Choroid plexus carcinoma in children

Abstract

Choroid plexus carcinomas (CPCs) are rare pediatric tumors with a generally poor prognosis. Currently there is no definite optimal treatment strategy for this neoplasm. This study is supported by the Independent Ethics Committee and approved by the Academic Council of the Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology. This study included patients with a verified diagnosis of CPC at the age 0 to 18 years in the period from 01.01.2009 to 31.12.2019. A total of 32 patients were registered. The median age was 2.65 years; 93.5% of CPCs were localized in the lateral ventricles. Initial metastases were found in 21.8% of cases; 5-year event-free survival (EFS) in children with metastases was lower than in those who did not have metastases 29 ± 17% and 49 ± 12%. In our cohort, gross total resection (GTR) was performed in 65.6% of patients. The five-year EFS in patients with complete CPC removal was higher than in patients who underwent subtotal and partial resection (63 ± 13%, 12 ± 11%, and 0%, respectively). In addition, overall survival (OS) was slightly higher in those who underwent GTR compared with subtotal and partial resection (74 ± 12%, 67 ± 16%, and 0%, respectively). Of the 32 children with CPCs, 15 children received programm chemotherapy, 17 non-programm chemotherapy, 5-year EFS in patients who received programm and non-programm chemotherapy was 79 ± 11% and 0%, respectively (p = 0.0006), 5-year OS in patients who received programm and non-programm chemotherapy was 93 ± 7% and 36 ± 14% (p = 0.0054).