tumor and appears to contribute to the identification of a subgroup of acute myeloid leukemia with peculiar features, such as M2 morphology with Auer rods, t (8; 21), granulocytic sarcoma and a poor prognosis.

Influence of segmental chromosome abnormalities on survival in children over the age of 12 months with unresectable localised peripheral neuroblastic tumours without MYCN amplification

Background:

The prognostic impact of segmental chromosome alterations (SCAs) in children older than 1 year, diagnosed with localised unresectable neuroblastoma (NB) without MYCN amplification enrolled in the European Unresectable Neuroblastoma (EUNB) protocol is still to be clarified, while, for other group of patients, the presence of SCAs is associated with poor prognosis.

Methods:

To understand the role of SCAs we performed multilocus/pangenomic analysis of 98 tumour samples from patients enrolled in the EUNB protocol.

Results:

Age at diagnosis was categorised into two groups using 18 months as the age cutoff. Significant difference in the presence of SCAs was seen in tumours of patients between 12 and 18 months and over 18 months of age at diagnosis, respectively (P=0.04). A significant correlation (P=0.03) was observed between number of SCAs per tumour and age. Event-free (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated in both age groups, according to both the presence and number of SCAs. In older patients, a poorer survival was associated with the presence of SCAs (EFS=46% vs 75%, P=0.023; OS=66.8% vs 100%, P=0.003). Moreover, OS of older patients inversely correlated with number of SCAs (P=0.002). Finally, SCAs provided additional prognostic information beyond histoprognosis, as their presence was associated with poorer OS in patients over 18 months with unfavourable International Neuroblastoma Pathology Classification (INPC) histopathology (P=0.018).

Conclusions:

The presence of SCAs is a negative prognostic marker that impairs outcome of patients over the age of 18 months with localised unresectable NB without MYCN amplification, especially when more than one SCA is present. Moreover, in older patients with unfavourable INPC tumour histoprognosis, the presence of SCAs significantly affects OS.

PET/CT imaging in neuroblastoma

123Iodine-metaiodobenzylguanidine (123I-MIBG) scintigraphy is currently the tracer of choice for neuroblastoma (NB). It has high diagnostic accuracy and prognostic value for the assessment of patients after chemotherapy. A positive 123I-MIBG scan is also used for the basis of targeted radionuclide therapy with 131I-MIBG. I-123 MIBG scan however has some limitations which should be taken into account. Moreover the reasons for false negative MIBG results have not been entirely elucidated. Meticulous correlation with radiological examinations and recognition of the normal distribution pattern of 123I-MIBG in children is vital to obtain optimal results. With its technical superiorities, positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) can be successfully introduced into the diagnostic workup of NB. Different PET tracers have been offered for imaging in patients with NB, and the efficacy of this modality has been compared with that of 123I-MIBG scan. Our review aims to analyze the present role of PET/CT imaging and radiopharmaceuticals in NB.

Role of low-cost thyroid follow-up in children treated with radiotherapy for primary tumors at high risk of developing a second thyroid tumor

AIM

Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is uncommon in childhood and data on its prevalence as a second malignant neoplasm (SNM) after radiotherapy (RT) for malignancies are limited. We evaluated: 1) the incidence DTC in pediatric-oncologic patients treated with RT; 2) the relationship between DTC, RT and the features of the first malignancy; 3) the usefulness of thyroid follow-up in irradiated oncological patients.

METHODS

We have followed up 252 patients treated with RT out of 966 oncologic pediatric patients. Thyroid follow-up included TSH level evaluation and neck ultrasonography. In the presence of thyroid nodule/s ≥1 cm and/or with ultrasonography suspicious for malignancy, fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) was performed. When papillary/follicular lesions were detected by cytology, thyroidectomy was performed. If DTC was confirmed, patients underwent radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment.

RESULTS

At least one thyroid nodule was detected in 106 irradiated patients (42%): 45 patients underwent FNAB and 27 underwent thyroidectomy. Seventeen DTC (6.7%) were found on histology. A higher incidence of DTC was seen in patients with neuroblastoma (38%) or Wilms' tumor (18%). One third of DTC showed capsule invasion, and one fourth node involvement. Eleven patients, treated with a single RAI treatment, showed undetectable thyroglobulin levels after rh-TSH-stimulation. Five patients underwent at least two RAI treatments: four patients showed complete remission and one patient partial remission.

CONCLUSION

A high rate of DTC, often with invasive features, was observed in children treated with RT for primary tumors. This finding underlines the usefulness of thorough low-cost thyroid follow-up in this high-risk population.

Intraoperative bronchoscopy for bronchial carcinoid parenchymal-sparing resection: a pediatric case report

Bronchial carcinoid tumors are the most common primary pulmonary neoplasm in the pediatric population. The widely accepted treatment for carcinoid tumors is surgical, specifically aiming at being as much as conservative on lung parenchyma, while the entire tumor is resected. A brief case is described, highlighting the importance and advantages of a surgical and endoscopic combined approach.

Detection of GD2-positive cells in bone marrow samples and survival of patients with localised neuroblastoma

The impact of bone marrow (BM) GD2-positive cells on survival has been evaluated in 145 Italian children with localised neuroblastoma (NB) evaluated at diagnosis by anti-GD2 immunocytochemistry. Nineteen of these (13.1%) were found to be BM GD2-positive, with the number of positive cells ranging between 1 and 155 out of 1 × 10⁶ total cells analysed. Seven/19 (38.8%) GD2-positive vs 12/126 (9.5%) GD2-negative patients relapsed. The 5-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival of the GD2-positive patients was significantly worse than that of the GD2-negative ones (62.2 vs 89.9%, P<0.001; and 74.9 vs 95.9%, P=0.005, respectively). GD2 positivity was not associated to other known risk factors, and in particular to Myc-N amplification and 1p deletion. Among Myc-N-negative patients, the EFS of those negative for both GD2 and 1p deletion was significantly better than in children positive for either one of these two markers (EFS=96.9 vs 66.0%, P<0.001). In conclusion, GD2 positivity may represent a prognostic marker for patients with non-metastatic NB without Myc-N amplification, and its combination with genetic alterations might help identifying patients that require a more careful follow-up.

European intergroup studies (MMT4-89 and MMT4-91) on childhood metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma: final results and analysis of prognostic factors

PURPOSE

Final results are presented from two consecutive European studies for patients with metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) to identify prognostic variables and determine the value of high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) in complete remission.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 174 patients aged 3 months to 18 years participated. From 1989 to 1991, patients received four cycles of intensive multiagent chemotherapy. From 1991 to 1995, patients achieving complete remission received consolidation with HDCT. All received local therapy (surgery, radiation therapy) according to response.

RESULTS

At a median follow-up of 8 years, 5-year overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) for the whole group were 24% and 20%, respectively. No statistical difference was found between HDCT and standard chemotherapy (5-year OS, 36% v 27%; EFS 29% v 23%). Univariate analysis identified primary tumor in parameningeal, extremity, or other sites; age younger than 1 year and older than 10 years; bone or bone marrow metastases; multiple metastases; and multiple sites of metastases as unfavorable prognostic factors for OS and EFS. Multivariate analysis identified unfavorable site, bone or bone marrow involvement, and unfavorable age as independently unfavorable factors. Two subgroups were identified. Those with fewer than two unfavorable factors had 5-year EFS and OS of 40% and 47%, respectively. Patients with > or = two unfavorable factors had 5-year EFS and OS of 7.5% and 9%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

A minority of patients with metastatic RMS have better survival than overall results for this population suggest. Those in the highest risk group have such poor survival that they are candidates for first-line novel therapies. There is no evidence that consolidation with HDCT improves outcome.

Home care for children following haematopoietic stem cell transplantation

The quality of life of patients who undergo haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is affected by long periods of hospitalisation for the treatment of several complications. On this basis, 28 children who underwent 29 HSCTs were included in the Home Care (HC) programme of the Paediatric Haematology and Oncology Department of the Gaslini Children's Hospital to be discharged earlier. A total of 17 children were assisted for haematologic follow-up and support therapy administration. The remaining children were followed up for graft- versus-host disease and/or cytomegalovirus infection. Overall activity consisted of 1232 i.v. therapies, 501 blood tests, 58 red blood cell or platelet transfusions, 107 procedures on Central Venous Catheter. Median duration of the assistance per child was 25 days (range 1235) for a total of 1598 days. A total of 822 accesses at home replaced 459 and 363 out-patient and in-patient days of hospitalisation. The average cost per patient receiving HC (EUR 4,252) was significantly lower (P<0.01) when compared to the average cost per patient admitted to the hospital to undergo the same procedures (EUR 14,693). This report shows that HC is feasible for children following HSCT, that it reduces the discomfort of the patients and their families, and that it reduces costs.

Localized unresectable neuroblastoma: results of treatment based on clinical prognostic factors

BACKGROUND

We previously reported that stage 3 neuroblastoma comprises (i) a low-risk group including all infants (age 0-11 months) as well as older children with non-abdominal primaries, and (ii) a high-risk group made up of children >1 year of age with abdominal primaries. Aggressive chemotherapy was effective only in the latter group.

PATIENTS AND TREATMENT

On this basis, in 1990 we designed a new protocol by which all low-risk patients received standard-dose chemotherapy, while the high-risk ones received very aggressive chemotherapy.

RESULTS

Between November 1990 and December 1997 a total of 95 eligible and evaluable children were enrolled: 47 were low-risk (35 infants and 12>1 year of age at diagnosis and having non-abdominal primaries), and 48 were high-risk (being >1 year of age and having abdominal primaries). Of the 47 low-risk patients, five relapsed and four subsequently died. The 5-year overall survival (OS) was 91%. Of the 48 patients in the high-risk group, 22 relapsed or progressed, 18 of whom died from their disease and two from toxicity, and one was lost to follow-up. The 5-year OS was 60%. Univariate analysis showed that age, site of primary, risk-group, urine vanillylmandelic excretion, plasma levels of lactate dehydrogenase, ferritin and neurone-specific enolase, and MYCN status correlated with outcome. However, multivariate analysis showed that only MYCN status retained prognostic value.

CONCLUSIONS

In low-risk stage 3 neuroblastoma, standard-dose chemotherapy is associated with an excellent chance of being cured. Aggressive chemotherapy is effective for high-risk patients, but results are still unsatisfactory. MYCN gene amplification is a prognostic indicator for most, but not all, treatment failures.

Bacillus sphaericus bacteraemia in children with cancer: case reports and literature review

In the period 1989-1999, Bacillus sphaericus was demonstrated to cause 12 out of 469 (2%) episodes of bacteraemia in children with cancer or receiving bone marrow transplant at G. Gaslini Children's Hospital, Genoa, Italy. Neutropenia was present in five episodes, six episodes, (all without neutropenia) were related to the presence of a central venous catheter, and one episode occurred in a patient with intestinal graft vs. host disease and gut colonization. All patients survived. Ciprofloxacin was the only drug active against all the isolated strains.Bacillus sphaericus represents a new cause of infection in the immunocompromised host, with low aggressiveness, but a peculiar pattern of antibiotic susceptibility.

Megatherapy combining I(131) metaiodobenzylguanidine and high-dose chemotherapy with haematopoietic progenitor cell rescue for neuroblastoma

Despite the use of aggressive chemotherapy, stage 4 high risk neuroblastoma still has very poor prognosis which is estimated at 25%. Metabolic radiotherapy with I(131) MIBG appears a feasible option to enhance the effects of chemotherapy. Seventeen patients having MIBG-positive residual disease received 4.1-11.1 mCi/kg of I(131) MIBG 7-10 days before initiating the high-dose chemotherapy cycle consisting of busulphan 16 mg/kg and melphalan 140 mg/m(2) followed by PBSC infusion. We compared the toxicity in these patients to that seen in 15 control subjects with neuroblastoma who underwent a PBSC transplant without MIBG therapy. We observed greater toxic involvement of the gastrointestinal system in children treated with I(131) MIBG: grade 2 or 3 mucositis developed in 13/17 patients treated with I(131) MIBG and in 9/15 treated without it. Grade 1-2 gastrointestinal toxicity occurred in 12/17 children given MIBG and in 5/15 of the controls. One child receiving I(131) MIBG developed transient interstitial pneumonia. Another child who also received I(131) MIBG after PBSC rescue developed fatal pneumonia after the third course of metabolic radiotherapy. Our experience indicates that MIBG can be included in the high-dose chemotherapy regimens followed by PBSC rescue for children with residual neuroblastoma taking up MIBG. Attention should be paid to avoiding lung complications. Prospective studies are needed to demonstrate the real efficacy of this treatment.

[A case of acute lymphoblastic leukemia with an unusual presentation and slow development]

The authors describe the case of a 3-year-old girl with acute lymphoblastic leukemia which was diagnosed several months after the appearance of the first symptoms. The delay can be attributed to the vague symptoms at onset in the form of a single laterocervical adenopathy which responded to antibiotic and antiphlogistic therapy, the total absence of any indicative hematological symptoms and the patient s persistent excellent general conditions. In the light of this unusual case, the authors stress the need to carry out invasive diagnostic tests on lymph node lesions that are often defined as aspecific given that they may occasionally disguise more severe lymphoproliferative diseases.

Exclusion of candidate genes and chromosomal regions in familial neuroblastoma

Two families with recurrence of neuroblastoma one Italian and one British with three and two affected children respectively were genotyped using polymorphic markers on chromosome 1 spanning the p32-p36 region frequently deleted in neuroblastoma tumor cells. Linkage to this region was excluded by haplotype inspection and negative lod scores. Furthermore, the exclusion of genes involved in neurocristopathies sometimes associated with neuroblastoma was carried out by typing the Italian family with polymorphic markers located in or near the corresponding genes. Finally, linkage analysis in the two families showed negative lod scores for markers spanning the 16p12-13 chromosomal region where a locus for familial neuroblastoma has been recently mapped. Our findings indicate that different genes are involved in the pathogenesis of familial neuroblastoma.

Neuroblastoma with symptomatic spinal cord compression at diagnosis: treatment and results with 76 cases

PURPOSE

To report on the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed neuroblastoma presenting with spinal cord compression (SCC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Of 1,462 children with neuroblastoma registered between 1979 and 1998, 76 (5.2%) presented with signs/symptoms of SCC, including motor deficit in 75 patients (mild in 43, moderate in 22, severe [ie, paraplegia] in 10), pain in 47, sphincteric deficit in 30, and sensory loss in 11. Treatment of SCC consisted of radiotherapy in 11 patients, laminectomy in 32, and chemotherapy in 33. Laminectomy was more frequently performed in cases with favorable disease stages and in those with severe motor deficit, whereas chemotherapy was preferred in patients with advanced disease.

RESULTS

Thirty-three patients achieved full neurologic recovery, 14 improved, 22 remained stable, and eight worsened, including three who become paraplegic. None of the 10 patients with grade 3 motor deficit, eight of whom were treated by laminectomy, recovered or improved. In the other 66 patients, the neurologic response to treatment was comparable for the three therapeutic modalities. All 11 patients treated by radiotherapy and 26 of 32 patients treated by laminectomy, but only two of 33 treated by chemotherapy, received additional therapy for SCC. Fifty-four of 76 patients are alive at time of the analysis, with follow-up of 4 to 209 months (median, 139 months). Twenty-six (44%) of 54 survivors have late sequelae, mainly scoliosis and sphincteric deficit.

CONCLUSION

Radiotherapy, laminectomy, and chemotherapy showed comparable ability to relieve or improve SCC. However, patients treated with chemotherapy usually did not require additional therapy, whereas patients treated either with radiotherapy or laminectomy commonly did. No patient presenting with (or developing) severe motor deficit recovered or improved. Sequelae were documented in 44% of surviving patients.

In vivo cytoreduction studies and cell sorting--enhanced tumor-cell detection in high-risk neuroblastoma patients: implications for leukapheresis strategies

PURPOSE

To improve autologous leukapheresis strategies in high-risk neuroblastoma (NB) patients with extensive bone marrow involvement at diagnosis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Anti-G(D2) immunocytochemistry (sensitivity, 1 in 10(5) to 10(6) leukocytes) was used to evaluate blood and bone marrow disease at diagnosis and during the recovery phase of the first six chemotherapy cycles in 57 patients with stage 4 NB and bone marrow disease at diagnosis. A total of 42 leukapheresis samples from the same patients were evaluated with immunocytology, and in 24 of these patients, an anti-G(D2) immunomagnetic enrichment step was used to enhance tumor-cell detection.

RESULTS

Tumor cytoreduction was much faster in blood compared with bone marrow (3.2 logs after the first cycle and 2.1 logs after the first two cycles, respectively). Bone marrow disease was often detectable throughout induction, with a trend to plateau after the fourth cycle. By direct anti-G(D2) immunocytology, a positive leukapheresis sample was obtained in 7% of patients after either the fifth or sixth cycle; when NB cell immunomagnetic enrichment was applied, 25% of patients had a positive leukapheresis sample (sensitivity, 1 in 10(7) to 10(8) leukocytes).

CONCLUSION

Standard chemotherapy seems to deliver most of its in vivo purging effect within the first four cycles. In patients with overt marrow disease at diagnosis, postponing hematopoietic stem-cell collection beyond this point may not be justified. Tumor-cell clearance in blood seems to be quite rapid, and earlier collections via peripheral-blood leukapheresis might be feasible. Immunomagnetically enhanced NB cell detection can be highly sensitive and can indicate whether ex vivo purging should be considered.

Long-term follow-up of two children with a variant of mild autosomal recessive osteopetrosis undergoing bone marrow transplantation

Malignant autosomal recessive (AR) osteopetrosis represents an absolute indication for bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Over the last 15 years, almost 100 BMTs for osteopetrosis have been reported. The median age at transplant of most patients is 4 months. Very few cases of mild AR osteopetrosis have been described. Here, we report the good outcome of two cases of mild AR osteopetrosis with a follow-up of 5 and 6 years, respectively, after an HLA-identical sibling transplant undergone at 5 and 12 years of age, respectively. At the time of BMT, severe visual impairment was present in both children. Bone biopsy demonstrated hypermineralization with virtual obliteration of the medullary spaces, rare microfoci of hematopoiesis and marked deficiency in osteoclastic activity. Successful engraftment was complicated by hypercalcemia, controlled by a combination of bisphosphonate, phosphate infusions, vigorous hydration and calcitonin. Following BMT, radiological and histological findings showed extensive bone resorption with marked augmentation of the osteoclasts in normalized marrow. No improvement was observed in visual acuity, despite complete remodeling of skeletal abnormalities. We conclude that allogeneic BMT is the only chance of curing mild AR osteopetrosis.

131I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (131I-MIBG) therapy for residual neuroblastoma: a mono-institutional experience with 43 patients

Incomplete response to therapy may compromise the outcome of children with advanced neuroblastoma. In an attempt to improve tumour response we incorporated 131I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (131I-MIBG) in the treatment regimens of selected stage 3 and stage 4 patients. Between 1986 and 1997, 43 neuroblastoma patients older than 1 year at diagnosis, 13 with stage 3 (group A) and 30 with stage 4 disease (group B) who had completed the first-line protocol without achieving complete response entered in this study. 131I-MIBG dose/course ranged from 2.5 to 5.5 Gbq (median, 3.7). The number of courses ranged from 1 to 5 (median 3) depending on the tumour response and toxicity. The most common acute side-effect was thrombocytopenia. Later side-effects included severe interstitial pneumonia in one patient, acute myeloid leukaemia in two, reduced thyroid reserve in 21. Complete response was documented in one stage 4 patient, partial response in 12 (two stage 3, 10 stage 4), mixed or no response in 25 (ten stage 3, 15 stage 4) and disease progression in five (one stage 3, four stage 4) Twenty-four patients (12/13 stage 3, 12/30 stage 4) are alive at 22-153 months (median, 59) from diagnosis. 131I-MIBG therapy may increase the cure rate of stage 3 and improve the response of stage 4 neuroblastoma patients with residual disease after first-line therapy. A larger number of patients should be treated to confirm these results but logistic problems hamper prospective and coordinated studies. Long-term toxicity can be severe.

Phase I study of high-dose thiotepa with busulfan, etoposide, and autologous stem cell support in children with disseminated solid tumors

BACKGROUND

The aim of this phase I study was to define the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of thiotepa (TT), administered with busulfan (BU) 480 mg/m(2) and etoposide 2,400 mg/m(2), followed by autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (APBSCT) support in children with solid tumors either disseminated at diagnosis or after relapse.

PROCEDURE

Nineteen patients, between 2 and 16 years of age, received a high-dose chemotherapy regimen including escalating doses of TT starting from 150 mg/m(2). Subsequent dose escalation was determined by a modified Fibonacci scheme. Whenever one patient at one dosage level showed a grade III or grade IV reversible toxicity, additional patients were admitted (one by one) up to a maximum number of 6. Upon observing grade III or IV reversible toxicity in two or more systems, in 3 of the 6 patients, no further escalation was performed, and the corresponding dosage was taken as the MTD. WHO criteria were adopted to assess grade of toxicity.

RESULTS

All patients had hematological recovery; and neutrophils and platelet engraftment were observed after median times of 12 and 29 days from stem cell infusion, respectively. The MTD of TT was determined to be 750 mg/ m(2). At this level, 3 of 6 patients experienced grade III mucositis and/or grade III gastrointestinal toxicity. No patient died of treatment-related toxicity.

CONCLUSIONS

A dose of 750 mg/m(2) TT is the MTD when it is associated with BU 480 mg/m(2) and etoposide 2, 400 mg/m(2). This ablative regimen represents a feasible and tolerable combination for high-dose chemotherapy followed by hematopoietic stem cell rescue (HSCR). Phase II studies in children with poor-prognosis solid tumors are required to evaluate the effectiveness of this treatment.

Italian guidelines for the management of infectious complications in pediatric oncology: empirical antimicrobial therapy of febrile neutropenia

The Italian Association for Paediatric Haematology and Oncology prepared a guideline document aimed at unifying and rationalising as much as possible the management of febrile neutropenia in children with cancer, because of the potential impact of these procedures on hospital costs and on the development of antibiotic resistance. Before starting anti-infective therapy, at least 2 blood cultures, a throat swab, urine-culture, and cultures from any suspected infected site, should be performed. Routine chest X-rays at onset of febrile neutropenia are probably not necessary, in absence of respiratory signs. At the present time, the safer option probably remains the combination of a beta-lactam and an aminoglycoside, and treating febrile neutropenia outside of hospital should be considered an investigational approach. The choice of the most appropriated regimen for each institution should be based also on the local bacteriological statistics and patterns of bacterial resistance. Antibiotic toxicity and cost should be other important factors. Every subsequent addition or substitution of antibiotics should be based on objective signs of clinical deterioration. The only accepted empirical modification is empirical antifungal therapy, while the empirical addition of a glycopeptide antibiotic cannot be recommended.

High-sensitivity immunocytologic analysis of neuroblastoma cells in paired blood and marrow samples

High-sensitivity immunocytochemistry was used to evaluate the relative frequency of neuroblastoma cells in bone marrow and peripheral blood in patients with neuroblastoma (NB). A total of 51 concomitant paired blood and marrow samples (102 total) from 35 patients with NB (age 4 months-31 years; stage 29 stage IV, 4 stage III, 2 stage IVS; 14 at diagnosis, 18 in relapse, 12 during treatment, and 7 off-therapy) were analyzed. Cytospins containing up to 10(6) cells each were prepared using the mononuclear cell (MNC) fraction. For immunocytologic staining, a primary mouse monoclonal anti-GD2 antibody (3F8), a secondary antimouse biotinylated antibody, and a streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase complex were used. A minimum of two cytospins containing a mean of 1.4 x 10(6) total MNCs was analyzed in addition to a negative and a positive control. No circulating tumor cells were detected when the concomitant marrow samples were negative or had <10 positive cells per 106 MNC (23 of 51 samples). Of the 18 marrow samples positive at 10-10,000 cells per 106 MNC, 6 had detectable NB cells in the corresponding blood sample, whereas for marrow samples with >10,000 NB cells per 10(6) MNC (1%), the concomitant blood sample was positive for 9 of the 10. When both marrow and blood samples were positive (15 BM-PB pairs), NB cell frequency was significantly lower in blood, with a mean difference of 2.14 logs (median 2.22, range -0.16-4.8, standard error 0.38). In patients with NB, circulating tumor cell frequencies seem to be substantially lower than in concomitant marrow samples, with a mean difference of >2 logs.

[The morphological assessment of bone marrow infiltration in neuroblastoma]

Bone marrow biopsy is very important in diagnosis and follow-up of children affected by neuroblastoma (NB). Between June 1995 and May 1997 we studied 55 patients with NB stage 4. Specimens were obtained at the diagnosis (in 8 patients) and after chemotherapy (in 55 patients) in order to evaluate the effects of treatment on bone marrow disease. 88% of 343 biopsies were representative versus 99% of 639 aspirates. Of 8 stage 4 patients evaluated at diagnosis, 15/16 biopsies versus 9/15 aspirates were positive. Following chemotherapy, out of 298 evaluable sites examined, 111 biopsies versus 30 aspirates (37 versus 10%) were positive. Of 111 positive biopsies 53 showed a focal pattern (35 differentiated, 18 undifferentiated), while 51 showed a diffuse pattern (18 differentiated, 40 undifferentiated). Our results confirm previous literature data indicating a better efficacy of histology versus morphology in detecting residual bone marrow disease (especially in case of focal differentiated pattern). The recent introduction of a specific monoclonal antibody, called anti-GD2, has improved our capacity to detect minimal residual disease in patients' bone marrow. The inclusion of anti-GD2 immunohistochemistry in our evaluation will possibly increase our overall sensitivity to detect minimal residual disease and may provide information capable to direct the physician's decision into a more rational patient's treatment.

[The identification of minimal residual disease in the bone marrow and peripheral blood in neuroblastoma. The prognostic and therapeutic implications]

A highly sensitive and specific methodology to detect neuroblastoma cells in the bone marrow and peripheral blood of children with neuroblastoma is of critical importance for proper staging and treatment of these patients. In addition, patients with bone marrow infiltration at diagnosis need to undergo regular investigation to measure the effectiveness of chemotherapy (so called "in vivo" purging). Finally, the evaluation of autologous stem cells taken from bone marrow or peripheral blood is necessary to rule out or minimise the possibility of reinfusing tumor cells to the patient following myeloablative therapy. The authors provide a "state of the art" data on this complicated issue and give their preliminary results of their own experience, mainly concerning the immunocytological methods.

Multivariate analysis of risk factors in stage 4 neuroblastoma patients over the age of one year treated with megatherapy and stem-cell transplantation: a report from the European Bone Marrow Transplantation Solid Tumor Registry

PURPOSE

The European Bone Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) Solid Tumor Registry (STR) contains detailed information on children with advanced neuroblastoma who, after standard-dose induction chemotherapy and surgery, received myeloablative megatherapy (MGT) followed by stem-cell transplantation (SCT). This data base was analyzed to identify factors that predict event-free survival (EFS).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Eligibility criteria were stage IV neuroblastoma, age over 1 year at diagnosis, and no relapse before MGT/SCT. Between February 1978 and July 1992, 549 patients were registered by 36 European transplant centers. The median age at diagnosis was 36 months (range, 13 to 216 months) and the male-female ratio was 1:45. Before MGT, 157 patients were in complete remission (CR), 156 in very good partial remission (VGPR), and 208 in partial remission (PR), whereas 24 had had only a minor response (MR). One hundred ten of 546 patients had undergone two successive MGT procedures. The median observation time was 60 months (range, 12 to 187 months).

RESULTS

Actuarial EFS is 26% at 5 years. Multivariate analysis by the Cox proportional hazards regression model included 529 patients with complete data sets. After adjustment for treatment duration before MGT and double MGT procedures, two adverse, independent risk factors that influenced EFS were identified: (1) persisting skeletal lesions before MGT as defined by technetium (99TC) scans and/or meta-iodobenzylguanidine (mIBG) scans (P = .004) and (2) persisting bone marrow involvement before MGT (P = .03).

CONCLUSION

After induction treatment, persisting skeletal disease as defined above and persisting bone marrow involvement may be predictive of a particularly poor outcome. Physicians may consider this an additional important tool to decide the patient's management.

1070 myeloablative megatherapy procedures followed by stem cell rescue for neuroblastoma: 17 years of European experience and conclusions. European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplant Registry Solid Tumour Working Party

1070 myeloablative procedures followed by stem cell rescue for neuroblastoma are reviewed. These 1070 procedures are part of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplant (EBMTG) registry from the last 17 years (in 4536 patients). In 1070 neuroblastoma patients, survival at 2 years was 49%, at 5 years, 33% and relapses were observed as late as 7 years post-BMT (bone marrow transplant). However, 5-year survivors after megatherapy with BMT for stage 4 disease do have an 80% chance of becoming a long-term survivor. When BMT had been used in first complete response (CR1) no salvage was possible, whereas 15% survivors may be seen if BMT is used for the first time at relapse. Infants with stage 4 neuroblastoma had a 17% toxic death rate and indication in this group is exceptional and not recommended. In a matched cohort (17 allogeneic and 34 autologous), autologous stem cell rescue (SCR) was shown to be at least equal to allogeneic SCR. Multivariate analysis of clinical prognostic factors in children with stage 4 disease over 1 year showed that event-free survival was mainly influenced by two adverse factors before the megatherapy procedure: persisting skeleton lesions (99Tc and/or mIBG scan positive) as well as persisting bone marrow (BM) involvement.

Broviac catheter-related bacteraemias due to unusual pathogens in children with cancer: case reports with literature review

Among 102 episodes of intravenous catheter related bacteraemias documented between January 1989 and July 1996 in children receiving antineoplastic chemotherapy or bone marrow transplantation at G. Gaslini Children's Hospital, Genoa, Italy, were identified seven episodes due to unusual pathogens: Bacillus circulans, Bacillus licheniformis, Brevibacterium casei, Flavimonas oryzihabitans, Porphyromonas asaccharolytica, Comamonas acidovorans and Agrobacterium radiobacter. Susceptibility to different antibiotics of all strains are reported. In all cases catheter removal was required for culture negativization. All episodes were diagnosed in absence of granulocytopenia.

Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia in three children with acute leukaemias treated with cytosine arabinoside and anthracyclines

Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) is a clinicopathological entity with well-defined diagnostic criteria, which can be idiopathic or produced by a variety of biological processes. We describe the occurrence of BOOP in three children, one with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and two with acute promyelocytic leukaemia. In the three patients, BOOP developed 10-20 days after a course of therapy with cytosine arabinoside and anthracyclines. The possible relationships between the small conducting airway lesions, lung toxic reaction to the drugs and/or nonidentified infectious agents are discussed.

Retinol (vitamin A) and retinal-binding protein serum levels in children with cancer at onset

The aim of the study was to evaluate vitamin A (Vit A) plasma levels in children with newly diagnosed neoplasia (NDN) admitted to the Department of Hematology-Oncology of G. Gaslini Institute. Vit A levels, retinol-binding protein (RBP), and nutritional status were evaluated in 54 children with NDN (22 solid tumors other than neuroblastoma, 16 neuroblastomas, 9 lymphomas, 7 acute lymphoblastic leukemia). Biochemical test results were also compared with those of 47 healthy controls (HC) comparable for sex and age. In children with NDN, mean Vit A plasma level results were 350 micrograms/L (95% CI 288-412); in HC they were 517 micrograms/L (95% CI 471-563), P < 0.001. Mean RBP value results were 3.2 mg/dL (95% CI 2.6-3.9) in NDN and 4.9 mg/dL in HC (95% CI 4.5-5.3), P < 0.001. Fifteen (28%) out of 54 children with NDN were classified as well-nourished, 27/54 (50%) were considered at risk of malnutrition, and 12 (22%) were malnourished. Children with NDN presented reduced Vit A and RBP mean values compared with those of HC. Further studies are needed to better evaluate Vit A metabolism in children with cancer at onset.

Fiberoptic bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage for the evaluation of pulmonary infiltrates after BMT in children

Thirty-one fiberoptic bronchoscopies and BAL performed within 4 days after the appearance of pulmonary infiltrates in 28 children who received BMT were reviewed. A causative agent was identified in 67% of patients with diffuse infiltrates (Cytomegalovirus in 8 cases, Pneumocystis carinii in 4) and in 31% of those with localized infiltrates (Aspergillus in 2, bacteria in 2). No relevant side effect was reported. The results obtained from cytological and microbiological testing provided relevant informations for the management of most cases, regardless to the identification of a specific pathogen. We conclude that BAL is a safe diagnostic procedure that should be considered early after the onset of pulmonary complications in BMT recipients.

Phase II study of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in children undergoing bone marrow transplantation

Twenty-three children with congenital or acquired hematological disorders and 8 children with solid tumors received filgrastim at a dose of 5 micrograms/Kg by a daily 2-hour infusion following allogeneic (18 cases) or autologous (13 cases) bone marrow transplantation (group I). The results were compared with those of a disease, age and type of transplant matched cohort of 31 children treated in the same institution who did not receive the growth factor (group II). Filgrastim treatment was started within 24 hours of completion of the marrow infusion and lasted for 21 consecutive days or until the absolute neutrophil count reached 10 x 10(9)/l for 3 consecutive days. Twelve variables were evaluated prospectively in Group I and retrospectively in Group II. Myeloid reconstitution with peripheral granulocyte counts > 0.5 x 10(9)/L was achieved at a median time of 13 days in group I and of 14 days in group II (p = ns). Platelet recovery to > 50 x 10(9)/L was slower in group I (43 vs 30 days: p < .05). Median time to last platelet and red blood cell infusion was higher in group I (33 vs 18 days for platelets, p < .05; 45 vs 25 for red blood cells, p < .005). Filgrastim-treated children undergoing autologous BMT had fewer days of fever (6 vs 10 days, p < .05). There was no significant toxicity ascribable to filgrastim. Clinically and microbiologically documented infections, days of antibiotic therapy, duration of total parenteral nutrition and median time in hospital were similar in both groups. We conclude that in children undergoing autologous BMT for malignancies, filgrastim significantly reduced the number of febrile days. Similar benefits were not observed in children undergoing allogeneic BMT. Children receiving filgrastim experienced a delay in erythrocyte and platelet recovery. A prospective randomized study is required to better define the cost-benefit of filgrastim in children undergoing autologous or allogeneic BMT.