Rhabdomyosarcoma Treatment and Outcome at a Multidisciplinary Pediatric Cancer Center in Lebanon

Abstract

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children. Outcome of patients treated on standard protocols, in a multidisciplinary cancer center setting outside of clinical trials, is not well reported. We reviewed characteristics and outcome of 23 pediatric patients treated at a single, multidisciplinary cancer center in Lebanon, between April 2002 and December 2010. Median follow-up was 41 months. The most commonly affected primary site was the head and neck (48%, n = 11). Nineteen tumors (82.6%) were of embryonal histology. Tumor size was ≥5 cm in eight (34.8%) patients. Sixteen patients (69.6%) had localized disease, and one (4.4%) had metastatic disease. Fifteen (65.2%) had Group III tumors. All patients received chemotherapy, for a duration ranging 21-51 weeks. Upfront surgical resection was performed in 10 patients (43.5%). Eighteen patients (78.3%) received radiation therapy. The 5-year overall and disease-free survival rates were 83% and 64%, respectively. Relapse correlated with absence of surgery. Treatment of childhood RMS in a multidisciplinary cancer center in Lebanon results in similar survival to that in developed countries when similar protocols are applied. There was a higher incidence of local relapse, but those were salvageable with further therapy and surgical local control.

Clinical Character of Pediatric Head and Neck Rhabdomysarcomas: A 7-Year Retrospective Study

“…RMS in children can originate from any site of body. Some researchers have showed that the head and neck region is the most common primary site in children with RMS, which accounts for 45%, while the primary site in the orbit accounts for 25-35% of patients with RMS in the head and neck region (Turner and Richmon, 2011;Badr et al, 2012;Salman et al, 2012). In this study, the most frequent positions in patients with RMS were in the orbit and eyelid, which accounted for 56.09% (23/41).…”

Encouraging Treatment Outcomes of Pediatric Rhabdomyosarcoma: A Developing World Experience

“…This study reports 5-year overall and disease-free survival rates of 83% and 64%, respectively, which are impressive [1].…”

“…This study reports 5-year overall and disease-free survival rates of 83% and 64%, respectively, which are impressive [1].It is challenging to treat children with cancer in the developing world especially when multimodality care is needed. Treatment abandonment is a significant challenge in India due to multiple and complex social issues [2].…”

Pediatric Sinonasal Rhabdomyosarcoma: Clinical Characteristics and Surgical Role

“…Gatta G et al's review of rhabdomyosarcoma results in approximately 67% 5-years survival with multimodality therapy [28]. Rhabdomyosarcoma event-free survival (EFS) been reported lately were incentive [29,30]. Ma X, et al retrospective multicenter study results in 10 years EFS of 53.4 ± 5.1% [31].…”