NUT carcinoma is an aggressive disease refractory to conventional therapy. Early diagnosis by NUT-specific antibody immunostaining in cases of undifferentiated or poorly differentiated carcinoma to identify the specific rearrangement of NUT gene is useful to propose the optimal therapeutic strategy.

Ewing's sarcoma (ES) is the second most frequent pediatric bone tumor also arising in soft tissues (15% of cases). The prognosis of patients with clinically detectable metastases at diagnosis, not responding to therapy or with disease relapse, is still very poor. Among new therapeutic approaches, bisphosphonates represent promising adjuvant molecules to chemotherapy to limit the osteolytic component of bone tumors and to protect from bone metastases. The combined effects of zoledronic acid and mafosfamide were investigated on cell proliferation, viability, apoptosis, and cell cycle distribution of human ES cell lines differing in their p53 and p16/ink4 status. ES models were developed to reproduce both soft tissue and intraosseous tumor development. Mice were treated with 100 μg/kg zoledronic acid (two or four times per week) and/or ifosfamide (30 mg/kg, one to three cycles of three injections). ES cell lines showed different sensitivities to zoledronic acid and mafosfamide at the cell proliferation level, with no correlation with their molecular status. Both drugs induced cell cycle arrest, but in the S or G 2 M phase, respectively. In vivo, zoledronic acid had no effect on soft tissue tumor progression, although it dramatically inhibited ES development in bone. When combined with ifosfamide, zoledronic acid exerted synergistic effects in the soft tissue model: Its combination with one cycle of ifosfamide resulted in an inhibitory effect similar to three cycles of ifosfamide alone. This very promising result could allow clinicians to diminish the doses of chemotherapy.

Osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma represent the two most frequent primary bone tumors that arise in the pediatric population. Despite recent improvement in their therapeutic management, no improvement in survival rate has been achieved since early 1980 s. Among new therapeutic approaches, bisphosphonates are promising candidates as potent inhibitors of bone resorption. However, their effects on bone growth must be studied at dosing regimen corresponding to pediatric protocols. To this aim, several protocols using zoledronic acid (ZOL) were developed in growing mice (50 mg/kg every 2 days  10). Parameters of bone remodeling and bone growth were investigated by radiography, micro-computed tomography, histology, and biologic analyses. Extramedullar hematopoiesis was searched for in spleen tissue. A transient inhibitory effect of ZOL was observed on bone length, with a bone-growth arrest during treatment owing to an impressive increase in bone formation at the growth plate level (8-to 10-fold increase in BV/TV). This sclerotic band then shifted into the diaphysis as soon as endochondral bone formation started again after the end of ZOL treatment, revealing that osteoclasts and osteoblasts are still active at the growth plate. In conclusion, endochondral bone growth is transiently disturbed by high doses of ZOL corresponding to the pediatric treatment of primary bone tumors. These preclinical observations were confirmed by a case report in a pediatric patient treated in the French OS2006 protocol over 10 months who showed a growth arrest during the ZOL treatment period with normal gain in size after the end of treatment. ß

The frequency of malformations observed in patients with WT underline the need of genetic counseling and molecular genetic explorations for a better follow-up of these patients, with a frequently good outcome. A decisional tree, based on clinical observations of patients with WT, is proposed to guide clinicians for further molecular genetic explorations.

IMPORTANCE Little progress in pediatric cancer treatment has been noted in the past decade, urging the development of novel therapeutic strategies for adolescents and children with hard-totreat cancers. Use of comprehensive molecular profiling in the clinical management of children and adolescents with cancer appears a suitable approach to improve patient care and outcomes, particularly for hard-to-treat cases. OBJECTIVE To assess the feasibility of identifying potentially actionable mutations using nextgeneration sequencing-based assays in a clinically relevant time frame. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This diagnostic study reports the results of the TRICEPS study, a prospective genome sequencing study conducted in Québec, Canada. Participants, aged 18 years or younger at diagnosis, with refractory or relapsed childhood and adolescent cancers were enrolled from April 2014 through January 2018. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) of matched tumor normal samples and RNA sequencing of tumor were performed to identify single-nucleotide variants, fusion transcripts, differential gene expression, and copy number alterations. Results reviewed by a team of experts were further annotated, synthesized into a report, and subsequently discussed in a multidisciplinary molecular tumor board. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Molecular profiling of pediatric patients with hard-to-treat cancer, identification of actionable and targetable alteration needed for the management of these patients, and proposition of targeted and personalized novel therapeutic strategies. RESULTS A total of 84 patients with hard-to-treat cancers were included in the analysis. These patients had a mean (range) age of 10.1 (1-21) years and a similar proportion of male (45 [54%]) and female (39 [46%]). Sixty-two patients (74%) had suitable tissues for multimodal molecular profiling (WES and RNA sequencing). The process from DNA or RNA isolation to genomic sequencing and data analysis steps took a median (range) of 24 (4-41) days. Potentially actionable alterations were identified in 54 of 62 patients (87%). Actions were taken in 22 of 54 patients (41%), and 18 (33%) either were on a second or third line of treatment, were in remission, or had stable disease and thus no actions were taken. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Incorporating genomic sequencing into the management of hard-to-treat childhood and adolescent cancers appeared feasible; molecular profiling may enable the identification of potentially actionable alterations with clinical implications for most patients, (continued) Key Points Question Can genome sequencing facilitate the molecular profiling of the patient's tumor to identify actionable and targetable alterations? Findings In this diagnostic study of 62 consecutive pediatric patients with hard-to-treat cancer who were enrolled in the TRICEPS study, incorporating multimodal genomic sequencing, including RNA sequencing, into the management of refractory or relapsed childhood and adolescent cancers identified potentially actionable alterations in 54 (87%)...

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common sarcoma in paediatric patients. A perianal site is unusual and is associated with a low cure rate. The few cases of reported perianal RMS have been associated with sequelae. Here, we report the case of a 29-month-old male child who received sequential treatment by surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy inspired by Papillon’s irradiation of adult anal/low-rectum cancers (including external beam radiotherapy in the gynecological exam position followed by brachytherapy) and who remains in complete remission 49 months post treatment with no sphincter or other anorectal disorders.

Childhood cancer is a group of heterogeneous complex diseases. Although 80% of these children are cured with conventional therapies, it remains the first cause of death among children in Western countries. A significant number of refractory/relapse patients will eventually succumb to their disease and the lack of therapeutic advances for these patients is even more worrisome. Indeed, no significant progress has been noted over the last decade for these patients, urging the need for new and more effective therapeutic approaches. Precision medicine and more effective personalized targeted therapies (PTT) are a major breakthrough leading to increased cure rates and decreased treatment-related morbidity and mortality for the patients with refractory or relapsed tumors. To address this challenge, the TRICEPS study was initiated on April 2014 at the Sainte-Justine UHC (Montreal, Canada) with an overreaching goal to explore the feasibility of performing genomic-driven targeted therapy in pediatric and adolescent (aged 0-21 years) patients with relapsed or refractory childhood cancer. This study offers in-depth genomic and transcriptomic investigation of patient’s tumoral material to identify patient-specific alterations and actionable driver mutation(s) that can be targeted with approved targeted drug and within a reasonable clinically relevant timeframe to assess the feasibility of going from biopsy to a detailed tumor analysis report. Over a period of 30 months, 44 relapsed/refractory cancer patients were recruited. Twenty-two of them underwent extensive genomic investigation (exomic and transcriptomic sequencing) within a median timeframe of 9.7 weeks from patient enrolment to return of results. Patient screen failures occurred due to benign/necrotic tumor biopsies or low tumor purity resulting in suboptimal DNA/RNA quantity or quality for genomic analysis. In all 22 patients, we have identified clinically relevant genomic alterations (SNVs, indels, fusions, CNAs) and relapse-specific mutations influencing patient management and providing options for personalized interventions. We assessed the functional impact of some of these cancer-specific alterations. This was the case of a novel relapse-specific rearrangement, identified on relapsed childhood ETP-ALL, and leading to asparagine synthetase (ASNS) up-regulation through a promoter exchange. The expression of this fusion was associated with reduced apoptosis following l-asparaginase treatment. This study shows that PPT based on next generation sequencing technology is a powerful approach that could be implemented in the clinic within a foreseeable future to guide treatment of hard-to-treat childhood cancers and to further improve patient care and outcomes. Citation Format: Fida Khater, Stephanie Vairy, Sylvie Langlois, Jasmine Healy, Sophie Dumoucel, Mathieu Lajoie, Thomas Sontag, Pascal St-Onge, Henrique Bittencourt, Dorothée Dal Soglio, Anne-Sophie Carret, Sonia Cellot, Josette Champagne, Michel Duval, Maja Krajinovic, Jean-Marie Leclerc, Valerie Larouche, Natalie Patey, Sébastien Perreault, Nelson Piché, Yvan Samson, Pierre Teira, Monia Marzouki, Daniel Sinnett. Identification of actionable targets for refractory/relapsed childhood cancer leading to personalized targeted therapy (TRICEPS Study) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4885. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-4885

In Canada, about 1500 pediatric cancers are diagnosed each year. Despite improvements in risk-stratified treatments, around 20% of childhood cancer patients do not respond to current therapies and ultimately succumb to their disease, urging the need for new and more effective therapeutic approaches. Personalized targeted therapy (PTT) based on next generation sequencing (NGS) may be a key component to increase cure rates and decrease treatment-related morbidity and mortality. To assess the feasibility of performing PTT clinical trials in the context of childhood cancers, a pilot study is currently underway at the Sainte-Justine UHC, Montreal, where 30 relapsed or refractory cancer patients (aged 0-21 years) are being recruited over a 2 year period and offered in-depth genomic and transcriptomic investigation to identify patient-specific alterations. This pilot study will allow us to determine the number of children with cancer who are suitable candidates for targeted therapy, to determine the number and type of driver mutation(s) found in the recurrent or refractory childhood cancers, to determine the number of cancer patients who harbor actionable driver mutation(s) that can be targeted with a Health Canada/FDA approved targeted drug and to assess the feasibility of going from biopsy to a detailed tumour analysis report within a clinically-relevant timeframe. Thus far, sixteen patients have been recruited in this study between April 2014 and July 2015. Study subject accrual has been successful with 100% compliance. Eight patients have undergone extensive genomic investigation in a real-time manner. We identified clinically relevant genomic alterations (singe nucleotide variants or structural variations) that can be used to inform clinical management for 8/8 of these patients. Patient screen failures occurred due to benign tumor biopsies, necrotic tumor tissue or low tumor purity, resulting in suboptimal DNA/RNA quantity or quality for NGS. Identified relapse-specific mutations allowed follow up of minimal residual disease, particularly post-transplant for relapsed leukemia cases, influenced patient management and revealed alternative therapeutic options for future personalized targeted therapy. This feasibility study shows that PTT based on NGS technology is a useful approach that could be implemented in the clinic within a foreseeable future to guide treatment of relapsed or refractory childhood cancer patients. The following step toward translating our results into novel personalized therapeutic approaches will be the development of phase II clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy of these targeted therapies in terms of therapeutic response, survival, and overall quality of life. Our overreaching goal is to be able to offer personalized targeted therapy options to all patients upon primary diagnosis of their cancer. Citation Format: Sylvie Langlois, Jasmine Healy, Mathieu Lajoie, Sophie Dumoucel, Fida Khater, Thomas Sontag, Pascal St-Onge, Patrick Beaulieu, Henrique Bittencourt, Dorothée Dal Soglio, Anne-Sophie Carret, Sonia Cellot, Josette Champagne, Michel Duval, Maja Krajinovic, Jean-Marie Leclerc, Natalie Patey, Nelson Piché, Yvan Samson, Pierre Teira, Monia Marzouki, Daniel Sinnett. TRICEPS: A feasibility study of personalized targeted therapy in relapsed/refractory childhood cancers. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Pediatric Cancer Research: From Mechanisms and Models to Treatment and Survivorship; 2015 Nov 9-12; Fort Lauderdale, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(5 Suppl):Abstract nr A41.