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The N-glycolylated ganglioside NeuGc-GM3 has been described in solid tumors such as breast carcinoma, nonsmall cell lung cancer, and melanoma, but is usually not detected in normal human cells. Our aim was to evaluate the presence of NeuGc-GM3 in pediatric neuroectodermal tumors by immunohistochemistry. Twenty-seven archival cases of neuroblastoma and Ewing sarcoma family of tumors (ESFT) were analyzed. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor samples were cut into 5 μm sections. The monoclonal antibody 14F7, a mouse IgG1 that specifically recognizes NeuGc-GM3, and a peroxidase-labeled polymer conjugated to secondary antibodies were used. Presence of NeuGc-GM3 was evident in 23 of 27 cases (85%), with an average of about 70% of positive tumors cells. Immunoreactivity was moderate to intense in most tumors, showing a diffuse cytoplasmic and membranous staining, although cases of ESFT demonstrated a fine granular cytoplasmic pattern. No significant differences were observed between neuroblastoma with and without NMYC oncogene amplification, suggesting that expression of NeuGc-GM3 is preserved in more aggressive cancers. Until now, the expression of N-glycolylated gangliosides in pediatric neuroectodermal tumors has not been investigated. The present study evidenced the expression of NeuGc-GM3 in a high proportion of neuroectodermal tumors, suggesting its potential utility as a specific target of immunotherapy.

IMPORTANCE Disseminated retinoblastoma is usually fatal. Identification of small amounts (minimal dissemination [MD]) of tumor cells in extraocular sites might be a tool for designing appropriate treatments. OBJECTIVE To test cone-rod homeobox (CRX) transcription factor as a lineage-specific molecular marker for metastatic retinoblastoma and for evaluation of MD. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In a prospective cohort design study, we evaluated CRX messenger RNA (mRNA) by retrotranscription followed by real-time polymerase chain reaction as a diagnostic test in samples obtained from bone marrow, peripheral blood, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) at diagnosis, after induction chemotherapy, and during follow-up. The study was conducted from June 30, 2008, to June 30, 2014. Seventeen retinoblastoma primary tumors, 2 retinoblastoma cell lines, and 47 samples of bone marrow from other cancers (controls) were studied. Seventeen patients with metastatic retinoblastoma (9 at diagnosis, 8 at relapse; age range: 18-41 months) were included. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Detection of CRX mRNA as a marker for metastatic retinoblastoma and MD in bone marrow and CSF and its correlation with clinical findings. RESULTS Cone-rod homeobox mRNA was expressed in all tumors (relative expression levels range, 8.1 × 10 −5 to 5.6) and cell lines. In control samples, there was no amplification of CRX; only the housekeeping gene (GAPDH) demonstrated amplification. Bone marrow metastatic cells showed expression of CRX mRNA in all 9 children presenting with metastasis at the diagnosis (relative expression levels, 6.0 × 10 −5 to 0.67). After induction chemotherapy, no evidence of MD of tumor cells was seen in any of the 8 responding children since only GAPDH showed amplification. In the CSF of children who had a metastatic relapse, CRX mRNA detection was positive in 2 patients in whom no conclusive results were reached by immunocytology for disialoganglioside GD2. Minimal dissemination in the CSF was associated with a clinical relapse in 2 cases. No concomitant MD was evident in the bone marrow in any case. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE These data suggest that CRX mRNA is a novel marker for retinoblastoma at extraocular sites. In this study among patients with bone marrow metastasis, there was a quick, complete, and sustained molecular response after induction chemotherapy. In all patients with secondary metastasis, CSF relapse occurred independently from the bone marrow, suggesting a sanctuary site.

OAC was feasible with low toxicity. pEFS improved in all groups compared to the previous experience with systemic chemotherapy reducing the use of radiotherapy. The overall mortality associated with OAC is comparable to our previous experience with systemic chemoreduction.

IMPORTANCE Multi-institutional collaborative studies that include large patient populations for the management of retinoblastoma with histopathological risk factors could provide important information for patient management. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the implementation of a strategy for the management of nonmetastatic unilateral retinoblastoma in children based on standardized diagnostic and treatment criteria. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This single-arm prospective study applied a strategy based on a single-center experience. The setting was a multicenter study in Latin America (Grupo de America Latina de Oncologia Pediatrica [GALOP]). Participants were children with nonmetastatic unilateral retinoblastoma (staged with the International Retinoblastoma Staging System). The study opened on July 1, 2008, and closed on December 31, 2014. Follow-up was updated until June 30, 2017. INTERVENTIONS Stage 0 patients (without enucleation) were given conservative therapy without a protocol. Stage I patients (with enucleation and no residual tumor) were divided into a high-risk group (retrolaminar invasion and/or scleral invasion) and a low-risk group (all remaining patients). High-risk children received adjuvant chemotherapy with 4 alternating cycles of regimen 1 (cyclophosphamide [65 mg/kg/d] [plus sodium-2-mercaptoethane sulfonate], idarubicin hydrochloride [10 mg/m 2 /d], and vincristine sulfate [0.05 mg/kg/d]) and 4 cycles of regimen 2 (carboplatin [500 mg/m 2 /d, days 1 and 2] and etoposide [100 mg/m 2 /d, days 1-3]). Low-risk children did not receive adjuvant therapy. Children with buphthalmia received neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy for a total of 8 cycles. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Probability of event-free survival (extraocular relapse and death from any cause were considered events). RESULTS Among 187 children registered in the study, 175 were evaluable (92 [52.5%] female; median age, 22 months; age range, 3-100 months). Forty-two were stage 0 children, 84 were stage I low-risk children, and 42 were stage I high-risk children; there were 7 children in the buphthalmia group. With a median follow-up of 46 months, the 3-year probability of event-free survival was 0.97 (95% CI, 0.94-0.99), and the probability of overall survival was 0.98 (95% CI, 0.94-1.00). Stage 0 patients had no events, stage I low-risk patients had 1 event (orbital relapse treated with second-line therapy), stage I high-risk patients had 2 events (1 central nervous system relapse and 1 death from sepsis), and the buphthalmia group had 1 event (orbital relapse, followed by central nervous relapse and death). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Adjuvant therapy may be effective for high-risk unilateral retinoblastoma but is toxic, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy for buphthalmus appears feasible.

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IMPORTANCE Different staging systems for extraocular retinoblastoma have been published, but to date they have not been validated in large cohorts.OBJECTIVE To review 533 patients (and pathology slides) with retinoblastoma included in 4 protocols (January 1, 1988, to December 31, 2009 who received uniform treatment.DESIGN AND SETTING Retrospective review in a hospital setting. A critical analysis for detecting inconsistencies and omissions was performed.PARTICIPANTS Patients were reclassified according to the modified St Jude Children's Research Hospital staging system, Grabowski-Abramson staging system, International Retinoblastoma Staging System (IRSS), and American Joint Committee on Cancer TNM staging system. MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASUREThe main outcome measure was disease-free survival (DFS), considering only extraocular relapse as an event. RESULTSIn the IRSS and the St Jude system, higher stages correlated with poorer DFS. For intraocular disease, only the TNM system and the IRSS included pathological definitions, and all systems except for the IRSS included substages without differences in DFS. Omissions of factors significantly associated with lower DFS included scleral invasion by the TNM system and massive choroidal invasion by the Grabowski-Abramson system. The St Jude system omits postlaminar optic nerve involvement, but this omission did not correlate significantly with lower DFS because these patients received intensive therapy. No differences in DFS were observed among substages for metastatic disease except for the presence of central nervous system involvement. All staging systems had inconsistencies in definitions of extent of disease. No system provides guidelines for imaging. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCEOnly the IRSS and the St Jude system allowed for grouping of patients with increasing risk of extraocular relapse. For lower stages, only the IRSS considers all unequivocal pathological prognostic factors. For higher stages, all systems had redundant information, resulting in an excess of substages.